Chicken Taco Soup

I have another quick, easy & healthy recipe for you today.
This is another one of my go-to dinner recipes.
Everyone loves it.
I made up this recipe a couple years ago and I based it off my Taco Soup recipe that I make with ground turkey/beef.
I decided to swap the ground meat for chicken and the kidney beans for black beans and also add in a packet of Ranch...because, why not?
I also decided to convert this recipe to an Instant Pot recipe because I LOVE MY INSTANT POT

and I want to convert all my recipes to Instant Pot recipes.

It is just so much faster than the Crock Pot and the flavor is so much better!

If you don't have an Instant Pot yet, I w will include the Crock Pot version of this recipe as well!

We are getting another huge rain storm here in California, so I am all about making soup when we have this kind of weather!

Here is what you need:

- One 2.5 lb bag of frozen chicken breast tenderloins 

- 2 large cans of diced tomatoes

- 1 can of corn

- 1 can of black beans, drained (you can also use kidney beans or pinto beans)

- 1 can of diced green chilies

- 1 packet of Taco Seasoning

- 1 packet of Ranch

 Directions:

Add the bag of frozen chicken tenderloins to the Instant Pot (or Slow Cooker)
 

Then add the diced tomatoes (not drained), corn (not drained), black beans (drained), green chilies, packet of taco seasoning & packet of ranch:

Give it a big stir:

Then put the lid on your Instant Pot turn the knob to SEALING:

 Cook on Manual High Pressure for 20 minutes.
(You can also use Chicken Breasts instead of Chicken breast tenderloins, so if you do, I would bump the cook time to 25 minutes) 

Do a natural release for 15 minutes

(This means you don't touch anything and you let the pressure cooker naturally release)

After 15 minutes, you might need to do a manual release to get the rest of the steam out.

When you open the Instant Pot, it will look like this:

 I wanted to make sure the chicken was fully cooked, so I took some of them out & they shredded easily & beautifully! The chicken was perfect & falling apart!

 I added the chicken back into the Instant Pot and stirred it all together. The rest of the chicken easily shredded with 2 forks while in the Instant Pot.

We serve this soup with a garnish of sour cream, shredded cheese & avocado:

 I also serve it with some tortilla chips on the side.

We love it with the avocado on top...so fresh tasting!

 I make this soup several times a month because we all love it...even my kids who are picky eaters.

This soup has SO much flavor and it is so easy to make....if you an open cans & dump them in a pot, you can make this soup :)

You can make this in a Crock Pot by cooking it on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

I haven't used my Crock Pot in months since I got my new BFF....the Instant Pot....this meal was made in a fraction of the time thanks to my new BFF!

 I hope you love this easy, delicious & healthy meal as much as we do!
Enjoy!

10 on 10 :: February 2017

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month!

{Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

Happy 10th of February!

We started off our morning getting ready and Luke coming into our room asking if he could bring his rescue bot fire station to Mimi's house. 

Boulder does not look amused. LOL.

The day started off rainy, so I wore my rain boots to school for the 5th day in a row.

View of my desk during break.....the essentials....my coffee, my breakfast, sharpies and my 2017 Erin Condren Planner

My accelerated class had a test today, so after school I started to make the answer key.

After school I headed to my parents to pick up Luke. The rain had stopped & the sun came out. Look at the beautiful view from my parents house:

 Luke and I came home for lunch and I decided to finally make avocado toast....

WHY HAVE I NEVER HAD AVOCADO TOAST BEFORE?!?!?! 

So good!!

I toasted a slice of sourdough bread, added half a mashed up avocado, lime juice, sea salt, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese & a dash of crushed red peppers. 

We picked up the girls from school and then headed to Target.

 Kids were starving, so it was slurpees & popcorn for an afternoon snack. #nothealthy

 We got home and since it was Friday & there is no homework (yay!) so Kate set up solitaire.

  We taught her to play a few weeks ago & she loves it.

For dinner, it was Friday Night so we of course had Pizza! 

We got it from our favorite deep dish place, Zachary's. We haven't been there in forever!

After dinner, Kevin was putting the kids to bed and I laid down in bed and was going to watch an episdode or 2 of Switched at Birth, but then I fell asleep. At 7:45 on a Friday night!!!!

I have been fighting the cough/cold that my whole family has had, but it caught up with me and my body was telling me I needed sleep. I got 14 hours of sleep on Friday night!!!!! CRAZY!

I can't believe I fell asleep so early....I am a night owl & usually go to bed at midnight. I don't know the last time I fell asleep so early!

So, there is a snap shot of our day.....Hope you had a great 10th!

+++++++++++++++++
I couldn't let this post go by without telling you about this Flash Sale!

Just when I thought our Rodan + Fields deal couldn't get any better, it has! 

We have a Valentine's Day Flash Sale today & tomorrow.

  Give yourself the gift of good skin this Valentine's Day!

