Chicken Soup!

Ohhhh I loveeee homemade Chicken Soup.  I have been making it for years.  This is what I do.

Ingredients

1 whole chicken
2 to 3 good size tomatoes, cut up in small pieces
1 large onion
6 or 7 good sized carrots
Fresh Green Beans...at least a pound
3 to 4 minced Garlic cloves
Parsley
Basil
Rosemary
Salt and Pepper
1 box of Swanson Vegetable Broth (or any brand you like)
Sambal  or Tabasco or Red Pepper Flakes  - all are optional but it really does give it a better flavor.
1 box of Orzo's. Some people like Rice, some people like Pasta in chicken soup.  I love the Orzo's.  Orzo's are rice shaped pasta and it's almost like having rice and pasta.

In a large pot, empty the box of Vegetable Broth.  Years ago, I used to use Chicken Broth but because I use a whole chicken in this recipe, it makes it's own chicken broth.  I discovered than if I add vegetable broth it tastes sooo much better.
Put the chicken in the pot with the vegetable broth and add water.  Make sure you add enough water to totally cover the chicken.
Bring the pot to a boil and then turn down to a high simmer. 
While the chicken is cooking I get all my other ingredients ready.
I usually cut the carrots in large one inch pieces.  I put the green beans in whole unless some are really long ones.  Then I will break them in half.
Cut up the tomatoes, onion and garlic and have it ready. 
When the chicken has been cooked to the point that the meat is literally falling off of the bone...take it out and put it on a platter.  Then, I take a seive and seive out all of the little bits and pieces that came off of the chicken.
Bring the pot back up to a boil.  Add all of your ingredients.  I usually put about a tablespoon of Sambal.  It really does give this soup a wonderful flavor.  Tasbasco or Red Pepper Flakes will too but I think the Sambal is the best.  I am addicted to it you know.
Now, debone the chicken and put the chicken back into the pan with all of the other ingredients. 
I just when it is done by the carrots.  When the carrots are tender, it's done.
When the soup is done, in a seperate pan, I boil the Orzo's.  When the Orzo's are cooked, I pour the hot water out of the pan and put in cold water so that the Orzo's do not get overcooked.  I keep the Orzo's seperate from the chicken soup until it has completely cooled down.  Then, when the soup is cook, I add the Orzo's.
When the soup is done and it's in my bowl, I top it off with Parmesan Cheese....Also, a nice fresh loaf of Italian Bread with butter is awesome with this!  Yum...I'm wanting some right now!