My Favorite Recipe :: Max and Erma's Tortilla Soup

I don't know about where you live but here it is soup weather. I happen to love soup. I could eat it every day. Potato soup, chicken soup, lobster bisque, you name it - I love it. But one soup stands far above the rest. That soup is Max and Erma's Tortilla Soup. I honestly get it as take out at least once a month. It is so so so delicious! I found a copy cat recipe on Food.com and wanted to share it with you. Try it. You will NOT be disappointed! It is creamy and a little spicy and cheesy and so delicious!

Max & Erma's Chicken Tortilla Soup - Sue's Original Clone
Prep Time: 30 mins Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup
• 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans Campbell's condensed cream of celery soup
• 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans Campbell's cheddar cheese soup
• 2 (15 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 cup picante salsa ( Pace brand medium hot)
• 1 (4 1/2 ounce) cans green chilies ( Ortega brand)
• 1 medium onions, chopped
• 4 fresh garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon red new mexico chile powder ( NOTE -- This is not the same as ordinary red chili powder. It can often be found in specialty foods)
• salt and pepper, to your taste
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 4 cooked chicken breasts, cut into small chunks
• 10 flour tortillas
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1/2 lb colby cheese

Directions

1. In a large (8-10 quart) stockpot combine and whisk together until smooth all eight cans of soup.
2. Add chicken broth. Add tomatoes, salsa, green chiles, onion, garlic, chile powder, salt and pepper. Bring all ingredients to a full boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour.
3. Add cilantro and chicken breast chunks. Simmer another hour.
4. While soup is simmering, make your soup toppings: Cut flour tortillas into small thin strips. Heat oil and deep fry tortilla strips until lightly browned. Shred cheese.
5. To serve: Ladle soup into bowls, top with shredded cheese and fried tortilla strips.

Enjoy! I am linking up with Inspiration Workshop!