Spring Cleaning Chicken Soup

It's beginning to feel like spring, and I'm spring cleaning my cupboards!

I found a carton of chicken stock I meant to use back in August when my sister first talked me into cooking again. I was going to use it for chicken soup with the rice I got. So let's get to that chicken soup, a few months late.

So let's get to that chicken soup. First I'm going to make the rice by boiling it in the chicken stock.

I think chicken stock needs to be diluted or it's real salty, so I'm adding in some water.

Now it looks too wet. More rice.

And more chicken stock and water...

That looks about right. Now I need the chicken. I liked frying in butter so much I'm going to try vegetable shortening now as a healthier alternative.

Now for the chicken.

Eek, that's a lot more chicken than I thought. And there's a spot of blood on it. Eww.

I have to chop these up for the soup.

Ugh, my spatula isn't chopping through too well! Maybe if I cook them more.

This isn't really working. I'm going to have to cut it up after I finish cooking. Let's check on the rice.

The rice is coming along nicely. I need to make sure the chicken is done and then I can mix it in.

It's starting to turn brown, which is a good sign.

Meanwhile, the rice's water is at a boil.

That means I'm going to cover it with a lid.

My chicken is turning really brown... hey, am I making fried chicken, technically, since I have chicken and I'm frying it?

It smells nice. After a bit longer the rice looks done.

I'm going to give the fried chicken a few more seconds and then call it done.

There, now I'm going to remove some of the rice since I made more than I thought. It's supposed to be a soup after all.

Next I cut up the chicken and add it to the rice.

I'm going to add some green onions too. I like the whole green onion, not just the white part.

Now I need more chicken stock and water.

I have some old black eyed peas I'll add while I'm in the mood for cleaning out my cupboards.

Mix it up...

Add some seasoning...

Mix again...

Heat up and the soup is done!

This produced a LOT of soup. I'm going to be eating it for days.

But it's good soup! I would definitely serve it to company! Fried chicken soup with green onions and black eye peas.