Chicken Tortilla Soup

Based on a recipe by Central Market
Serves 6

Ingredients

• vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 8oz can green chiles
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 - 2 lbs chicken, cooked and shredded
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• Juice from 1 lime

Toppings

• Monterrey jack cheese, shredded
• 1 avocado, diced
• tortilla chip pieces

Preparation

Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft. Add the remaining ingredients except lime juice and toppings. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes to an hour. Off the heat. Stir in the lime juice, ladle soup into bowls, and add the toppings.

Chai Tea from Scratch

Ingredients

• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 pieces crystallized ginger
• 6 green cardamom pods
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 whole star anise
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon whole tellicherry peppercorns

Preparation
Wrap the spices in cheesecloth. Bring 7 cups of water to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and place bag of spices in the water for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow spices to steep for 15 minutes. Turn the heat on low and add 2 tsp black tea (Assam if available), stir in 1 cup milk (any kind), and 1 tsp honey (or to taste). Heat until almost boiling. Turn off the heat and discard bag of spices and tea.

Serve hot or cold over ice.