Creamy Coconut Soup

I'm not really a soup person unless it's chili or chowder, but I'll make an exception for this soup.  There's nothing like a warm bowl of deliciousness to make your belly feel full and cozy on a cold winter evening.  Ok, so I'm in California and it doesn't get that cold, but it's still a nice feeling!  Plus, it's an easy @home date night activity.  Michelle and I took turns cooking and it was so easy and fun!

 I know, I know, share the image and recipe already!  So here goes!

Creamy Coconut Soup
2 tsp coconut oil*
4 whole Thai Birds Eye Chilies*
2 13.5 oz cans of coconut milk - don't use the kind you buy in the dairy section, it's not creamy enough
1/2 cup chicken stock
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
2 stalks dried lemongrass cut diagonally
zest of 1 lime
1 lb of boneless skinless chicken thighs
3 whole crimini mushrooms (baby bella)
1 can of bamboo shoots (if you can find fresh...great!)
1 cup bean sprouts (we found organic and fresh at Whole Foods)
juice of 1 lime
2 Roma tomatoes cut into cubes

1. Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat.  Add the chilies until they look toasted and are fragrant.
2. Add the milk and bring to a boil stirring constantly so as to not allow the milk to scald. I had Michelle stir the milk while I cut up the chicken.
3. Add the chicken stock, ginger, lemongrass, lime zest and chicken.  Allow to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly, so as to allow the chicken to cook through.  During this time, Michelle stirred while I chopped and washed the vegetables.
4. Add the mushrooms, lime juice and tomatoes.  Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  At this point, I took over stirring and Michelle got out our handy dandy lime juicer and squeezed in the lime juice.

If possible, remove the lemongrass and chilis before serving.  If not, just be honest that they're in there for flavor, but not actually edible.

*I love lots of ingredients in my soup, but if you want it a little "brothier" up the milk to 3 cans and use 3/4 c. chicken stock

Costco carries an organic Chicken Stock that doesn't have any non-paleo ingredeints.  Be sure to read chicken stock and chicken broth ingredients if you don't make your own.  There's lots of non-paleo ingredients in those items.