Chicken Tortellini Soup

Yesterday was the first day of fall, and also marked my second cold of the school year. Yeah, it's only been 3 weeks.

So, to kick off the fall, I made some just-as-the-doctor-ordered chicken soup. The basic chicken soup recipe can be made with whatever noodle/potato/rice combo you like. It's very versatile. Or you could thicken it by adding some flour to the veggies and making biscut dough for chicken and dumplings. You could also add a package of prepared long grain and wild rice soup and 1/4 cup of heavy cream and you have chicken and wild rice soup.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

4 chicken thighs, with skin and on the bone
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup of chopped carrots (I used baby carrots)
1 cup of chopped celery (I like the leafy parts at the top)
salt and pepper
poultry seasoning
dried tyme
1 large can of chicken stock (low-sodium)
1 package of three-cheese tortellini from the refrigerated aisle.

In your soup-makin' pot, heat some oil on the stove. Salt and pepper the chicken thighs, and put them skin-side down in the hot oil. Brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the pan, and take the skin off. Pour out most of the chicken grease, and return the pan to the stove. Add the veggies and cook until onions are soft. Be sure to scrape up the yummy chicken bits from the bottom of the pan. Season the veggies with poultry seasoning, tyme, salt and pepper. Pour the chicken broth over the veggies. Bring to a boil. Then, nestle the chicken thighs back in the soup and cook until the chicken falls off the bone. That usually takes about 10-12 minutes. Take the chicken out again and let it cool so you can pull the meat off the bones. Put the chicken back in and add the tortellini. Boil until the tortellini are cooked, no more than 5 minutes.

Seems like a lot of steps, but honestly, this whole soup can be pot-to-table in 45 minutes or less. And it tastes so good!

I am so ready for fall. I need to get a new crock-pot (my birthday's coming up soon, and that's what I'm asking for), so look for my favorite comfort foods and crock-pot recipes.

Enjoy!