Quick Tortilla Soup

Brown 1 pound ground beef or diced chicken with minced garlic and 1 whole diced onion.
Add celery if desired.Drain meat if needed.
Add 3 or 4 cups boiling water with 3 or 4 beef or chicken (or a combination) boullion cubes added.
Add 1 can diced tomatoes (fire roasted if you can find them), 1can corn, 1 can tomato soup, and 1 can any style creamed soup. I also add a can of pinto beans occasionally when I am in the mood.
Add 1 can green mexican sauce (with tomatillos) such as Herdez.
Add more water if needed until the desired the consistency is reached.
Add salt, chili powder and cumin to taste.
Hot pepper sauce or chipotle peppers or chopped green chilies may also be added if desired. Cook about 30 minutes.
Serve with crumbled corn tortilla chips on top, with grated cheese and sour cream if desired.
 
Alternate Mexican Pasta Soup
Substitute 1 pound ground pork. Substitute 1 can golden tomatoes for the diced tomatoes. Substitute creamed soup for the tomato soup. Delete chili powder. Add 1 can chopped green chilis and 1 can green herdez sauce. Add some kind of pasta near the end of cooking and adjust water as needed.