Southwestern Chicken And Corn Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

10 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 large jalapeno chile pepper, diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 pinch cayenne pepper
5 cups Swanson(R) Unsalted Chicken Broth
3 1/2 cups Yukon gold potatoes, 3/4-inch dice
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
3 cups frozen corn
3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
Garnishes:
1/2 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup chopped green onion

Preparation

Place bacon in a Dutch oven and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and slightly crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon pieces on paper towels. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons bacon grease from pot.
Melt butter in the pot with the remaining bacon grease over medium heat. Add onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeno. Sautee until just softened, 5 or 6 minutes. Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute. Whisk in flour and stir until completely incorporated, about 2 minutes.
Season with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Gradually whisk in Swanson(R) Unsalted Chicken Broth, stirring to prevent flour from clumping. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add potatoes and green chilies; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until vegetables begin to soften, about 12 minutes
Stir in frozen corn and chopped chicken. Add 1/2 cup of cooked bacon pieces. Add half and half; stir. Reduce heat to low; simmer very slowly until chicken and corn are heated through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat. Stir in 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese until cheese melts.
Pour soup into bowls and garnish with reserved bacon, grated Cheddar cheese, cilantro, and green onions.