Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

6 cups chicken broth
2 cups cooked chicken, chopped (or more if desired) 
 (recipe for broth and chicken below)
1 (6 oz.) box Uncle Ben's Country Inn Chicken and Wild Rice with seasoning packet
1 1/2 cups carrots, thinly sliced rounds
1 cup  finely chopped celery
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup cream or half n half

Bring broth to a simmer. Add chopped cooked chicken, carrots, celery and rice (don't add the seasoning packet yet). Simmer covered for about 20 minutes. 
In a medium sauce pan, melt 6 tablespoons of butter and add seasoning packet and black pepper.
Whisk in flour and let cook about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and cream. 
Cook and whisk until thickened. It will be very thick.
Pour thickened flour mixture into soup. (Do not boil.) Let simmer on very low heat until ready to serve. 



To make chicken and broth:

1 chicken- cut wings off for browning
1 tablespoon oil
1 onion, quartered
1 peeled carrot, cut in half
1 whole clove of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 (14.5 oz.) can chicken broth
water *

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in pan on high heat. Place wings in the preheated oil.
Add onion and carrot and brown on high heat for a few minutes, then add 1 whole garlic.  Season with salt and pepper. Add pinch of red pepper flakes.  Continue to brown for 1-2 minutes, but do not burn garlic.

Add the chicken, breast side up to the pan.  Pour in 1 can of chicken broth and fill the rest of the pan with water until only the top of the chicken is showing above the water.*

Season generously with salt and pepper, then add a good pinch or two of each of the following: celery seed or celery salt, thyme, and turmeric.  

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover, simmering for approximately 1 1/2 hours.

Remove chicken and strain out the onion, carrot and garlic from the broth.

When chicken has cooled enough to handle, remove breast and thigh meat and chop into pieces. Save rest for chicken salad or another recipe.