Old Fashioned Chicken Soup

Perfect for cold / flu season! Garlic, ginger, and cayenne are natural stimulants for your immune system ~ and this is great comfort food.

6 cups chicken broth or homemade stock
2 cups diced cooked chicken
2 Tbl. olive oil
5 cloves of fresh garlic, crushed & minced
1 onion, chopped
1" piece of fresh gingerroot, peeled and minced
2 cups chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups leftover cooked brown rice, or cooked fine egg noodles
1 tsp. salt
1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne ( depends on your taste!)
1 tsp. ground thyme
1 tsp. savory
1 cup cooked peas

In a lg. pot, saute the onion and celery in the oil until softened; add the garlic and ginger and saute another 1-2 minutes. Add the broth and carrots, and simmer until carrots are tender - 15-20 minutes. Add salt and herbs. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and add cooked chicken, rice or noodles and peas; adjust seasoning to taste.