Chicken Noodle Soup

Posts Tagged ‘Chicken Noodle Soup’

Chicken and Orzo Soup

January 25th, 2012 by andrea | 1 Comment | Filed in Chicken, Main Dish, Quick Cooking, Recipes, Soup/Stew

This Chicken and Orzo Soup is easy-to-make, tasty, and a great recipe for whipping up a pot of something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen.

Orzo, rice-shaped pasta, is available in most grocery stores. If you can’t find it, substitute another small-shaped pasta.

I used kale instead of spinach because that’s what I had on hand.

Garnish each serving of soup with some freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread. Enjoy!

Chicken & Orzo Soup
-recipe adapted from Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast Series, Weeknight, by Melanie Barnard

Because this simple variation on chicken-noodle soup includes so few ingredients, it is important to use the best chicken broth or stock you can find. Look for high-quality broth in the freezer section of gourmet groceries and well-stocked supermarkets. You can cook the chicken at home or purchase a rotisserie chicken from a supermarket or delicatessen.

1 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
3-4 carrots, thinly sliced
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
2 Tbs. minced fresh thyme
1 clove garlic, minced
8 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup orzo, pastina or other small pasta shape
6 oz. baby spinach
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, thyme and garlic and sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes more. Add the broth, increase the heat to medium-high and simmer for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.

Add the pasta to the simmering soup and cook until the pasta is al dente, 3 to 4 minutes, or according to the package instructions. Add the spinach and chicken and cook, stirring, until the spinach has wilted and the chicken is warmed through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and sprinkle with some of the cheese. Serve immediately and pass the remaining cheese at the table. Serves 4.

Tags: Chicken Noodle Soup, chicken pasta soup, chicken soup, orzo

Blessing others with meals

November 1st, 2010 by andrea | 3 Comments | Filed in Handy Hints, Recipes

We all have people in our lives that we can bless with a homemade meal now and again: friends or family who are under the weather, who have lost a job, who have just had a baby, who are suffering from a long term illness, who are grieving the loss of a loved one, or who have simply had a really bad day. Whatever the reason, delivering a meal to that person or family can be a tremendous source of comfort and support.

There are several online sites, such as FoodTidings.com, that make organizing a meal schedule for someone a cinch. Inspired2cook is actually being featured at Food Tidings today so you should go check them out. They are an incredible resource for organizing meal schedules!

I’ve led and/or have been part of meal ministries for about ten years now so I’ve learned a few things along the way. First of all, I strive to make healthful meals with fresh ingredients, and I always deliver the food in disposable or reusable containers that don’t need to be returned to me. I also like to ask the meal recipient for very specific food likes, dislikes and allergies. There’s nothing worse than taking a pot roast to a vegetarian. That happened to me once…no joke! B-U-M-M-E-R! Now I press people for ULTRA specific information.

Here’s a few favorite types of meals that I like to make when I’m delivering a meal to someone. Unless I’m dropping off a hot meal, I try to choose recipes that will still look appetizing after being refrigerated for several hours and still be delicious when reheated. And, I almost always make double the amount so my family can eat the same meal for dinner that night, too.

I hope you’ll find some new recipes on my site and come back to Inspired2cook often. You can even sign up to receive email updates. I try to post new recipes 2-3 times a week. Happy cooking!

Chicken Noodle Soup