3.20.10 Chicken Soup for the Weary (Wishing for Spring) Soul

Its the first day of Spring...officially...unofficially it's snowing and freezing, in Texas.  So much for global warming.  My poor plants had to be brought in again...maybe I should wait to plant my herbs till later in the year next year.  It looks like a green house in my little apartment.  I was trying to pass the time of the freezing (almost) afternoon and chicken soup to the rescue. 

pancetta

homemade sourdough croutons

steamy soup to warm me up

A Snowy Spring Chix Soup
3 Chicken breast (halves) roasted w/ s&p, olive oil and shredded
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper chopped
a cereal bowl full of celery...about 1/2 a stalk, chopped
1/2 a cereal bowl full of carrots, about 20 baby carrots, maybe 4 large, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
a tsp of roasted garlic (crispy kind from M.S.)
1 tsp of roasted hatch chilies, minced
4 cups chix stock
1 cup water
2 oz pancetta, diced
olive oil
1 tsp fresh chopped rosemary
fresh cilantro
parmesean rind
homemade, buttery sourdough croutons

Season w/ salt & pepper along the way....Crisp pancetta in a little olive oil, remove from pan, set aside and add onions to pan.  Saute a few minutes then add bell peppers and sautee till tender.  Remove from pan, deglaze with water (save deglazed broth).  Add olive oil, carrots and a little of the deglazing water.  Put on the lid for about 5 or so minutes, till carrots are steamed almost tender.  Remove lid and let them brown, then add celery till slightly tender.  Add garlic, hatch chiles & then broth & parm rind.  Stir well, season to taste.  Let simmer for 20 min or so, then add chix, warm through.  Remove parm rind.  Serve with croutons and fresh torn cilantro. 

What we woke up to 3.21.10