Creamy Chicken with Wild Rice Soup

It's soup weather, meaning that the temperatures here in Central Texas are below 80 degrees- wahoo! Actually, it looks like fall might be here to stay and the temperatures are more like 70-75 degrees during the day and low 60s at night, which is so very awesome.

I first had this dish prepared for me by a friend, right after I had baby #3. She brought it for my family to have for dinner one night and it was a hit! Well, let me correct that statement. It was a hit with the adults present but my two older children were turned off by the orange veggies in sight (carrots). I picked out the carrots for them and they were good to go.

I have since made it twice more and I just love it. It warms my belly up nice and good!

Creamy Chicken with Wild Rice Soup
(source: www.allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• Minced garlic and onion
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2-3 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 box quick-cooking Uncle Ben’s Long Grain and Wild Rice, dry
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups half & half

Directions:

1. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté carrots, celery, garlic and onion in some olive oil until tender.
2. Add broth and chicken. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice, reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat.
3. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and flour. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons to form a roux. Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through and vegetables are cooked.

Modifications:

• I used a rotisserie chicken which lessened the work and time.
• I decreased the amount of butter to 1/4 cup.
• I used fat-free half and half creamer instead of the full fat version.  

When Lisa isn't busy caring for her three young children, she can be found at her personal blog Growing Up Mo' or journaling about her weight loss journey at The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.