NEW Sexy Challenge - Tainted Love...Share it w/Your Sweetie

The word tainted is typically considered to mean something bad.  Yet, when you and your beloved practice getting tainted it is going to be an amazing and wonderful experience.  This Sexy Challenge will build trust between the two of you and increase your pleasure by leaps and bounds.  You will never look at the word tainted the same way again.

Pick up this new Sexy Challenge on iTunes, Amazon , Barnes & Noble.

Have You Got Your Free Sexy Challenge Yet?

Sexy Challenges offers a wonderful Free issue that will have you uncovering those things that hold you back from having the greatest sex with your partner ever.  

Click here to pick up your copy on iTunes

Are You Listening To Your Heartbeats?

Have you ever been, what you would call too tired for sex?  Well listen in on our podcast Sexy Challenge Heartbeats as we cover that topic and many many others.  

Click here to pick it up on iTunes.

Black Friday - Looks A lot like Looting

The American public has found a way to make a holiday out of shopping and fighting.  It is a Jerry Springer show waiting to happen.  What a stupid idea to put everything on sale on one day so that you have fights over items, people stressed beyond believe, and stores packed so tight you can't even get around.  What a great way to start the holiday season!  If you look at the picture above it looks more like people looting than actually shopping.  This should be a wonderful day to spend with the family not one fighting over a piece of electronics or toys with strangers.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone out there has the best Thanksgiving ever.  

Rob and Janelle - The Couples Spot

Shape Up Your Relationship

The holidays are here!  Isn't it time to figure out what is going on in your relationship?

Maybe it needs a little boost?  Maybe is needs a major overhaul?  

Well, how about taking a step towards figuring some of it out?

Check out The Shape of Your Relationship Virtual Workshop

Does your relationship need a boost?

Don't know what your partner wants?

Feel like your partner doesn't listen?

Want to enhance your sex life?

This workshop gives you a unique and fun way to

*Deepen the bond between you

*Uncover what influences your relationship

*Enhance your sex life

*Discover your uniqueness and your partner's 

*Understand your partner

*Understand YOU

*Decrease arguments

*Get your partner to see through your eyes

*Build your relationship on your foundation

*Open doors of communication

We will work with 7 basic shapes and how they relate to your relationship.  We will also share a bonus shape that combines all 7.  

All participants will receive a packet with the shape worksheets, a copy of one Sexy Challenge, and a copy of one Intimate Adventure.

And.......it is only a $25 investment!!!!  What????  Seriously!!!  That makes it affordable to just about everyone!

And.......attend via phone or computer - no traveling - total privacy - total comfort!  

Click here to Register Now!  

Photo credit © Carlson - Fotolia.com

Sexy Challenges - Challenges Your Moods

Change the mood and change your experience. This Sexy Challenge helps you uncover a lot about you and your lover. You will learn what affects your mood by using the five main senses: touch, smell, sound, sight and taste. Raise your awareness of what things act like an aphrodisiac for you and for your partner. What brings about erotic feelings and sensations? Each and every time you do this challenge it will be different. This is an experience that you may very well want to repeat over and over again. 

Click here to pick up your copy of Moods

Sexual Paintings As Works Of Art

Having sexual paintings in your home might not be a bad thing.  Like this Monet painting above - it leads you to a very sensual feeling.  What an atmosphere these paintings can create!  

Money Savers Dress Up Hot Dogs

Okay we all know that Hot Dogs are a cheap meal but you can use this inexpensive product and dress it up to create an amazing and different meal.  Search the web for gourmet hot dog recipes and you will find a wide range of idea.  Like the ones above which are mexican dogs.  

Imortalize Your Love

How many picture of the two of you do you have?  I would guess not enough.  One sure way to immortalize your love it to have lot of picture of the two of you in different places.  You don't have to go so far as having a statue made but if that works for you go for it.  The point of all this is to have items that are visual images of your love for each other.  Those visuals of your love can help serve as a constant reminder of your love for each other.  

Can Sacred Mean Fun????

It's Friday and it is the day that we answer questions from our listeners.   The topic on this show is if you put sacredness into your intimacy can it still be fun.  Join us as we answer this question and show that the word sacred doesn't have to mean stiff.  Fun is an important part of any relationship and part of making it sacred is allowing that fun and laughter to weave it's way into your intimacy.  If you might have a question for us to explore please send it to us at janelle@inwardoasis.com .  Until then keep loving and laughing.

