CS Slow-Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Onions / Carrots / Celery / Bell peppers / Garlic - Prep as directed. Combine onions, carrots and celery in one container. Store bell peppers and garlic in another container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

Saute mirepoix - Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrots and celery (mirepoix) with a pinch of salt. Saute until vegetables soften, 4 to 5 minutes. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

Slow-cook soup - Combine onions, carrots, celery, bell peppers, garlic, chicken, Italian seasoning, salt, stock and wild rice in the bowl of a slow-cooker. Stir to make sure that rice is submerged in liquid. Cook on low 7 to 8 hours (3 to 4 hours on high).

About 20 minutes before serving, transfer chicken to a cutting board and roughly chop. Return chicken to the slow-cooker.

Pour evaporated milk into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave until it begins to bubble, 1-2 minutes. (Optional step: For a thicker soup, whisk flour into milk. A few small dry spots of flour may remain, but will dissolve into soup as it finishes cooking.) Add to soup. Turn slow-cooker on high and continue to cook soup for 20 minutes.

Season soup with additional salt, if needed. Ladle into bowls and serve with bread on the side. Enjoy!