We’ve had nothing but really cold weather and lots of fog for the past week.  Usually, we all get super excited about the cold temps, because it might mean a rare snow day.  Sadly, the only moisture in the air is in the form of REALLY thick fog. 

I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos of the frozen trees.

A cold day, combined with feeling under the weather, calls for some homemade chicken soup. I used my new electric pressure cooker.  I’m kinda loving this new appliance.

Here’s what I did:

I used the saute feature first.
I put a little olive oil in the pot,
followed by 1/2 a diced onion,
2 cloves diced garlic,
1 diced carrot, and
1 diced celery stalk.

Then I added some leftover chicken I had in the freezer,
6 cups of chicken stock,
 about 1/2 cup uncooked brown rice,
and turned the pressure cooker on high for 9 minutes.
After 9 minutes, I let it cool for about 15 minutes to release the pressure naturally.

Maybe it’s because it’s cold outside, or maybe it’s because I don’t feel too well, but that soup tasted so good!  I asked my hubby if he loved it as much as I did because it’s really good, or if I was just loving it because I’m feeling pathetic.  He thought it might be a little of both.  My kids on the other hand, thought it was the best soup they’d ever eaten.  They both went back for seconds.

(Side story:  When my son was just learning to feel himself, as a baby, if he really loved something, he’d start kind of humming as he was eating.  You could just tell he was perfectly content and loving his meal. I was almost like he was saying, “Yummm, yummm, yummm.” as he was eating. To this day (he’s almost 12 now), when he eats something that he really loves he does the humming thing when he eats.  At the dinner table tonight, my hubby and I just looked at each other and burst out laughing because my son was in his humming mode as he was eating this soup.  Needless to say, he really enjoyed this recipe.)

Stay warm, friends!