Click here to listen in on Sexy Challenge Heartbeats 

Get a jump on your fireplace now.

For those of you lucky enough to have a fire place inside your house, now is the time to get things ready for those romantic nights spend in front of the fire as the snow flies. Do some initial checking to make sure you fire place is clean and ready to warm up the night. Hire a chimney sweep to get a professional job, they really are not that expensive and will add live and safety to your fire place. Once you know that the fire place is ready it is time to make sure the area around the fireplace is ready. Do you have comfortable chairs to relax in as the you listen to the crackle of the wood. Speaking of wood have you stocked up on it, once the first snow starts falling it makes it a little harder to get the wood and if you pay for it, it will be more expensive once the snow hits. Make sure you have plenty of tables around for sitting drinks or books or anything else you might need as the fire warms you up. Stock up on your favorite relaxing drink and make sure you have the proper tools to work with the fire. All this work might seem a bit much right now but think of it this way when your partner drops their robe to reveal a sexy little nighty the last think you want to worry about is that it is getting cold in the room. Now on the other hand if you have everything in place you are free to enjoy that little nighty, too

When You Are In Love, Anywhere Can Be Romantic

One of the most amazing things about being in love is that it turns the entire world into a romantic place.  Think about it when you first fell in love it didn't matter where you ended up as long as you were together.  Like this picture above you can almost feel the love these young lovers have for each other.  A park bench is usually very uncomfortable but in this case it because the most comfy place because of the love being shared.  Where have you found love to make it better in your life and we would love you to share you comments below.  

Photo from Creative Commons

Comfortable Sweatshirts (Red Hooded Sweatshirt)

One of the best things about this time of year is pulling out your favorite sweatshirt and enjoying it during the fall season.  Check out the video below from Adam Sandler about his Red Hooded Sweatshirt and see how much love a person can have for a sweatshirt.

Plus if anyone of you know me very well you know I can't resist a chance to put an Adam Sandler bit into my posts.

Play in the Leaves

As a kids we use to have the grandest time playing in the leaves.  Now leaves just are about raking and chores to us.  I remember the days when we would rake all the leaves in our yard just to make a pile big enough to jump into.  You know this can still be a fun activity for us in our adult life.  If you have kids you have an in right there.  If not invite the neighbor children (with their parents permission) to come down and help celebrate fall with you, heck why not just invite the neighborhood over.  

One year as kids we collected leaves from every yard in the neighborhood.  Dragged them down to one house with a old bed sheet and made a monster pile of leaves.  The entire neighborhood came down and either jumped in or took pictures / video.  Why not start that tradition in your neighborhood, the kids will love it and you can let that inner kid in you out to play for a while  

Photo from Creative Commons

Bullying - Stop it Now - Maureen McGrath

Watch this video on Bullying!  Maureen McGrath explains how bullying can cross over into work as well as your personal life.  All I can say is "Stop IT"  bullying only makes you look like an idiot besides being hurtful to others.  

Where would you leave a love note for your partner?

Our readers respond to the best places to leave a love note for your partner. It seems that our readers enjoy leaving hand written notes for their lovers to find in places like, in a pocket of their clothes, or on their pillow (both of these received 37% of the votes) Sending the note via the regular mail and texting both brought a response of 12%. Our readers would avoid sending a love note over email or voice mail. So it seems the old fashion hand written note works the best left in a place for them to discover it later.

Careful What You Say Around Your Kids

I was just sitting in the living room when my 5 year old son just says, "I'm Horny"  Now I know that he got the line off the movie Grown Ups.  However my concern rises where he might be saying this at school, leading his teachers to wonder why he is saying this.  We explained that it isn't something to say for a young person but as I am explaining this to him.  He shows me a toy and the toy has a horn on it's head.  He points to it and says well he is horny!  The innocent age is wonderful and one day he will really will be horny but for today it is just his toy!

Sexy Challenge Heartbeats - Relationship Evolution

Join Rob and Janelle on this episode of Sexy Challenge Heartbeats as they talk about how your relationship evolves over time.  If you think your relationship will stay the same for ever you might be surprised at what you will hear.  Click the link below and enjoy the show!  Make sure to subscribe via iTunes so you never miss a show.

