Spicy Mexican Corn Soup

     I love soup.  I am the self proclaimed soup queen of southern New Jersey.   I really would eat it anytime of year,  but as the chilly weather kicks up I'm known to eat soup 10 days straight.  Wonton soup being my favorite,  but I don't make that myself. 
I don't order wonton soup everyday for several reasons:
1.  I'm broke 
2. I don't have the carb intake ability to allow for that kind of daily splurge without gaining 200 pounds,   
3.  I don't want Golden Garden to judge me if they see me picking up wonton soup everyday.  We have a business working relationship,  and I'd like to maintain that in a judgement free zone.  I wont judge the fact that they have children working there and it's so cold they have to wear coats in the place in the winter,  if they don't judge my love of soup.


    So,  my point is,  I make a lot of soup.  Soup is awesome to keep on hand for the week, and in my opinion there is literally no better way to spend 4:00pm then in my pajamas in the winter eating soup.  I'm not too fond of cream based soups,  so I tend to eat a lot of vegetable and meat soups.    I also don't eat a lot of soups with noodles,  because I tend to like getting carbs from vegetables-- and the more vegetables I throw in my soup the more food I get to eat...so where I'm headed with this?

So, without further a due:  

Spicy Mexican Corn Soup

Prep Time:  20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Serves: 8 for a main course, 10-12 as a side

Ingredients:
1 pound chicken thighs
1 quart water
Two yellow onions
6 large carrots
Six celery stalks
Two green peppers
4 Fresh Corn Stalks
2 limes 
3 bay leaves
One can black beans, rinsed
One can cannelloni beans, rinsed
Two 8 ounce cans diced tomato with jalapenos
1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
1 tablespoon Chili Powder
1 tablespoon Goya chicken seasoning
2 teaspoons Onion Powder
2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
2 teaspoon Turmeric
1 tbsp Red Pepper Flakes 
2 Teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons black pepper

Directions:
1.  First begin by making stock:  In a large pot,  place 1 pound of chicken thighs at the bottom.   On top of the chicken,  place one yellow onion cut in half (keep the skin on),  3 large carrots cut in half (don't even worry about dicing them or removing the outer layer), one lime cut in half,  and three stalks of celery (just cut in half and throw the leaves and stalks in).   

2.  Cover this with one quart or so of water.   

3.  Allow stock to first come to a bowl,  then turn the heat to medium and allow the stock to cook for 1 1/2 hours.   Throw in three bay leaves for cooking.

4.  While the stock is cooking,  assemble all of your spices into one shallow bowl.  Set aside.
5.  Dice remaining vegetables:  2 green peppers, 3 stalks of celery,  and one yellow onion. Rinse beans,  and put in the bowl.   Put your corn one at a time with the stalks removed in a bowl with another small bowl turned upside down in it,  and cut off the corn kernels. Place in the bowl.  Set aside. 

6.  Remove chicken from stock and set aside to cool.
7.  Place a pot underneath of a strainer,  and strain the entire contents of your stock through the strainer.   The stock vegetables have done their job,  so toss them. 

8.  Return the stock to the pot.  Add in all of your new diced vegetables and beans,  and a lime cut in half. 

9.  Shred chicken and return to the stock pot.
10.   Stir in spice mixture and the diced tomatoes. 

11.   Allow to cook on medium high  for 30 minutes if you don't like the veggies to be too mushy,  one whole hour if you like really mushy vegetables.  Remove the lime halves before serving.  

Garnish with cilantro leaves,  and serve.