Yesterday I spent cooking all day with a wonderful group of people. We made 9 different recipes for us to take home. One of the soups we made is a regional soup that I adapted.It is creamy and flavorful though it has few ingredients. I think it must be the St. Maries Rice that gives it a zip. St. Maries is small town east of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho which is known for wild rice, among other things. If you can't get that, try an interesting rice blend from you local gourmet grocer and I'm confident it will be just as tasty. After we made it we brought it home to freeze. The directions are for freezing, then eating later. You can adapt this recipe for eating right away if you want.I also reduced the milkfat from cream and half and half to 2%. You can change the milkfat to your family's preference. I tried Nonfat Milk once and 1% and it didn't do the recipe justice. I personally use the 2% for freezing and nonfat evaporated milk for the additional milk when I warm it up.
Chicken and St. Maries’ Wild Rice Soup (bag or container)
3 C cooked chicken, cut up in bite sizes
1/4 C butter
¼ C bacon bits*
1 1/2 cup carrots, diced
1 1/2 cup celery, diced
1 1/2 cup onion, diced
8 ounces wild rice mix, uncooked
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups 2% milk
1 49.5 oz can chicken broth (to go home)
Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat.
Add bacon and vegetables.
Cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
Add rice and 2 cups of the broth.
Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
Stir flour into remaining 1-cup broth.
Add to soup after it is off the heat.
Cool.
Place 2 cups milk and cooled soup into containers/bags with individual’s chicken for freezing.
Serves 8.
Make sure each person gets a 49.5 oz can of chicken broth for use when reheating. Please label broth with their name and recipe name.
AT HOME:
Warm soup on stove or in crockpot. Add 1 49.5 oz can chicken broth and 2 cups milk of any type. You can use anything from skim to cream. Warm until heated through.
*Note: 20 oz bag of bacon bits equals 6 Cups
