Easy Peasy Chicken Vegetable and Brown Rice Soup

We had another snow day yesterday in North Texas. What better way to warm one's belly than with a steaming hot bowl of soup? And if you know me at all, I like to work with what I have on hand. Don't have any fresh veggies or a rotisserie chicken readily available at home and don't want to venture out on the slick, cold streets to get them? There's nothing wrong with using canned and frozen alternatives. Easy and still tastes wonderful! 

Lance, my husband, wasn't as lucky as me as to get a day off from work. He unfortunately had to work out in the icy elements yesterday, so I wanted him to come home to something warm and comforting and soup it was! 

Here's my super duper simple recipe. You can add and omit as you see fit. You could add in more wonderful sources to protein such as black beans, navy or even kidney beans. You could spice it up more with the spicier or original version of Rotel. 

Ingredients:

3 large cans of chicken (do not drain)

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 medium onion (diced)

3 cloves garlic (diced very small)

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon oregano

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 package of frozen mixed vegetable steamers (I used the kind with carrots, squash, zucchini, etc.)

1 can corn

1 can chicken broth

1 can of water (used the same can as broth)

2 cans mild Rotel (tomatoes and green chiles)

1 small can mushrooms (sliced or pieces - optional as my hubby loves mushrooms in 

    everything)

1 cup brown rice

A few splashes of Tabasco to taste (seriously optional - I added mine to my bowl as Lance 

    doesn't like spicy foods)

Begin by sautéing the diced onion and chopped garlic cloves in the olive oil in the bottom of the soup pot. Add in the chicken broth, water and Rotel. Then add the cans of chicken, frozen vegetables, corn and mushrooms (optional). Add your spices and Tabasco and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and let simmer for 35-50 minutes. Add in brown rice and continue to simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is completely cooked. Be warned: it will smell heavenly and you will be salivating waiting to eat it. Ladle into your bowl and enjoy!