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dried sage, crushed in the palm of your hand
    1½ teaspoons salt
    1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    8 cups chicken broth
    3 cups bite-size pieces cooked chicken or turkey, either shredded or diced
    2 cups wild rice, rinsed several times with cold water
    1 cup heavy cream
    ¼ cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley (optional)
    heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, thyme, and sage to the pan and season with the salt and pepper.
    transfer the contents of the skillet to the insert of a 5- to
    7-quart slow cooker. Stir in the chicken broth, chicken, and wild rice.
    cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, until the wild rice is tender and the soup is thickened.
    stir in the cream and parsley (if using), turn the cooker to warm, and serve the soup.
    serves 6–8
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    slow-cooker savvy
    Vegetarian wild rice soup? Omit the chicken or turkey and substitute vegetable or mushroom broth for the chicken broth.

STARTING THE POT
    Many cuisines have a basic mixture of vegetables that starts a variety of dishes. In France, a mirepoix is a mixture of onion, celery, and carrot; New Orleans has its trinity—onion, bell pepper, and celery; Italy has battuto —onion, garlic, celery, carrot, and tomato; and Spain has its sofrito , which is generally olive oil, garlic, onions, and tomatoes.

Chicken and Spinach Soup
    Vibrantly colored spinach gives this beautiful soup its color, while garlic and ginger add to its personality. This soup is terrific as a starter before a meal, but it’s also nice served in mugs for a warm-up after playing in the snow.
    3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
    3 chicken breast halves, skin and bones removed, cut into ½-inch dice (see savvy)
    ¼ cup soy sauce
    6 cups chicken broth
    Three 10-ounce packages baby spinach
    Toasted sesame oil for garnishing
    Chopped green onions for garnishing
    heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
    add the chicken and sauté until the chicken is white on the outside. Add the soy sauce and cook until the soy sauce is almost evaporated.
    pour some of the chicken broth into the skillet and transfer the mixture to the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add the remaining broth and the spinach to the cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
    serve the soup in bowls garnished with a dot of sesame oil and a few pieces of green onion.
    serves 8
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    chicken savvy
    If you would like to use leftover cooked chicken, toss the chicken with the garlic and ginger, add the soy sauce as directed, and proceed with the recipe.

Mom’s Chicken Noodle Goodness
    Mom’s comfort food, this noodle soup is filled with veggies and chunks of chicken to make even the worst day seem bearable. Pair this with Cheddar cheese biscuits or scones.
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    1 cup finely chopped onion
    2 cups finely chopped celery
    2 cups finely chopped carrot
    2 small zucchini, finely chopped
    1 teaspoon dried thyme
    12 cups chicken broth
    4 cups bite-size pieces cooked chicken
    Two 10-ounce packages fresh baby spinach
    Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    8 ounces medium-width egg noodles, cooked al dente
    heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, zucchini, and thyme and sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 7 minutes.
    transfer the contents of the skillet to the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. Stir in the broth, chicken, and spinach.
    cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.
    season with salt and pepper. Add the noodles to the soup, stir, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
    serves 8–10

Chicken, Mushroom, and Barley Soup
    Barley is a natural thickener for