Michelle & Martha Week 8

Chicken Tortilla Soup

The fourth week of school brought on something I had been dodging for almost two years: the sniffles. Between my daughters passing around colds like party favors and the baby waking me up at night, my body finally waved the white flag. Being sick as a mom always feels ten times worse, you don’t just get to crawl into bed with tea and Netflix. You’re still momming, only congested and exhausted while doing it.

So, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure if this week’s Martha challenge was even going to happen. Then I saw “Chicken Tortilla Soup” on the list and thought, if there’s ever a week for soup, it’s this one.

Martha’s version called for chicken broth, canned tomatoes, and tomato paste, but I decided to give it a little twist of my own. Instead of broth, I simmered bone-in chicken thighs for about 30 minutes, pulled the meat, and tossed the bones back in to let the broth get really rich over a few hours. For the tomatoes, I swapped in about eight Campari ones (fresh always beats canned, in my book). I also added onion, carrots, and a Serrano pepper for a little kick.

After a couple of hours, I strained out the solids, tossed the bones, and blended the veggies with a splash of broth to make a smooth puree because I like my veggies in the soup without chunky bites. That puree went back in with the chicken, and I let it all come together for another 15 minutes.

Finally, I topped my bowl with tortilla chips, avocado, fresh cilantro, and a sprinkle of Parmesan (since cojita was nowhere in my fridge). The result? Cozy, nourishing, and exactly what I needed while sick.

My husband had two bowls, my picky four-year-old actually ate it, and while my taste buds weren’t at full strength, I could tell this one was a win. It has the comfort of chicken noodle soup but with a fun Mexican twist. And the tortilla chips? They get soft and soak up the broth in the best way, like noodles, but crunchier at first.

This week reminded me that sometimes the “simple” recipes really are the ones that hit the spot, especially when life (and germs) catch up to you.