Sexy Challenge Heartbeats Podcast

Podcast Powered By Podbean

5 Ways to Make Sex Sensual

Here is a guest post we did for Get Lusty for couples 

getlusty.com 

5 Ways to Make Sex Sensual

When you hear the word “sensual” you are most likely going to relate it to something sexual. If someone says to you, “You should try these strawberries. They are the most sensual fruit I have ever tasted,” where does your mind go?

Does it click in on just the fact that those strawberries must have been ripened to perfection? Or does your mind instantly click to a sexy image of biting into the fruit? What if someone offers to take you on a sensual journey? The first thing that probably comes to mind is the sexual scenario implied by such an offer and not the possibility he/she was just inviting you to the local grocery and department store. That could be sensual after all – taste this food, smell that cologne, feel this fabric, hear that song, read those tabloid headlines. 

Yet, isn’t doing your regular shopping something you sometimes dread. It has become boring. It feels like a chore. You just want to hurry up and get it over with because you know you need to do it, but really don’t want to. Uh oh, those descriptions might well cover something else in your life. Sex. 

Sex can absolutely be animalistic and a rip your clothes off and jump on your partner experience, but it can be very slow and sensual too. It should never just be about taking off your clothes, getting under the covers, groping each other a couple of minutes and then bumping and grinding for a few more minutes. So, how can you explore sensuality and bring it back into your sex life? Remember that sensual means that you are gratifying the senses. Satisfying all of your desires such as seeing, touching, smelling, hearing, and tasting is where sensuality really arrives on the scene. And, guess what, satisfying your sixth sense – your intuition or spiritual self is quite sensual too.

Here are 5 ways to make your intimate play sensual. Bonus: Call it intimate play ;) That changes it up right from the start.

#1 Focus on sensation

Wear clothing that feels good on your skin. Silk is a common suggestion here as it is cool to touch and so smooth. The feel of it brushing against your skin throughout the day can be a turn on. And, when your partner touches you through the silk that can be extremely exciting for both of you. If you don’t want to wear a sensual type of material during the day, then pick up some silk scarves or a feather or something velvety. Then you can use these different items to drag over your lover’s skin later in the evening. Focus on the sensation of the material or item touching you. It may be relaxing, tickly, or it may just have you ready to grab your lover and get busy.

#2 Light up your senses

Bring different flavors and smells into your lovemaking. One interesting way to do this is to get the Sexy Challenge: Lips Like Sugar as it offers you unique insight into trying different tastes with and/or upon your partner. Adding different flavors to your physically intimate life with your beloved can occur in a variety of ways. Food may seem like an obvious thing to bring into your lovemaking and there are many ways to do that, but don’t overlook flavored lubes as well. There are also a vast number of ways to bring in amazing aromas. Scented candles (we always recommend flameless candles for safety), lotions, colognes, lubes, and the different food items are all great ways to enhance your sensuality.

#3 Listen

What about hearing? How can you make that sensual? You could whisper sexy phrases or words of love into your partner’s ear. You could turn on music that you both enjoy and that will get you in the mood.

But, what about hearing the sound of your lover’s laughter! Bringing laughter and silliness into your sex life can be an amazing experience. Just let go and be goofy together. Laughter and lightheartedness will bring powerful, playful passion into your life and hopefully, you will come to appreciate the sensuous sound of your lover’s laugh.

#4 Massage

Time for a little naked massage! Yay! This actually satisfies more than one sense. With low lighting you can visually soak up the beauty of your sweetie all oiled up and glistening, but you can enjoy the aromas of scented oils or just the animalistic smell of him/her too. With both of you naked you can take turns rubbing your hands, your feet and your entire body – yep, genitals are great massage tools too – over your lover. 

#5 Focus on their pleasure

Last, but not least, we highly recommend that you pay attention and be consciously aware not only during foreplay and lovemaking, but at the peak of orgasm, after you are coming down from orgasm and for the next couple of days.

How do you feel? Did you notice anything out of the ordinary – visions, images, an extreme sense of bliss or simply like you entered a void or time was suspended? Sexual orgasmic energy taps you into the creative source (call it whatever you like – the Universe, Spirit, God, the Divine or even I don’t know what it is, but it sure feels goooood). This access to creativity through orgasm is why we want you to pay attention up to a few days later to see if you are more creative, have new ideas, solve problems easier than normal or maybe you just have a bigger smile on your face and feel energized. 

