Movie trucks, production assistants and traffic hold-ups are a regular sight in “Hollywood North”. In our ‘hood, production shoots are pretty much a monthly occurance as apparently, this small neighbourhood is a movie location scout’s dream. Almost every week there is a movie or television show shooting right outside our apartment. A few weeks ago, we received a notice that the show “Supernatural” was going to be filmed outside our door…and this past week, it was the tv show “Men in Trees”. For my New Year’s Resolution, I gave up cable, so I couldn’t even watch these shows if I wanted to. But when I met with friends for a bit of league bowling, I was told that on last week’s episode of Supernatural (a hunky sausage-fest ghostbusting show), my neighbourhood, tiny grocer and street were featured prominently. Oh well, I never watched that show anyway, but it still would have been nice to see!
Now, back to regularly scheduled programming. Trust me, there is nothing spooky or supernatural about this creamy chicken and vegetable soup. It is brimming with flavour, warmth and history plus has the power to slay through any gray day this northwest weather has to offer. Even if your grandmother never made you soup like this before, you can feel tradition in every slurp. Creamy but not heavy since it’s made with milk rather than cream, each spoonful carries a bright tang with the addition of lemon juice. It’s like a chicken pot pie in soup form and there is nothing wrong with that. This soup is a perfect meal for this grey, damp month. When it comes to Februarys and soup, I agree with Molly, they go hand in hand.
creamy chicken & vegetable soup
1 T butter
1 T olive oil
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, diced
1 c button mushrooms, sliced
1 c celery, chopped on the diagonal
1 c carrots, sliced into coins
1 t dried thyme
3 T flour
6 c chicken stock
1 cup short cut whole wheat pasta
1 1/2 c milk
1 c cooked chicken, diced
1/2 c frozen peas
salt & pepper to taste
juice and zest of 1 lemon1. Melt butter in a large pot. Add in onion, garlic, mushrooms, celery, thyme and carrots and saute until wilty. Add flour and mix well, cooking for about 3 minutes. Add in chicken stock and pasta and cover. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
2. When pasta is tender, add milk, chicken and peas. Stir gently and simmer for another 5 minutes or so. Season with salt and pepper and mix in lemon juice. Serve.
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Love soups in this weather! we’ve been having some real freezing temperatures lately, and there’s nothing like a big bowl of warm soup to defrost your insides!
No cable television at this end either. Any glimpses of celeb’s ?
I, too, have been going into soup overdrive as of late ever since I purchased – the mother of all creation – an 8 quart slow cooker. Hurray 😀
I’ve also had a streak of bad luck with trying to cook desserts (custards and puddings) in the slow cooker. Apparently it can be done. Both desserts unfortunately ended up in the food compost bin.
So I think I should just stick to soups and stews, which have turned out wonderfully.
Your creamy chicken soup looks divine and just like ‘C’, I prefer me a thick, hearty soup.
I love soups all the time! But yeah, especially in -10 weather ( -25 with the windchill – ick!)
And I love Supernatural too, oddly enough – so I think it’s pretty cool.
Looks just like the chicken veggie soup my grandmother would make, it is perfection on any night.
Meena, luckily our weather isn’t that cold but it’s sure damp and grey and amen to soups to add a little warmth to your day!
Thanks Beth, my friend loves Supernatural too.
Joanne, C isn’t really a soup fan (he really only likes that matzoh ball…but he didn’t mind this too much — or at least he didn’t comment!)
Alison, if your grandma made a similar soup, then count yourself lucky!
The soup looks perfect! I definitely going to try this one out, perhaps my contribution to my usual potluck gathering with my friends this weekend.
Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
We have cable but we rarely watch it! I’m considering giving it up as well.
Oh! The soup! Perfecto. I want some right now and I’ve already had lunch!
oh that looks so good. mmmm, i’m inspired. i havent made one soup this whole winter, odd for me. i know what u mean w/ the filming, i work downtown la and my street is always shit down for filming of this and that.
haha oops, i meat to say ‘shut down’.
freudian slip!
Just finished making this soup, and I have to say – it’s fantastic. Used boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into cubes and added some leeks right at the beginning. Delicious!
I made this soup on the weekend: quick, easy and comforting – especially suited to cold Winnipeg winters! Delish.
I was searching your site for a dinner recipe and this sounded good, but it tasted even better….it was wonderful. I love the lemon, I would have never thought that would taste good for some reason, but it was just delicous! Thank you! I ate it for about 4 days straight, and I’m making it again tonight!