Spicy Tortilla Soup & Spelt Cornbread with Jalapeno Honey Butter

I had a version of this soup at this modern Mexican restaurant the other night and have been wanting to try my own rendition of it since. It also gave me a reason to make one of my favorite sides that I thought would go nicely along with it, cornbread! I absolutely love cornbread and wanted to do a healthier version then my usual recipe, this time using whole grain spelt flour and a touch of Robin Hood nutri blend flour (a mix of white flour and ground wheat bran). I also used less white sugar and some agave syrup as well. (Honey or maple syrup would work well too). The base for this soup is so simple yet so tasty but I think the real highlight is all the garnishes, fresh farmers market tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, crispy oven baked tortilla strips, shredded chicken and a squeeze of lime. This is one soup I can eat in the summertime!

Spicy Tortilla Soup
8 cups low sodium chicken stock
1 28 oz can San marzano tomatoes
1 white onion, fine diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, fine diced
1 tbsp chipotle chili powder
1 tsp chili flakes
1 tbsp cumin
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp sugar
s+p

Garnishes
4 skinless chicken thighs (or 2 cups cooked roasted chicken, shredded)
2 avocados, cut in half
2 limes, cut in wedges
1 bunch cilantro
2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

2 soft tortilla shells
oil,cumin, chipotle chili powder, salt

1. If using raw chicken thighs: In a stock pot bring chicken stock to a simmer and place chicken thighs in it. Poach until done. Remove chicken thighs, let cool and shred. Remove excess fat from chicken stock.
2. In another pot add a little oil and saute onion and garlic just until soft. Add 1/2 the can of tomatoes, chicken stock, sugar and spices in. Using a hand blender puree until smooth. Add the rest of the tomatoes in and the shredded chicken
3. While soup is simmering pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut tortillas into strips, toss with oil and spices and spread out on a baking sheet. Bake in oven until crispy approx 5-10 min
4. To serve place half an avocado in the bottom of the bowl, ladle soup on top, place tortilla strips into the avocado, and cherry tomatoes and cilantro in the middle, serve with lime wedges.

Spelt Cornbread
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbsp agave nectar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1 cup spelt flour
1/2 cup Robin Hood nutri blend flour (or use 1/4 white flour and 1/4 whole
wheat flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixer blend egg, oil, sugar, agave nectar, vanilla and buttermilk together. In a separate bowl combine flours, salt and baking powder.
2. Slowly add dry mixture into the wet mixture. Add in cornmeal
3. Place in a greased 9" square pan and bake for 35 min or until toothpick comes out clean.

Jalapeno Honey Butter
1 cup softened salted butter
1 jalapeno, fine diced, reserve a sprinkle for the top
2 tbsp honey

1. Combine all ingredients together. Sprinkle extra jalapeno on top and a drizzle of honey

Figuring this whole blog thing out...: Cornbread with Sweet Strawberry Butter & Lamb Burgers with Apple Fennel Slaw

So this is my first blog ever, and I feared if I started one I would spend way too much time on it! I havn't yet decided if it will be mostly restaurant reviews and pictures of what I've eaten or my food creations...I'm thinking a little of both so we will see how it goes! As for my blog name, it's so true, I always have room for dessert! Although this blog won't be all about desserts....For now I have posted last week's creations I made for a potluck dinner. Cornbread with sweet strawberry butter and lamb burgers topped with apple fennel slaw and cranberry mayo.













Cornbread
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup canola oil
3 cups flour
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup cornmeal

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream eggs and sugar together, add oil, mix all dry ingredients together and add to wet mixture.
2.Bake in a greased 9 x 14 pan for 40 min or until toothpick comes out clean.

Sweet Strawberry Butter
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 tbsp strawberry jam (if strawberries arent very ripe)
1 cup salted butter, softened(I like the contrast of the saltiness with sweet)
1/4 cup icing sugar
1.In a food processor puree strawberries and strawberry jam, in a mixer beat the softened butter, strawberry puree and icing sugar, if butter mixture is still to wet add a bit more icing sugar.

Lamb Burgers
8 whole wheat buns
Handful mixed greens
2 lb ground lamb
1 small onion, fine diced
3 clove garlic, minced
1/2 red bell pepper, fine diced
3 tbsp fresh oregano
1 egg
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup feta, crumbled
1 tbsp montreal steak spice
s+p
1.Saute onion, garlic, red pepper just till soft. Let cool. Combine ground lamb, feta, egg, montreal steak spice, pepper and cooled onion garlic mixture.
2.Make a toonie size patty, pan fry in the same skillet from onion mixture, taste and check for seasoning (depending on the saltiness of your feta, may need salt). Form into pattys, bbq or pan fry.

Apple Fennel Slaw/Cranberry Mayo
1 bulb fennel, thinly julienned, reserve fennel tips
2 gala apples, thinly julienned
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup cranberry sauce
1 tbsp white vinegar
s+p
1.Mix together Cranberry and Mayo, reserve some to spread on the bun.
2.To the rest, add the vinegar, s+p and toss with fennel and apples and fennel tips.