Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

It's starting to cool off, and I'm excited for soup weather!!!

4 Tbsp canola oil
1 very large onion, diced
3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups diced carrots
2 cups diced celery
4 Tbsp flour
2 to 3 qts MSPI safe chicken broth
2 cups fresh (or frozen) corn kernals
1 seeded jalapeno, very finely chopped
2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup wild rice blend (raw)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large dutch oven or soup pot. Add onion, garlic, carrots & celery, and saute until vegetables begin to soften. Sprinkle flour over veggies and cook, stirring constantly for a minute or two (not to brown the flour, just cook off the raw taste). Add 2 qts broth, stirring constantly, along with the corn and jalapeno. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, until the broth thickens very slightly. Add chicken, rice blend and nutmeg. Simmer until rice is tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add a little more broth if the soup gets a little too thick.

*Optional* When serving, people not allergic to dairy can pour a spoonful of heavy cream over their individual bowl.

**To make a 'cream' soup, add some non-dairy coffee creamer (plain flavor) at the end of cooking (1 to 2 cups). I originally ate this as a dairy cream soup (with 1 c heavy cream stirred in at the end). It's good both without the cream or with non-dairy creamer subbed instead.

Yields 8 generous servings