GRINGO CHICKEN-RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Combine chicken breasts, carrots, 1-1/2 cups cilantro leaves and stems, quartered onion half, halved garlic cloves and potato.
• Simmer together with 6 cups of water for about one hour (more if you have the time).
• Drain and reserve broth and chicken, discarding vegetables.
• When cool, cube chicken.
• Heat about 2 cups of reserved broth to almost boiling.
• In a large saucepan, saute onions and garlic together.
• Stir in flour until a"paste" forms.
• Add hot broth and whisk briskly to dissolve flour and thicken broth.
• Add remaining stock, then cumin and oregano, continuing to whisk briskly until flour is dissolved and broth is thickened a little.
• Stir in cooked rice and cubed cooked chicken.
• Simmer all together for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Chicken will almost shred itself!
• Stir in salt, pepper and half and half; heat but do not bring to boil.
• Just before serving add 1 cup fresh minced cilantro and 1 or 2 sliced green onions.
• The soup will thicken up overnight; thin with water or broth if you wish.