Cookin’ with Carolyn Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup
12 fresh baby carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 celery ribs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons mustard seed
2 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
1-1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1-1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
4 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated linguine
Coarsely ground pepper and additional minced fresh parsley, optional
1. In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 6 ingredients. Place mustard seed and garlic on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with kitchen string to form a bag. Place in slow cooker. Add chicken and broth. Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, 5-6 hours.
2. Discard spice bag. Remove chicken; cool slightly. Stir linguine into soup; cover and cook on high until tender, about 30 minutes. Cut chicken into pieces and return to soup; heat through. Sprinkle with coarsely ground pepper and additional parsley if desired. Yield: 12 servings (3 qts.0