Amish Chicken & Noodles!

In southern Kentucky, we have many Amish and Mennonite communities around us and so we are familiar with a lot of their  recipes and cuisine.   They grow wonderful produce and sell it to the public and are also really good bakers!   This "Chicken & Noodles" is one of my favorites!  It's really very simple, but full of flavor and just good comfort food.   I will admit I added a little more spice to it to suit our tastes.  Amish and Mennonite cooking is not as seasoned as we like our food!   

Here is what you will need for this recipe:

8 Tbs. butter, divided (1 stick)

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup diced carrot

1/2 cup diced celery

1 Tbs. chicken bullion base or 2 chicken bullion cubes (I used Better than Bouillon)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

1/4 tsp. thyme or poultry seasoning

9 cups water

1 (10.5 oz)  can cream of chicken soup

2 cups half and half or whole milk

1 (16 oz.) bag of wide egg noodles

3 cups of cooked diced chicken breast meat (about 3-4 large boneless chicken breasts)

Melt half of the butter in a large stock pot  or Dutch oven.  Saute the onion, carrots and celery until tender.  

Add the water, bullion, seasonings,the rest of the butter, soup and noodles and bring to a low boil.  Stir and add the half and half or milk.  

Fold in the cooked chicken, cover and simmer on low about 20 minutes or until the noodles are tender and it has thickened.  If it gets too thick, add some water or milk. 

It's ready to serve!!!  This is so simple, but so good and filling!!!