Recipe | Family Life | Weekends + {More} Soup

Yesterday, when saying good bye to the other preschool moms, I wished everyone a "happy weekend".  It was Monday.  I sure hope that isn't any indication of a dragging week ahead.  I'm occasionally off by a day, but a whole week?!

We did have a nice weekend even though it already feels like we are due for another.  We've been watching Emma, my parent's dog since last week.  Is this joy or desperation on her face???

She actually far prefers being my kitchen companion than the boys' playmate, but she is a good sport and puts up with their shenanigans.

Friday night we walked into town for pizza....

The pizza parlor is just off the square, in what was once the village library.  Next door is a gift shop that was originally referred to as the "five and dime."

I spent my ENTIRE Saturday organizing Lego with Andrew.  His room had become a safety hazard and I couldn't take it a second longer.  It feels good to have it all in order and I just hope he can make it last, at least for a few weeks.  Because I certainly kept my room neat as a pin growing up. {insert lots of laughter and eye rolling from my parents + brother}  Sunday morning, I went to see the Hunger Games with friend Katie and her 11 week old baby, Elise.  Baby slept through the whole movie and we ate popcorn at 10:00 in the morning.  We had a little chuckle about feeling a bit sacrilegious, both of us Catholic, watching the Hunger Games no less, on a Sunday morning.  The movie was pretty good, but the book is so much better. No big surprise.   Which brings me to soup...Katie and I both had a slight obsession with Panera's chicken orzo soup last summer.  She was pregnant and had a good excuse, I on the other hand, just suffered from unexplained cravings.  When fall arrived and Panera slowly started phasing out the soup we would text each other when we found a location that still carried it and then grab it for lunch or dinner.  But sadly, one day, all was depleted and I don't see any signs of it coming back this year.  I had searched for some recipes online but they just didn't sound right.  I finally stumbled on this one via pinterest, made a few tweaks and viola, "nailed it" {Katie's words, not mine}  Anyway, it is good, really healthy, very springy, and addictive.  Enjoy....

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
2 tsp olive oil
1 c diced carrots
1 c diced celery
1 small onion, diced
half of a chicken breast, with skin + bone
1 cup roughly chopped spinach
2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
3/4 c orzo pasta
kosher salt
fresh ground pepper
8 - 10 cups chicken broth
2 lemons


Preheat oven to 350.  Rub chicken breast with olive oil, season liberally with salt + pepper, place on baking sheet and roast for 35-40 minutes, remove, loosely cover with foil and let sit.  I made a whole chicken breast.  I used half for the soup and saved the other half for stuffed manicotti the next night. Turn up heat to 400.  Slice one lemon and place on parchment lined baking sheet.  Roast lemon slices for 20 min. Remove and set aside.


In a large pot or dutch oven, heat 2 tsp olive oil over med. heat.  Add carrot, celery and onion and saute for about 6-8 min.  Add 8 cups broth, spinach, thyme, and orzo, season with salt and pepper.  Bring to boil, cover partially with lid and reduce heat, let simmer for about 15 -20 min.    


While soup is simmering peel skin off chicken and cut meat away from the bone.  Shred chicken. Add chicken to soup along with the zest and juice of one lemon.


Stir + serve.  Top soup with roasted lemon slices.  Yum, yum.... 
Tip: Add additional broth as needed. After soup sits for a while the pasta absorbs broth and you'll need to thin it back out.  

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