Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Not feeling so great calls for a nice bowl of Chicken and Vegetable Soup. When I first got married, I asked my husband if he wanted soup for dinner,  he looked at me as if I had 4 eyes.  He found the question funny because to him soup is just an appetizer and not a meal. This reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld... too funny, but true.

Soup with a side of rice was dinner for me growing up.  My mom made chicken soup, beef soup, bean soup, all kinds of soups.  I never saw it as just an appetizer.  My husband and I laugh about it, because now he loves soup and rice for dinner.  But, it took him a while to get used to the idea. 

After not feeling so great, all I needed was this nice bowl of chicken and vegetable soup.  This is a hearty soup, very fulfilling and delicious.  Soup is also great during those cold winter days.  Add whatever vegetables you want, like broccoli, potatoes, zucchini and your favorite beans.  You can also substitute the macaroni for rice.

I added baby carrots, cut in half, red beans and corn.  But remember, add any veggies you like.  I will enjoy my bowl of soup with a side of white rice.

 Ingredients

8 cups of water

2 chicken Breasts skinless, boneless diced

1-8 ounce can tomato sauce

1-15.5 ounce can kidney beans or small red beans

1-15 ounce can of sweet corn

2 celery stalks chopped

2 tbsp of sofrito sauce 

1 cup of carrots cut in small pieces

1 cup elbow macaroni

1 Goya chicken bouillon packet

1 Goya sazon with culantro and achiote (coriander and annatto) packet

salt and pepper to taste

In a big stock pot on high heat add the water and diced chicken.  As the chicken starts to boil, with a spoon clean out the fat that rises to the top of the pot.  Then start adding the other ingredients.  Add the tomato sauce, beans, sweet corn, celery stalks, sofrito sauce (or 1 small onion and one green pepper chopped) carrots, macaroni, chicken bouillon packet and sazon packet.  Lower the heat to low-med heat and cook for about 30 minutes.  Until the chicken is well cooked and the pasta and the carrots are tender.  Enjoy!