Creamy chicken soup...winter warmers

Lovely socks

It's slowly getting colder here and so I was very excited to receive a parcel from my mum with a pair of socks she had knitted for me.  Her socks are simply the best and keep me nice and warm - I am sure it's because of the love she knits into them :-)  They will come in handy on the long dog walks and for snuggling up on the sofa.

Just as warm and comforting is the dish I cooked for lunch today: creamy chicken soup with rice.  This is so easy to make, doesn't cost the earth and is filling and comforting.  And using a couple of shortcuts makes this a very quick meal to put together - what more does one need on a cold or rainy day?

Creamy chicken soup with rice

Creamy chicken soup (serves 4)


Ingredients:
a little butter or oil
1 large carrot, cut into small cubes
1 leek, chopped
1 stick of celery, cut into small cubes
1 red bell pepper, cut into cubes
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
a few chilli flakes (to taste)
2 chicken breasts, cubed
2 tbsp cornflour (to dust the chicken)
2 rashers of bacon, cubed
250g cooked rice (good way to use up leftover rice or for extra speed, why not use a packet of cooked microwave rice as a shortcut)
200ml evaporated milk - about half a can (I used a reduced fat version)
500ml water (you may need a little more to get the consistency you'd like)
1 chicken stock cube
salt & pepper to taste
a good handful of chopped chives

Method:

1. Heat the oil/butter in a large pan and add the chopped vegetables and garlic.  Add the bacon and cook everything until the vegetables have softened.
2. Toss the chicken breast pieces in cornflour and add to the pan.  Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Now pour in the evaporated milk, sprinkle on the chilli flakes (if using) and crumble in the stock cube.
4. Add the cooked rice to the pan - the mixture will now be quite thick, so start adding water until you have the consistency you would like.
5. Heat through, add the chopped chives and adjust the seasoning.

Serve in bowls with chunks of bread on the side.

This would also work well with added mushrooms or with ham instead of the chicken.