Simple Chicken (Or Turkey) Dinner Soup ~ Makes Lots!

This soup gets it's name because it is a
delicious combination of leftover chicken
(or turkey), potatoes, corn, vegitables and herbs.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons bacon grease or olive oil

1 cup chopped yellow onion

1 cup diced celery

1/4 cup minced garlic

2 pounds yellow potatoes (skin on), cut into 1 inch cubes (about 6 cups)

1/4 cup flour

3 quarts chicken broth (12 cup)

1 pound cooked chicken (or turkey) cubed or shredded (about 6 cups)

2 cups frozen corn

1/2 cup diced cooked bacon

2 tablespoons rubbed sage

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 teaspoon regular or smoked paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves

1 tablespoon salt

1 quart half & half (4 cups)

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or, 1 teaspoon dried parlsey)

Optional Garnishes:

additional chopped parsley

additional chopped bacon

grated cheese

crispy onions

Method:

Add the bacon grease (or oil) to a large (6 quart) stock pot and heat over medium high heat. Add the onions, celery and garlic. Stir and saute until the onions become translucent. (About 5 minutes) Stir in the potatoes. Add the flour and stir to coat all of the vegetables. 

Slowly stir in the chicken broth. Comtinue stirring, allowing the soup to come to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Stir in the chicken (or turkey), corn, bacon, spices and half & half. Simmer until the soup is thick and creamy and the potatoes are tender.

Stir in the parsley before serving. Makes 12 servings. (About 24 cups) If desired, top each serving with one or more of the optional garnishes. (The first night, I garnished the bowls of soup with grated cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon and fresh parsley. The next night, I topped the soup with grated cheddar cheese and crispy onions.) Enjoy!

Notes:

I don't cook bacon often, but when I do, I saved the drippings in a jar in the refrigerator to use later. I also save chopped cooked bacon in a container in the freezer to use on salads and in other dishes.

Use half of the ingredients to make fewer servings and a smaller pot of soup.

You can bake chicken breasts before making this soup, or every time you have roast chicken for dinner, save leftover meat in a large ziploc bag in the freezer. When you have enough leftover chicken, make soup. This soup also is a great way to use leftover turkey.