Use these five ways to bring more sensuality into your sex life and we believe you will transform your relationship and take your intimacy to a higher level – no matter where it is now. 

We're so excited to get a couple writing for GetLusty! They're both adorable, smart and altogether wonderful!

Dr. Janelle Alex, Ph.D. and Rob Alex, M.Sc. are writers, counselors as well as Sacred and Sensual Teachers. They recently completed an eBook on "Sexy Challenges: Sacret and Sensual Experiences for Lovers" which is on sale at Amazon! Learn more about them on Sexy Challenges.

Just Go With It

On a weekend trip to Hawaii, a plastic surgeon convinces his loyal assistant to pose as his soon-to-be-divorced wife in order to cover up a careless lie he told to his much-younger girlfriend.

Adam Sandler hits another home run in this movie that shows you that sometimes love is right under your nose! This movie will have you snuggled up laughing and remembering why you love your partner.  

Eating better for Intimacy

Don't feel well? Take a pill. A few pounds to lose? Take a pill. No energy? Take a pill. Depressed? Take a pill. Today's society is a pill society. Many studies have been done to show that if people are given a placebo (sugar pill) and told that it will increase their sexual performance; the majority will say that they noticed an increase in their sexual performance. It has proven that enhancing the libido, at least the most important part of it, comes from the mind. So now we wonder, how does food affect a person's sexual and emotional health?

Soy can be used to suppress hot flashes that occur hot flashes, promote a healthy prostate, and help in vaginal lubrication. It adheres to estrogen receptors which maintain the lubrication that a vagina needs. This is a problem that also occurs during menopause. Chili peppers can improve your circulation and stimulate nerve endings. Ginger can do the same thing. Because this improves, so will your sexual pleasure.

Since good blood flow is important for a good erection food that is good for your heart will also be good for your penis. If your heart is not operating properly there is a very good chance that your penis will not be responding as well as you would like it to either. Since saturated fat will clog the arteries, which in turn will restrict the blood flow, it stands to reason that it also restricts the blood flow that reaches your genital region as well. Yes, your body does require fat to create hormones, but it needs the right kind of fats. Good fat comes from olive oils, sea food, and nuts. These good fats will help in the production of hormones that are essential for sexual peak performance.

Foods that are said to have aphrodisiac qualities are asparagus, bananas, eel, oysters, figs, and ginseng. Rhino horn is said to increase the sexual appetite. The taste, texture, or perhaps appearance of these foods are thought to increase the sex drive. There are some that believe if you eat foods that appear penis like it will make your penis strong and like the food that you ingest. The same applies to the oyster or the fig, which either smell or look like the woman's vulva when aroused. When a person eats these foods they are in the hopes that the vulva will then become plump, slippery, and tasty as well.

Sweet or spicy foods are thought to put people in a relaxed mood and to appear ready to take on more pleasure.

Now the question remains, do these food myths work? No, not the way that they are said to work. Foods cannot change the way that your sexual organs look. Food can be a great way to spice up your sex life though, so why not?

Drinking alcohol will relax you emotionally and physically make you look flushed. For a short amount of time it will make you look flushed. Caffeine and sugar offer a quick boost of energy. These are short term effects but in reality what you should do is eat a healthy diet of fish and fresh vegetables to be at your best physically and sexually at all times.

You can make food part of your sexual experience by cooking a meal with your lover and feeding it to each other. Have a picnic in the middle of the floor, place the foods all around you and let your imagination take over. 'The Karma Sutra' suggests boiling a ram's or goat's testicle in sweetened milk with sparrow's eggs and rice and honey for an aphrodisiac.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as female sexual enhancement at http://www.femalesexualpleasureplus.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/293298

Vitamin O

Vitamin O

We all know how important it is for the body to get the vitamins and minerals it needs.  But, have you ever stopped to think about what your body gets from orgasms?  I think far too many people look past orgasms as being purely pleasure.  While orgasms are incredibly pleasurable, they also give your body many more things that you need.  The health benefits of orgasm have been scientifically proven.  However, it goes truly goes beyond the physical.  Orgasms are a connection to the Divine, the void, God or whatever you want to call it.  

