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Always keep your chicken [or other bloody meats/seafoods] away from any of your kitchen items or foods.
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This will help prevent any cross contamination.
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Pre-cooked and hand shredded Rotisserie Chicken seems to work best in this dish for roasted flavor purposes.
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It's also much less work.
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Just shread it into spoon sized pieces and place in a larger pot.
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If using raw chicken or chicken breasts, trim the fat and wash your chicken then simply boil them in chicken broth or water until fully cooked before going any further.
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Again, if using chicken breasts, check for doneness by sticking a knife in the thickest part of your largest chicken breast after 25 - 30 minutes of boiling.
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Make certain all fluids run clear and not pink.
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If at all pink or red in color, boil until ALL fluids run clear.
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Place everything together [other than your bite sized Tortilla pieces and anything in the GARNISHMENTS / TOPPINGS section] in the same larger shreadded chicken pot and simmer for 1 hour at a minimum.
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Longer if at all possible.
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In the last 5 - 10 minutes of boiling [meaning your carrots are fully cooked] add your chopped, spoon sized Flour Tortillas to your pot.
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These will serve you well as both a soup thickener and a tummy filler.
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To serve, ladle soup in bowl and have your guests garnish their bowls with as many GARNISHMENTS / TOPPERS as they desire.
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These toppings are also essential to the meal since most will actually curb much of the Scoville heat, add fantastic contrasts and flavor and round your meal all together.
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Authors Note: You can purchase multi colored, pre-fried Tortilla strips in most chain stores.
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However, if you cannot, simply purchase multi colored flour Tortillas, cut into thin strips and deep fry in a high heat oil until crispy.
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Then drain on a paper towel or equivalent.
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Or, you have the option of serving whole, larger, pre-packaged chips.
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Serve this soup with this EASY Cheddar Green Chile Corn Bread.
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Use a basic box of Jiffy Brand Corn Bread and mix according to manufacturer's directions.
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Add to that 1/2 cup fine chopped Hatch Green Chilies or Jalapenos, 1 teaspoon Cumin and 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese.
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Sprinkle top with Cheddar as well.
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Bake as directed.
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Enjoy!