Lemon, Chicken, and Rice Soup

I made this soup back in November, but didn't like how the picture turned out, so I haven't posted the recipe until now.  The recipe is good, though, so ignore the picture and make this if you like chicken soup and lemons.  :)  I was inspired after a trip to our fave soup-and-salad lunch restaurant here, where the soup of the day was lemon, chicken and rice soup.  This turned out well, but I learned two things:  1)  Rice in leftover soup absorbs all the liquid overnight and you are left with mushy-rice slosh the next day.  2)  Don't accidentally leave a lemon rind in your soup overnight (fish them out before serving in the 1st place!) because it will make your rice-slosh very bitter. 

Don't be scared though.  I'd make this soup again.

Lemon, Chicken and Rice Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 large onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup sliced celery

1/2 cup sliced carrots

1 quart low-sodium chicken broth

2-3 cups water

2-3 teaspoons Better than Bouillon

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into bite-size pieces

sea salt & fresh pepper to taste

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2-3 thick yellow lemon rind pieces; not the white part

1-2 cups cooked rice

1.  Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot.  Cook the onion and garlic, stirring, for about 5 minutes.  Add the celery and carrots, and then add the chicken broth, water, and better than bouillon.  Bring to a boil.  Add the raw chicken.  Simmer 15-20 minutes.

2.  When the chicken is cooked through, taste and add salt or pepper if necessary.  Add the fresh lemon juice, and the lemon rind, and simmer another 5 minutes.  Remove and discard lemon rinds.  Add rice, stir to heat through, and serve soup.

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