teddy bear soup

Friends of mine were were crazy-busy at a start-up recommended soup-starter as a way to quick-start soup. Then my sister coined "Teddy Bear Soup" because the starter is "Bear Creek" brand. Tastes like you worked all day, but you didn't! This makes a lot of soup and it freezes well.

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1 package of Bear Creek Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
  (available at Safeway)

Leftover cooked chicken, like Costco, or
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped

Splash of olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2-3 stalks of celery, finely chopped
2-3 carrots, chopped
10-11 cups of water

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Splash olive oil into a dutch oven or soup pot. If using uncooked chicken, cook chicken in oil until browned, and then add vegetables and cook until onions begin to brown If using cooked chicken, cook onions, carrots, and celery first, and then add the cooked chicken.

Add 10-11 cups of water to the pot, and whisk in all of the soup starter. Cover and let simmer until the noodles are soft. If it is still salty to taste, add more water to your taste.

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