Chicken Noodle Soup

Fall was here, really, I promise. But, winter is definitely heading our way.With colder temps and work still to be done outside that helps you "cool off", I dream of hot coffee in the afternoon and soup for dinner. I found this recipe recently as I was craving a good chicken noodle soup. It definitely hit the spot, more so the second day, as soup always tastes better on the second day!

This is a stock photo. This recipe does not call for peas and corn in the soup. :)

YIELD: about 12 cups

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

COOK TIME: about 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced thin (about 1 1/2 large carrots)
1 cup celery, sliced thin (about 2 stalks) - I didn't have it so I used dried celery flakes to taste
1 cup sweet Vidalia or yellow onion, peeled and diced small (about 1 medium onion)
2 garlic cloves, minced
64 ounces (8 cups) chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
12 ounces wide egg noodles (or your favorite noodles or pasta)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (use storebought rotisserie chicken to save time; or roast or cook your own chicken in a skillet)
3 to 4 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
salt, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add the oil and heat over medium-high heat to warm.
Add the carrots, celery, onion, and sauté for about 7 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften. Stir intermittently.
Add the garlic and sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, pepper, and bring to a boil. Allow mixture to boil gently for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are fork-tender.
Add the egg noodles and boil mixture for about 10 minutes, or until noodles are soft and cooked through. At any time while making the soup, if the overall liquid level is lower than you like and you prefer more broth, adding a cup or two of water is okay. At the end you will adjust the salt level.
Add the chicken, parsley, optional lemon juice (brightens up the flavor), and boil 1 to 2 minutes, or until chicken is warmed through. Taste soup and add salt to taste. Make any necessary seasoning adjustments (i.e. more salt, pepper, herbs, etc.), remove the bay leaves, and serve immediately. 

Soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.