Creamy Chicken Vegetable Soup

This is great for a cold winter night. Use a good canned or homemade chicken broth. I sometimes use a store bought rotisserie chicken, which adds another dimension to the flavor.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 6  cups chicken broth
• 1⁄2 cup white rice
• 3  carrots, thinly sliced
• 3  celery ribs, thinly sliced
• 2  zucchini, thinly sliced
• 6  tablespoons butter
• 6  tablespoons flour
• 2  cups  light cream or 2  cups milk
• 3  cups  cooked chicken or 3  cups turkey, in pieces
• 1⁄2 cup  thinly sliced green onion, including tops
•  salt and pepper
•  minced parsley

Directions

1. Bring broth to a boil in a 5-qt.Dutch oven.
2. Add rice, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add carrots, celery and zucchini, cover and simmer until vegetables are crisp tender, about 10 more minutes.
4. In a small pan over medium heat, melt butter.
5. Stir in flour and cook, stirring, until mixture is bubbly.
6. Remove from heat and gradually stir in cream, then stir in about 1 C. of the broth from soup mixture.
7. Return to heat and cook, stirring, until sauce is smooth, thick and boiling.
8. Stir sauce into soup mixture.
9. Stir in chicken and onions, season to taste with salt and pepper.
10. Cook until heated through, about 1 more minute.
11. Sprinkle with parsley.
12. Serve with warm rolls and a salad.