Anne Burrell's Chicken Noodle Soup

I've recently discovered Chef Anne Burrell on Food Network and her recipes make my mouth water. Of course, the majority of them contain ingredients I can't eat but there are several recipes where substitutions can be made. I was thrilled to find that her Chicken Noodle Soup was one of those.  I only had to substitute Tinkyada rice pasta for regular pasta. I also only used a pinch of red pepper flakes instead of 2 teaspoons...what can I say - I'm a whimp! It was absolutely delicious and it was even better the second day. 

Ingredients
Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices
4 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
Kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 bunch thyme
3 pounds bone-in chicken legs and thighs, skin and excess fat removed
Water, as needed
2 bay leaves
1 lemon, halved
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 grates fresh nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cups small pasta, preferably small shells such as orecchiette, or orzo
1 (15-ounce) can white beans or chick peas
1 bunch cilantro, leaves coarsely chopped

Directions 
Coat a large stock pot with olive oil and add the onions, celery and carrots. Season with salt, to taste, and bring the pot to medium-high heat. Cook the vegetables until they start to soften and are very aromatic, about 10 minutes. Add in the garlic, crushed red pepper and thyme and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken and fill the pot with enough water to cover the chicken. Add the bay leaves, bring the ingredients to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes and skim off any particles that accumulate on the surface. Squeeze the juice of the 2 lemon halves into the soup and drop in the lemon halves. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and taste for seasoning. Adjust the flavors with salt and pepper, if needed. Simmer the soup for an additional hour. 

While the soup is simmering, bring another pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until "al dente," firm but not crunchy. Drain the pasta and transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and toss. Reserve.

 After the soup has finished, switch the heat off and remove the chicken to a cutting board. Discard the lemon halves, thyme and bay leaves. Let the chicken cool, then remove the bones and discard. Pull the meat into bite-sized pieces and return them to the pot. Taste the soup for seasoning, which should be spicy with a bright lemon flavor and a warm cinnamon chicken feel. It should be very full-flavored and warm your soul. Rinse the beans and add them to the pot. Adjust the seasoning, if needed.

Spoon some of the reserved pasta into the bottom of each serving bowl and ladle the hot soup over the pasta. Garnish with the chopped cilantro and serve. This soup is perfect for a cold day! YAY!

Tinkyada Pasta Joy

Are you like me? Have you been eating brown rice pasta that is grainy and mushy in texture while dreaming of the smooth, yummy pasta you can no longer eat?

Well, let me tell you about my latest discovery!!! Tinkyada Pasta Joy - it is joy indeed!! An acquaintance of mine who has Celiac Disease made dinner not too long ago and it was a pasta dish. I knew she didn't use regular pasta because, duh, she can't have gluten. I couldn't believe the texture and the taste were so amazing! While I was shoveling it into my mouth, she told me the brand was Tinkyada pasta. I swear, this tastes like regular pasta but is made of brown rice.  Tinkyada makes all the different shapes and sizes just like normal pasta.Whole Foods carries several different varieties of these noodles but if you don't have a Whole Foods close by you can order it on Amazon (is there anything you can't order on Amazon anymore?).  It does costs more than De Boles (bummer) but it's totally worth it.  The first time I fed it to my husband, he raved about how good it was.  He had been eating my mushy brown rice pasta too and was as thrilled about my new discovery as I was!

Try some of this pasta for yourself and taste just how good it is!

I was not compensated to write this post.