Spicy Cheese Chicken Tortilla Soup

Description
Here is an incredibly good soup


 * Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group

Ingredients
can)
 * 1 small onion - minced
 * 2 cloves garlic - minced
 * 2 tbsp vegetable oil or olive oil
 * 15 oz can tomato sauce
 * 4 cups chicken broth
 * 1 cup medium chunky salsa
 * ½ of a 4.5 oz can chopped jalapeno peppers (for spicier soup, use whole
 * 5 - 6 dashes of Tabasco
 * 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
 * 2 tsp granulated sugar
 * ½ tsp salt
 * ½ tsp black pepper
 * ½ cup all-purpose flour mixed with ½ cup water
 * 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken, cooked and cubed
 * 1 cup heavy whipping cream
 * ½ cup sour cream - low-fat okay
 * 8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed (low-fat okay)
 * 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro - for garnish, optional

Directions

 * 1) In a large pot over medium-high heat, sauté onions and garlic in oil until soft.
 * 2) Add the next 8 ingredients to the pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
 * 3) Whisk flour/water mixture into soup.
 * 4) Bring contents of pot to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
 * 5) Add chicken to pot and continue to simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
 * 6) Add cream, sour cream, and cheese to pot; stir until cheese has melted.
 * 7) Pour soup into bowls, garnish with cilantro (if desired).

Hints and tips
I baked the chicken in the oven at 375°F for 1 hour. Before baking, I brushed both sides of chicken with olive oil and seasoned with Pampered Chef Southwestern Seasoning and cumin. After removing from the oven, I let them cool then cut into cubes.

For the Toys for Tots soup lunch, I doubled the recipe.

Garnish idea: I have used Frito chips as a garnish and it was great! You can also cut a flour tortilla into thin strips and deep-fry in oil for tortilla strips.