CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Take the chicken breast off the roast chicken and put the chicken bones, wings and any other bits in a large microwave dish with the water and thyme. Cover and cook on high for 10 minutes.
• While that is cooking, start on the prep of the veg.
• Finely chop the onion and fry in the oil. Add a little salt to help season the veg as they are cooking.
• Cut the celery into strips lengthways and then chop into small cubes. Add to the onion.
• Peel and cube the carrot to about the same size as the celery. Add to the pot.
• Add crushed garlic.
• By this time the stock should be finished - unless you are particularly fast at veg prep!
• Strain the stock over the vegetables.
• Add the pasta shells or whatever pasta you happen to have.
• Slice the chicken breast and pick off any good bits of chicken from the drained bones. Add to the pot.
• Simmer for as long as it takes to cook the pasta - 13 minutes for my pasta shells.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add more water if necessary. I needed to add a little more water after about 10 minutes.
• Add the zucchini/courgette in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Slice the zucchini lengthways. Cut into triangular pieces. I find cutting the zucchini this way helps keep them in one piece in a soup where they may get overcooked when the soup is reheated.
• Enjoy!