***Flash sale ends tomorrow night 2/14 at midnight***
Any NEW Preferred Customers who order a the regimen & lash boost bundle or if you order a regimen & amp roller bundle you will receive your choice for FREE:
Multi Function Eye Cream or Anti Aging Lip Serum ($60 value each) 

Not only will you get a FREE eye cream or FREE lip serum, you will also save 30% on the order and get $20 cash back

CURRENT CUSTOMERS: if you refer me to a friend that becomes a PC
I'll GIFT one to you as well!!

Find out what products are good for your skin {HERE}

All products have a 60-day empty bottle, 100% of your money back guarantee!
Email me to place an order:

melissa_larson17@yahoo.com

This + That

Here is a little THIS & THAT for you!

Snow is one of my favorite things!!!! Look at all THIS snow on the deck....you can't see the deck because of the 8 feet of snow! So crazy! I love it!

 Isn't THAT a beautiful view? We practically had the mountain to ourselves since we were skiing on Superbowl Sunday!

THIS is the most snow I have ever seen in Tahoe in my life.

All the snow is good news because we have been in a major drought and all THAT snow and rain we've been having.  

As you know, THIS past Sunday was also the Superbowl.

We were rooting for the Falcons & couldn't believe the blow out that was happening.....
Then, the Patriots were making a comeback and the game got exciting!
The power went out in the cabin with a minute left in the game....can you believe THAT happened?!?!!
We didn't even know if the Patriots had scored to tie up the game. I kept asking Siri for the score. When the game went to overtime, we listened to the rest of it on the radio in the car.
I can't believe we missed watching the ending of a historical Super Bowl!!! Ahhh!!!!


Because of all the snow & rain.....THIS is a picture of the creek in our neighborhood.

 THAT creek is normally 2 feet wide and few inches deep...look at it now!! Totally flooding and almost to the top of the bridge. Insane!

Thankful for the rain & snow....not thankful for the flooding & storm damage.

THIS is one of the best deals I have seen!

 When you buy Lash boost & a regimen, you can get up to 30% off! I have never seen a deal THAT good!!!!

THIS is Tasha....she is on my team & also one of my good friends.
 Check out her amazing results!

 Here are her lashes after 12 weeks (Lash Boost lasts 4 months)

 If you want to love your lashes and have longer, fuller, darker looking lashes and great skin,  I would love to get you started!

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THIS is so true for me......

I am THAT person who hits snooze. I am trying to not hit is as much.
#workinprogress #nightowl
#notamorningperson #ilovesleep

Did you know THAT today, February 9 is National Pizza Day? I wish I would have known sooner so I could have made us a pizza for dinner.

THIS is a collage of all the pizza recipes THAT I have on my blog....

 BBQ Chicken Pizza  {HERE} // Fig, Prosciutto & Arugula Pizza {HERE} //
Pesto Chicken, Sundried Tomato & Artichoke Pizza {HERE}

Sweet Italian Sausage, Pepperoni & Bell Pepper Pizza {HERE}  // Pepperoni, Pineapple & Jalapeño Pizza {HERE} // Margherita Pizza {HERE}

Summer Squash, Tomato, Pesto & Feta Pizza {HERE} //  Pineapple Chicken Luau with Bacon Pizza {HERE}  // Caramelized Goat Cheese & Pancetta Pizza {HERE}

Thai Chicken Pizza {HERE} // Butternut Squash, Spinach & Goat Cheese Pizza {HERE} //
Nutella Pizza {HERE}

 Good thing tomorrow is Friday night Pizza Night...we will celebrate National Pizza Day a day late.
Pretty much every Friday is National Pizza day for us :)



Last week I finished THIS book:

Get it HERE

It was really good!

I really love THAT author, so I am reading another book by her now:

Get it HERE

I started reading it in Tahoe...which was not the best idea since our cabin is in a dark, dark wood. Can you say creepy?!?! I don't recommend THAT.  Lol!  I finished reading the book back at our house.....I really liked it. I heard the book is going to be made into a movie.


 THIS is Luke's new favorite cookie: 
It has white chocolate chips and sprinkles! Recipe {HERE}
 He likes anything THAT has sprinkles :)

THIS weekend the kids will be putting together their Valentine's.
Need Valentine Ideas? I've got THAT covered for you!
Here are some that I have made over the years....I can't pick a favorite :)

Ring Pop Valentine {HERE} // Goldfish Valentines {HERE}

Smores Valentine {HERE} // Valentine you are just Write!" & "You've got the Write stuff, Valentine" {HERE}

Valentine, You are Fun! {HERE} // Starburst {HERE}

I'm stuck on You & Let's Stick Together {HERE}  //  You make my heart Pop {HERE}

Sunglasses printables {HERE}

 Sour Patch Kids {HERE} //   You make my heart flip printable {HERE}

All of the free printables can be found on my Printables tab {HERE}
And, all of the items for the Valentines were found at Target in the Valentine section.

THIS year Kate chose Sour Patch Kids/Sour Watermelon, Claire chose Fun Dip & Luke chose the heart glasses again!
 So, there you have it....a little of THIS & THAT
Hope you have a great weekend!