Chicken soup

With winter here, and everyone having sniffs and coughs I made some chicken soup for the family.  You can make it with a whole chicken that you roast yourself, or buy a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket to save some time and effort {for those lazy day's}.  If you feel that you need a more intense flavour, add a tablespoon of chicken stock powder.  {Serves about 4 to 6 people}

What you need: 

1.5kg Whole chicken cleaned {You can also use a cooked rotisserie chicken}
10 cups Water {To cover chicken}
1 Celery stalk {Finely chopped}
1 Carrot {Peeled, and chopped into small blocks}
1 small Onion {Finely chopped}
2 cloves Garlic
1 cup Rice pasta {or any small soup noodles}
2 tablespoons chopped Parsley
2 springs Thyme
Salt and Pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 200°C, and bake chicken in baking dish until golden brown {about 1 hour} {or you can buy a rotisserie chicken from the shop}

Once the chicken is done.  Bring the water to boil on stove top and transfer the whole chicken into the pot.  Add the thyme, celery, carrot, onion, and garlic.  Cover and cook for 15 min.  

Remove the chicken from the pot and allow to cool slightly.  

Remove the skin {and discard} then remove the meat off the bones and add to the water.  {If you have a lot fat on the stock, skim off the top before adding the meat} 

Simmer for about 20 min, then add rice pasta, and cook for another 10 minutes until pasta is cooked.  

Stir through the parsley, pepper and plenty of salt {to taste} 

Serve with bread crusty bread.