Chicken Cheese Tortilla Soup

knock off of the Applebees soup

Serves 8-10
Prep Time 1:15

Tortilla strips or chips
1 large onion minced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 TBS vegetable or olive oil
15 oz can tomato puree or crushed tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
up to 1/2 cup hot sauce - to taste (tabasco red sauce or taco bell packets)
1/2 med. green bell pepper - seeded minced (optional)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup all purpose flour mixed with 1/2 cup water
1 lb. boneless, skinless cooked chicken cubed (optional)
1 cup heavy whipping cream (or fat free half and half)
1/4 cup sour cream (low-fat okay)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 TBS chopped fresh cilantro - for garnish (optional)

Step one:    In a large pot over medium high heat, saute onions and garlic in oil until soft
Step two:    add the next 10 ingredients to the pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes
Step three:  whisk flour/water mixture into soup
Step four:   bring contents of pot to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes stirring occasionally
Step five:   add chicken to pot and continue to simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
Step six:     add cream, sour cream, and cheese to pot; stir until cheese has melted.
Step seven: pour soup into bowls, pile tortilla strips into "haystack" shape on top of the soup and garnish with cilantro