Chickenless Noodle Soup

Today was one of those days when, after I left the house, I realized I had forgotten to defrost anything. So when I got home this afternoon, I tried to think: What can I cook that tastes like there's meat but requires no defrosting and very little prep time? The answer was Chickenless Noodle Soup! This is so insanely easy, and it was delish!

Chickenless Noodle Soup

Nutritional Information
(for entire pot of soup)

  Calories                       365
   Fat                              6.9g   26%
       Saturated Fat          3.6g
   Cholesterol                15mg
   Sodium                      353.4mg
   Carbohydrates           28.7g    48%
       Fiber                      6.9g
       Sugars                    15.2g
   Protein                       15.8g
   WW Plus Points         6


Ingredients:

-4 stalks celery, chopped
-1 red onion, chopped
-About 15 baby carrots/1 adult carrot, chopped
-2 cloves garlic, minced/finely chopped
-1 tablespoon chicken bouillon, pref. low sodium (I used Knorr brand)
-8 cups water
-2 ounces dry fettuccine or other wide, flat pasta (not pictured)
-1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil (not pictured)

Put a big stock pot over medium heat, and add your chopped celery and a tiny bit of olive oil (just enough to wet the bottom of the pot). Let the celery cook while you chop up your onion.

Add your freshly chopped onion, and sautee for a few minutes, stirring often so that the onions don't brown. If your pan gets a little dry, add a bit more olive oil so nothing sticks to the bottom.

While your onion is cooking, chop the carrots and garlic. Add the carrots and garlic to your pot and cook until garlic is fragrant.

Then add 8 cups hot water and 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules to your pot and stir until the bouillon is dissolved. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes.

About 10 minutes before the soup is done, break up the pasta and add to the soup. Recover and continue to cook until pasta is al dente.

If you want to add chicken, you can add it in and let simmer with everything else until it's cooked through, but believe me, you won't miss it!

Then just fill up your favorite bowl and enjoy!

This was so delicious, there were no leftovers! This makes 4 big bowls, each about 95 calories and less than 2 WW points. Serve this with cornbread or biscuits, or skip the pasta for an even light version. No matter how you serve this soup, it is delish. Enjoy!