COPY-CAT PANERA CREAM OF CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP

 From Food.com this was absolutely fabulous ! Although this recipe doesn't say when to put in the chicken - I added my chopped cooked chicken for the last 5 minutes of cooking.

6 cups chicken broth 

2 chicken breast halves (cooked, boneless and cubed) 

1 (6 ounce) package long grain and wild rice blend, quick cooking version (You will use the seasoning packet. I used Uncle Bens roasted chicken flavor) 

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 

1/2 cup all-purpose our 

3/4 cup butter (12 tbsp. or a stick and a half) 

1 cup carrot, diced 

1 cup celery, diced 

1 cup onion, diced 

3 cups light cream (can lighten by substituting part or all of the cream with fat-free evaporated milk, or halfand-half)

Open rice, pull out seasoning packet and set aside. In a small bowl, combine pepper and flour. Set aside.

 In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth and chicken. Bring to a boil, then stir in rice. Cover and remove from heat. 

 In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add carrots, celery and onion and saute for 5 minutes. Stir in contents of seasoning packet, and continue cooking vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes more. 

Add seasoned flour gradually while constantly stirring, to form a roux. Saute roux for 3-4 minutes to cook out raw our taste. 

Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, 5 minutes. 

Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through and rice is done,15-20 minutes. 

Alternatively, for those who cannot get the quick-cooking version of the rice, I have put the broth on to boil and cooked the 25-minute version of long grain and wild rice blend according to the directions, while sauteeing the veggies in the butter. I tend to cook the veggies longer this way, and I like them quite soft. I then follow the rest of the directions above, adding the rice/broth to the cream mixture. I've also used fatfree half and half with no appreciable dierence in flavor. Enjoy!