Has this got you thinking?  Now you might consider Vitamin O as a major part of your overall life and not just a health aid.  

--Rob

Is Sex Yoga?

Here is a question for you was sex at one time yoga could it be the other way around could yoga have been sex?  As we look back to the Kama Sutra and we see these vary different sexual positions I can't help but think about how closely they resemble yoga?  While here in the USA we have broken both yoga and sex into physical activities, there are both actually very spiritual pursuits.  Could they have been at one time one in the same?  Allowing lovers to connect their bodies and souls in spiritual bliss.  Maybe this is a bit of a stretch (no pun intended) or maybe it is more actual than we want to believe.  

Photo from Creative Commons

Month of Thanks

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.

Chinese Proverb

Think about all those that work hard so we can have food easily this month as we prepare for our Thanksgiving Feast.  

Lock Up Those Valuable (Sex Toys)

Here is a box that you could use as a safe for your sex toys.  

We all hear stories about couples that are embarrassed by their young children getting into that magical drawer beside the bed.   You know the one where all the goodies are kept for easy access during love making.   The solution is so simple just get a case with a lock on it.  You could even get a fire proof box to keep those items even safer.  The point of all this is now your children will not have access to these items.  Now you don't have to worry about them coming into the living room while you have quests over with those interesting items.  

The Painted Picture

I feel that every couple should create a work of art out of their love.  So much so that they can actually create the work and hang it in their home.  Using their bodies and their passion to create this work of art will create an amazing work to enjoy for a long long time.  

You can use this Sexy Challenges to lead you through the process.

Kissing and Germs

Does kissing pass germs back and forth between a couple?  If that were the case I believe that we would never be able to get rid of any type of virus.  We would pass it back forth constantly.  I personally think that as we share everything in our lives as a couple that we share the germs too.  Thusly we share the germs and don't just pass them back and forth.  So in my mind in terms of a couple that live together they don't have germs for both people but they have couples germs.  So don't worry about kissing each other when your sick.  I feel that the energy of the love you pass far out weighs the germs that you will be sharing.  

Meet Me At The Coffee Shop

Okay as relationship go we usually spend most of our time together in our dwelling.  While this convenient it is not always the best thing to just sit around the house together.  I suggest getting out and finding the smallest coffee shop in your area you can.  Make it a date once a week to meet for a cup of coffee or tea and have some amazing conversations.  Coffee shops are famous for fostering conversation and it will get you out of your normal home life.  Plus the smells are amazing in a coffee shop.  All these wonderful things will breath into your relationship soon you will be calling your partner and saying, "Meet me at OUR coffee shop"

Sexy Challenge Heartbeats

Here is the newest podcast that can help your relationship.  Sexy Challenge Heartbeats will give you some great information and ideas to improve the intimate part of your relationship.  Tune in on iTunes or click the link below to check out their site.

Sexy Challenge Heartbeats

Quote on Marriage

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. 
Mignon McLaughlin 

Whatzzz Upppp

Okay it might be a little corny but after watching Adam Sandler's latest movie, "That's My Boy"  We have to give a shout out to the line that was annoying but is still fun to say.  

What other classic lines do you feel should make a come back?  Spend some time talking about those famous lines from commercials or movies and see where it leads the two of you.  

Start a Change Jar!

As a couple it is hard sometimes to fit things into your budget. Especially those things that are not necessities of life. This is why you need to start a change jar. Simply find a jar that can hold lots of coins and start chucking all your loose change into the jar. Here is the important part, stay out of the jar. Don't get into it for change for the vending machine or for other little things that would deplete your new funds. This money is to be used for frivolous things. Things such as vacations, or date night for the two of you. The moment you give in and start extracting money your special times will go right out the door with it. Plus no one counts on the change that accumulates in your pockets so it seems like free and clear money. This way you won't be feeling guilty about taking that vacation or going to that fancy restaurant on only your change. Make sure you get a big enough jar to hold all the fund and set up a savings account to hold it if your jar gets to full. You have to be tough and refuse to dip into the jar but with a little self discipline you shouldn't have to much trouble and when you are on the beach somewhere you will be glad you didn't get into it.

