almost Panera

I love soup, especially on cold days, like we've been having. Creamy soups are my favorite. My husband doesn't like soup very much, though (he doesn't like hot liquids....coffee-nope, hot chocolate-nope, soup-nope). He'll eat it occasionally, but I don't make it very often because I know he doesn't prefer to eat it. I like going to Panera because I can get a sandwich and soup--two favorites all in one meal. My favorite soup at Panera is Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice (of all the soups, my husband will eat this one, and actually kind of likes it, but mostly he likes the sour dough bread bowls they come in!).

Several times in the last couple of months I've made a roast chicken and used the bones to make chicken stock. Usually I use this to make chicken and dumplings, but lately I've been looking for a good soup recipe to use it in. Then I thought of my favorite Panera soup, and wondered if I could find a recipe for something similar. So I've been searching.

Today I found one that looked promising. I made it tonight for dinner, and it is awesome! It's almost just like the soup at Panera. Here's a link to the recipe if you'd like to try it.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Chicken-and-Wild-Rice-Soup/Detail.aspx?strb=1

I substituted chicken stock for chicken broth, added carrots (because Panera's has carrots, and I like them), and used half and half instead of heavy cream (still not the healthiest, but somewhat fewer calories and less fat). If you're in the mood for a good creamy soup, try it! It's great!

I also baked a loaf of bread to go with it. Not sourdough, like Panera, but just plain white bread. I messed up, though, and set it to rise and then left the house to run some errands. It rose too far, and when I got home and pounded it down, it didn't rise anymore. I baked it anyway, and it rose a little in the oven, but it's a very, very dense loaf of bread. I still sliced it to try it, and it tastes good. Just very dense.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to eat my soup!