CHICKEN VELVET SOUP Lee White

A family tradition on Christmas Eve in our home for quite a number of years, now being carried forward by children and grandchildren.

Chicken breasts (I use 3-4 to feed 10-12 people)

Half and half milk/cream (I use 1 quart for this size recipe)

2% milk (1 gallon or as needed for desired thickness)

1-2 cans of your favorite canned creamed soup*

Chicken broth (I use 2-3 cans, or envelopes will do also)

Chicken bullion (I use Costco's creamy bullion) as desired for flavor

Flour or cornstarch for thickening soup (make a white sauce in a bowl

add a little bit at a time, stirring constantly).

Simmer the chicken breasts until tender; allow to cool and cut into very small pieces. Add to soup after you have received the flavor you like with other ingredients.

Pour half-n-half, canned soups* as desired for flavor, and milk into large, heavy-bottomed pan. I use my large crock-pot as it holds a nice low heat that doesn't have to be stirred constantly. If using a regular pot, it will need constant stirring on low/medium heat along the bottom of the pan, especially after thickening has been added, to keep it from scorching or creating lumps.

When mixture is hot, add chicken broth, bullion, and slowly add thickening until you get the desired result (my family likes the soup thicker than canned soup) Stir completely through and through until quite hot again.

When the flavor and thickness are as you desire, add chicken pieces, stir and have a sample!

I do soup at the last possible timeframe, so it doesn't have to be re-heated before serving. Otherwise, it requires quite a bit of time and stirring to re-heat without scorching on the bottom.

*This is a 'seat of the pants' recipe, one I have varied from year to year just for fun, sometimes adding Cream of Potato Soup, Cream of Celerly Soup, and/or Cream of Mushroom soup, depending on what your family likes, and the consistency you want the soup to be, creamy or not-so-much creamy. It tastes great, and works wonderfully with slices of ham, warm or cold, along with a salad and warm rolls. Better each day as a leftover also!