Chicken Soup With Rice

I have always loved this little book by Maurice Sendak (author of Where The Wild Things Are) for its rhyme and playful verse that celebrates each of the months. 

 

Cook's notes: With temperatures cooling down during the day and crisp nights it's a great time to make a pot of Ever Ready’s Chicken Wild Rice Soup- The seasonings add a lot flavor to the soup.  Serves 6

Cooking tips: Cook the wild rice the day before and dice the cooked chicken. Refrigerate the rice and chicken. 

Buying deli rotisserie chicken is a time saver.

Ingredients:

• 2 TB. butter
• ½ cup finely chopped baby arrots
• ½ cup finely chopped onions
• ½ cup finely chopped celery
• 1/3 cup finely chopped silvered almonds
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms
• 3 cups cooked wild rice
• 1/2 cup flour
• 4 cans low sodium chicken broth (14.5 oz.)
• 1-cup half and half
• 2 cups chopped ham or chicken 
• 1/8 tsp. curry
• ¼ tsp. dry mustard
• ¼ tsp. paprika
• 1/8 tsp. marjoram
• 1 tsp.dried chives
• 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
• 2 TB. white wine or sherry-optional

Directions:

• Whisk flour into chicken broth and set aside
• Sauté carrots, onions, mushrooms, celery, almonds in fry pan with butter
• In soup pot add sauté mixture, chicken or ham, chicken broth mixed with flour and seasonings
• Cook on medium heat till thickens
• Add in cooked wild rice and cook 2 minutes
• Turn heat to low-add in half and half 
• Cook on low heat for 30 minutes but do not let boil
• Add sherry/wine in at end right before serving

 

 Honey Cornbread

Cook's notes: I tested with a box of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread

Do not over mix the ingredients stir just till blended 

Ingredients:

1 box of honey cornbread (15 oz.)
1 can creamed corn (8.5 0z.) 
1 TB. honey or Agave Nectar
chopped jalapeno peppers 1-2 TB.  
2 TB. chopped green onion

Directions:

Follow directions on the box of cornbread mix except use 1/3 cup melted butter instead of cooking oil
Fold in creamed corn, honey, jalapeno peppers and onions
Bake in a skillet @ 400 for 22 minutes or a 8 inch glass pan 22-25 minutes 

                                                 

Sunflowers: A sunflower garden caused me to brake suddenly as I was driving the back roads of a rural area. I wished I had water to give them a drink. I was fascinated by these worker bees feasting on this sunflower.