YWM2015 Room Block is OPEN and the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter World Famous Tortilla Soup

The discounted room block at the Marriott Rivercenter the site of the Your Weight Matters National Convention, August 13-16 in San Antonio, Texas has officially opened. The hotel is lovely, right on the Riverwalk and a short walk from The Alamo. FYI: We always sell out the rooms so if you are planning on coming be sure to book your room soon. The committee has begun planning all the wonderful speakers, education, and fun for the weekend. If you want to get the info straight to your inbox as we release it, you can sign up for e-alerts.

I am proudly serving as the Convention Committee Chair this year and was able to tour the hotel the weekend before last. We held our annual Strategic Planning Meeting for the Obesity Action Coalition at the hotel. Most of the convention committee was in attendance so the committee could get a look at the space and how best to utilize it as we plan for our programs that weekend. I had checked out the location online and review after review mentioned, "you MUST TRY the soup," "Get the soup!" "The Tortilla Soup is fabulous." In the interest of research I had to have umm a few bowls over the weekend. Oh and they were right. Yum. Soooo good.

We are staying in San Antonio in the summer and while it will be toasty outside (hotels are always chilly inside, I needed a sweatshirt in the hotel in Phoenix in August) I believe the soup is on the menu all year. If you can't wait to try it, I found the recipe online, made some slight modifications for the home kitchen and it is spot on. It is a protein packed, super simple (less than 30 minutes from start to slurp) dinner for a chilly night. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I also hope we'll get hang out this summer together over a bowl of soup or the hotel does have an on-site Starbuck's so maybe an Iced Coffee.


Shelly's version of the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter World Famous Tortilla Soup

1/2 large White Onion, sliced
3 medium Tomatoes, diced
2 cups of Chicken Stock
1 cup Picante Sauce
1 Cooked Chicken Breast, shredded (about 1/2-3/4 cup)
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
Salt to taste
a few twists of Black Pepper
1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped
Sliced Avocado
Shredded Cheese

In a soup pot (I got to christen my Christmas present Le Creuset pot) saute onions till golden. Add tomatoes, stock, picante sauce (heat level to your taste, I used mild), salt, pepper, cumin, and most of the cilantro. Dice cooked chicken and add to broth. This is great to make the day after a baked chicken dinner, just toss an extra breast in the oven for this, with leftover Rotisserie chicken or if your supermarket deli department sells baked chicken breasts. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Add remaining cilantro a few minutes before serving.


Top each bowl of soup with sliced avocado and shredded cheese. I know you are wondering where are the tortillas in this Tortilla Soup?! I don't do chips, you won't miss them I promise. The hotel gives you them on the side to add (or not add) as you like. Makes 2 very generous sized bowls.

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