Cream of chicken soup is both nourishing, and very, very filling at the same time. It is believed that only a cupful of this soup has about 1185 mg. of sodium, which is like 49% of the recommended daily value stipulation of this particular mineral. It is also rich in carbohydrates (13.3 gm) out of which 4.1 gms are energy giving sugars, and it also caters to about 1.8 gms of the protein requirements of the body. Also a relatively good source of Vitamin A and calcium, it contributes very small amounts of vitamin C and iron to the system as well. So, let us see how to boil up some of this scrumptious soup in that cauldron. Easy Cream of Chicken Soup To nourish and quieten the tummy rumblings of about 6 people, see to it you throw in these ingredients in you cauldron,

• Chicken breasts, 1½ pound (boneless, skinned, diced, and slow cooked for 3 hours)
• Potato, 1 (cubed)
• Celery, ¾ cup (cubed)
• Carrots, 3 (sliced)
• Leeks, 3 (minced)
• Onion, 1 (cubed)
• Mushrooms, ½ cup (finely slivered)
• Chicken broth, 5 cups
• All-purpose flour, ½ cup
• Cream, ½ cup (33%)
• Milk, ¼ cup
• Canola oil, 2 tsp.
• Thyme, ½ tsp.
• Parsley, 1 tbsp. (chopped)
• Tarragon, 1 tbsp.
• White pepper, ¼ tsp. (ground)
• Salt, to taste

Procedure Pour oil in a pan and heat. Then throw in the mushrooms, celery, onion, leeks, and carrots, and sauté until they all get a little fried. Now add the cubed chicken and fry for about 15 seconds, and then pour in the broth. To this add the flour, mixed with a little hot water. Ladle for some time. When a light simmer starts to appear, add the potato, parsley, herbs, salt, pepper, and the milk to it, and wait till a full boil sets in. Remember to stir occasionally. After approximately 40 minutes, gently introduce the cream and ladle for just a moment, and your soup is done. Now, there is truly just one problem with the quintessential recipe and that has got to do with calories and saturated fat content. Just a cupful of cream of chicken soup has about 3.4 gms of saturated fat and 107 calories, 48 of which are donated by fats. Naturally, the diet conscious will break into a cold sweat on hearing this. So, for them I have an option over here. Low-fat Cream of Chicken Soup This will take about 40 minutes of your time in the kitchen and cater to a small get together of 8. Take out the following from the larder.

• Chicken, 2 cups (cooked and cubed)
• Chicken broth, 4 cups (low sodium and low-fat)
• Mushrooms, 1½ cups (slivered)
• Peas, 1 cup
• Half and half, 1 cup (low-fat)
• Carrots, 1 cup (chopped)
• Onions, 1 cup (shredded)
• Cornstarch and milk solution, ¼ cup (use fat-free milk)
• Canola oil, 2 tsp.
• Mixed herbs, 1 tsp.
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Procedure You need to start by heating the oil and then adding the onions and the carrots to it. Sauté this for about 8 to 9 minutes, and then add the mushrooms and herbs to it. Sauté for some time more and then initiate the peas and the chicken cubes to it. Stir and pour the broth. Bring to a steady boil of 15 minutes, and then pour in the cornstarch solution to it. Stir and allow it to simmer for another 5 to 7 minutes. Serve piping hot. Using this recipe, the calorie count from fat comes down to 21 per bowlful, and the saturated fat content reduces to a nominal 0.6 gms. Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute For those who do not eat chicken but love the broth and are looking for substitute, I shall keep from disappointing you either. Arrange for

• Granulated instant chicken bouillon, ¼ cup (low sodium)
• Milk powder, 2 cups (fat-free)
• All-purpose flour (or other cornstarch substitute), 3 tbsp.
• Onion powder, 2 tbsp.
• Butter, 1 tbsp.
• Thyme, 1 tsp.
• Dried basil, 1 tsp.
• Pepper and salt, a dash

Procedure Mix and blend all the ingredients except the butter and flour. Now, heat the butter in a pan and add the flour to it. Keep stirring until they form a pasty mixture. Now, add the ground mixture to this, ladle once and add about 1¼ cups of water and keep stirring to form a uniform solution. When the consistency thickens, add the salt and pepper as per preference and it is ready to serve. You may garnish with some chopped celery. I hope that these recipes can temper your palate optimally and satisfy those hunger pangs to the point of saturation.