Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

It's starting to feel like Fall around here which means that I've launched myself into yard tasks of gargantuan proportions.  This year, I decided to add not one, but two - GIGANTIC flower beds to my back yard.  They are long overdue and they will look amazing when they're finished but right now - in the middle of the digging process - I have to remind myself why I ever started this project in the first place. 

Spending an afternoon digging up flower beds sounds exciting but trust me - it's not all glamorous.  :)   It does take a lot of energy and it doesn't leave me with much extra energy to get dinner for my family.  All I feel like doing after a long day of digging in flower beds is to take a long soak in a tub filled with bubbles. 

Spending the day working in the yards is tiring AND it makes me crave food that's warm and hearty and delicious.  But without a lot of energy to spare, it needs to be easy to prepare too.  Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup to the rescue.  I would call this soup SEMI homemade.  It is REALLY good and it definitely hits the spot after a day of digging. 

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
2 chicken bouillon cubes
4 cups of chicken soup stock
1 cup water
5 Tablespoons of butter
2 cups chopped carrots
2 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
2-10 oz. cans of cream of chicken soup
2 cups half and half
3 Tablespoons of butter
3 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour
2 cups of cooked diced chicken
4 cups of cooked noodles
Salt and Pepper to taste

Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in skillet.  Add carrots, celery and onion.  Cook until translucent and softened.

Add broth, water and bouillon.  Bring to a boil.

Melt 3 Tablespoons butter in small pan.  Add flour and whisk until combined.  Cook and stir 2 minutes. 

Add half and half and soup.  Bring to a boil and cook and stir 3 minutes. 

Add flour mixture to soup. 

Add chicken and noodles.

I kept my creamy chicken noodle soup meal super simple.  A handful of crackers and a sliced apple is all that I needed to complete this yummy dinner.  It was delicious AND there are plenty of leftovers for the rest of the week. 

As for the flower beds - well, they're coming along nicely.  I have lots more work to do and hopefully some nice Fall weather while I  work.

Ciao!

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