The Bumpkin's Superbowl Sunday Spicy Southwestern Soup

Ingredients
1-2 pounds ground beef ( I like mine meaty so I use 2)
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 red bell pepper chopped fine, but still enough for the color effect
2 (16-oz.) cans light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5-oz.) can petite diced tomatoes and jalapeños, undrained
1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes and mild green chiles, undrained
2 (14-oz.) can beef broth
3 shredded chicken breasts
2 cups frozen yellow and white whole kernel corn
1-2 (1-oz.) HOT envelope taco seasoning mix (1 for 1lb beef-Or 2 for 2)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

For the toppings.
1 cup Tostitos (any kind will do, but the small round ones are the best because you don't have to break them, but if you get the big triangles or the big round ones break them in about 2-3 pieces)
sour cream
grated Monterrey Jack cheese (I always grate my own!)
Super thin sliced green onions.
Tabasco Hot Sauce (caution optional, on the Coast "Some like it hot")

Preparation
1. Brown ground beef, onion, red bell pepper, and garlic in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring often, 12 to 15 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink and onion is softened; drain.
2. Stir in kidney beans, next 10 ingredients, and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Just before serving: And by Just I mean in the bowl wham, wham, wham, and get. it. to. the. table ( the TV tomorrow), or the chips get soppy, and it starts to sink.

Float 5-6 Tostitos rounds in the middle of bowl, then top with grated cheese
Finish with green onions, on top of small dollop of sour cream, on the top of Tostitos and grated cheese
(Don't let the sour cream touch the soup is the key, because it turns the soup cold)
Dash of Tabasco, for da Cajuns or brave at heart!



I'm having this and Ree's (The Pioneer Woman) Spicy Shredded Pork
I love me some Ree Recipes, if you don't read her you should! I wanna be Ree when my blog grows up. What are ya'll having?
**ALERT***Never fear to share a recipe with the Bumpkin!



P.S. You see that "I love me some up there", the bumpkin slipped out. I will leave it for authenticity but don't tell My J!

P.S.S. In the future we will make Southwestern Egg Rolls with this soup. The Egg Rolls are My John's, family, and friends' Bumpkin favorite!



I'm going for the Steelers tomorrow, and My John for the Cardinals, but only because these guys aren't available!


Yes, sorry, My John and I are die hard Chicago Bears fans, just in case you were wondering,
Have a fun, fun great day!
Love,
The Bumpkin