My Taco Soup and home fried tortilla strips - Meatless and delicious

1 14 or 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 4 oz. can of diced green chilis
2 cups of chicken stock
1 1/2 to 2 cups of dried beans (your choice - I used pinto beans)
1 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 cup of taco seasoning
salt and pepper to taste









Soak beans overnight or quick soak them.  Or you can use canned, I won't tell anyone.

Option 1:  Cook beans on stove until tender - about 2 hours.  Put the can of diced tomatoes and chilis in a different bowl or pan.  *I use an immersion blender to blend these so they are smooth because I don't like chunks of tomatoes and I am the cook so I can do that.  Pour tomatoes and chilis plus rest of ingredients along with about 1 to 2 cups of bean cooking liquid.  Cook on medium low about 20 to 30 minutes stirring occasionally.

Option 2:  Put the can of diced tomatoes and chilis in slow cooker.  *I use an immersion blender to blend these so they are smooth because I don't like chunks of tomatoes and I am the cook so I can do that.  Put beans and rest of ingredients along with 1 to 2 cups of water into slow cooker.  Cook on high 4 to 6 hours or on low 10 hours.  Beans need a lot of time to cook to become tender so you could cook them on the stove until almost tender to make sure they are done.

**My cousin gave me this idea to serve with taco soup.  Heat up a skillet half full of oil (I use olive oil even though it some people say not to because it will burn - it doesn't burn for me).  When the oil is nice and hot, cut up strips or triangles of tortillas (you can use corn, whole wheat or flour).  Cook in oil on medium a few minutes until lightly browned.  I just turn them over with a fork and then take them out and let them drain on a paper towel lined plate.  Salt them.  Serve warm with soup.

You can sprinkle cheese on the soup and add sour cream or black olives - whatever floats your boat.

This soup is very hardy even though it does not have meat in it.  You can put meat in it if you so desire but I like to save money so we didn't.