While You're Still Alive, Kick it Out

A silly snack plate of the tiniest stuffed peppers and turkey pepperoni chips.  Turkey pepperoni baked in the oven for about 10-15 minutes turns into the crispiest tastiest chips!  Delicious!

To stuff these tiny peppers, I cubed up mozzarella sticks and used leftover meat and onions. A great use of leftover bits.  These small bites are smokey but not hot. 

A kicked-up Chicken & Cabbage soup

Starting with making real chicken & vegetable stock, I fortified this broth with celery, onions, carrots and lots and cabbage, small potatoes.  To the boiling broth a cup of freshly made hot sauce adds a giant kick and pop, along with fresh herbs.  Even if you don't like heat, you could make this salsa to act as a sofrito.  Soup can be exciting, it just needs a little help. 

Kicked Up Chicken and Cabbage Soup

1 pk of bone-in chicken thighs

Onion

Bay leaves

Celery

Carrots

Cabbage

Yukon Potatoes

Garlic

Cilantro

Better than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Flavor

A batch of fresh Homemade Hot Sauce* or your favorite brand of salsa

Salt & Pepper

Olive Oil

any other vegetable or herb

garnish:  limes, green onions

Put the chicken thighs with about 6 cups of water in a Dutch oven. Add salt and pepper corns, bay leaves,  1/2 an onion, celery base, Cilantro stems, carrots, 1/2 garlic bulb cut in half, and bring to a boil.  Once boiling turn to medium and low boil for 40 minutes, skimming the foam when necessary.  

Take out the chicken pieces when shreddable, and pass the broth through a strainer and discard your vegetables.  If you have a ton of fat, discard but leave some.

Shred your chicken and discard all fat and bones.

Put the broth back on the stove and add in all your chopped vegetables, the bouillon, and shredded chicken.  Let simmer until all the vegetables are tender, about 20-30 minutes.  Add in the hot sauce and herbs, stir, allow to marry for about 5 minutes and serve.  Garnish with green onions and more hot sauce, a nice squeeze of lime to brighten. 

*Homemade Hot Sauce (quickie style)

-1 large can of whole tomatoes

-2-4 whole jalapenos

-1/2 an onion

-3-5 garlic cloves

-1 tsp of chicken bouillon

-1 handful of cilantro and stems

-squeeze of lime

-salt & pepper to taste

Throw it all in a blender to your desired consistency.  Taste for salt and adjust as needed.