The Opposite

King of doing the Opposite George Costanza

It is funny that sometimes we feel like we always make the wrong choice.  We constantly sit around and ponder what would have been different if we made the other choice.  Now this only happens when things go wrong.  If your life seems to be taking all wrong turns then maybe you do need to go against the grain and choose a little differently.  The clip below might make you think about it.  The point of all this is step out of your comfort zone from time to time and see what happens.  

Click on this link to watch how George Costanza make this work for him

Sexy Challenges - Veils

Sexy Challenges loves giving you free stuff and now they have done it again.  The newest FREE Sexy Challenge hits iTunes with rave reviews.  

Veils offers you a way to strip away the layers that might keep you from experiencing your intimacy in a deeper manner.  While giving you a fun and exciting way to do it.  Pick up your copy today for free on iTunes and see what happens in your life.  

Click here to get your FREE copy on iTunes

Capture The Energy of Art Together

Van Gogh was one of the best artists at capturing energy on canvass.

One thing I love to do and share with my partner is to stand in front of an amazing work of art and just absorb the energy that the artists put into the work of art.  The beauty of this is that it can be from a well known artists such as the Van Gogh above or an unknown artists.  The energy that each artists puts into their work is the most energy that they can offer.  It is not only energy it is passion and if the two of you can soak this up and bring it home with you, well the possibilities are endless.  Allowing this energy and passion to flow through you and energize your creative side, now that my friends is power.

Lelo Changing the Face of Vibration

Lelo a newer company in the sexual industry is creating quite a still with different product and shapes than the normal sex toys.  Not only are the shapes different but the concepts are vastly different.  I could go into detail on these great products but it would be easier for you to see for yourself by checking out their website below.

http://lelo.com

Cold BBQ's

Okay I know it is starting to get a little colder out and grilling season is about over.  However I want you to start planning a little cold weather BBQ.  I want you to keep your eyes open this early part of winter for the first day it snows a good amount.  Then as a couple call or email all your friend and invite them over for a winter cook out.   I am sure you will get some odd looks and comments.  Surprise your friends by heating up the grill cooking those amazing burgers on the grill and icing down the beer and wine in the snow.  Fill out the day by playing games inside or watching your favorite team play football.  You could possibly start a winter tradition that everyone will be waiting for.  

Photo from Creative Commons

Is Your Relationship Glowing

I want to take a moment to tell you about a product that we found very fun and exciting.  Nature Lovin' Lubricants has a lube that actually glows in the dark.  Think of all the possibilities that you could have with a lube that glows in the dark.  As an added bonus Nature Lovin' Lubricants are safe for both you and the planet.  You can find this amazing lube as well as many of their other products by clicking on their name below.  Make to tell them that The Couples Spot sent you and have fun.

Nature Lovin' Lubricants

Recipe For A Great Relationship

Ingredients for a wonderful relationship

1 part friends

1 part partners

1 part lovers 

Mix well and enjoy.

-Rob Alex-

Join Us, Howling at the Moon and Raising the Sexual Vibration of the Plant

Okay it is time for you to experience one of the most powerful experiences of your life time.  Join us in the pursuit of raising the sexual vibration of the universe.  Click the link below to sign up on Facebook and let the world know how powerful intimacy can be.  

Click here to Join the Cause

Lips Like Sugar - A Great Way To Spice Things Up

Want an interesting way to spend the evening with your partner?  Why not pick up the newest Sexy Challenge and start getting in the habit of experiencing your intimacy in a much more connected way.  

Click here to pick up your copy on iTunes

Cheap Meals for Couples Mexican Chicken Soup from Barefoot Contessa At HOme

Mexican Chicken Soup

2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home, All Rights Reserved

Prep Time:

15 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

50 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

• 4 split (2 whole) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
• Good olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups chopped onions (2 onions)
• 1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
• 2 cups chopped carrots (4 carrots)
• 4 large cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 1/2 quarts chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in puree, crushed
• 2 to 4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander seed
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, optional
• 6 (6-inch) fresh white corn tortillas

Directions

For serving: sliced avocado, sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and tortilla chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a sheet pan. Rub with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until done. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat. Cover and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions start to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes with their puree, jalapenos, cumin, coriander, 1 tablespoon salt (depending on the saltiness of the chicken stock), 1 teaspoon pepper, and the cilantro, if using. Cut the tortillas in 1/2, then cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch strips and add to the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and season to taste. Serve the soup hot topped with sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and broken tortilla chips.