Get Well Soon Chicken Soup

My boyfriend got struck by a stomach bug last weekend, so I decided to cook up some comforting chicken soup.  This recipe is uncomplicated and easy to put together - just chop up some veggies and add in a shredded rotisserie chicken and some chicken broth.  It's way more delicious than canned soup, plus you can turn the chicken carcass into homemade chicken broth along with some vegetable trimmings if you like (just break up the picked-over chicken, add some chopped up veggies/veggie trimmings, and cover with water; simmer for a few hours, and then strain through a double layer of cheesecloth).  You could add some fresh herbs or spices or some rice or pasta to this soup if you like, but I wanted to keep it as basic as possible to be easy on the stomach.  Either way, this soup is the perfect way to warm up and get you feeling better in a hurry. I think it's especially good with a gooey grilled cheese on the side!

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Get Well Soon Chicken Soup
Makes about 6 servings 

Vegetable oil
1/4 large onion, finely chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 fennel bulb, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
32 ounces chicken broth
1 rotisserie chicken, meat picked off the bones and shredded or chopped
Salt and pepper

1. Heat a few glugs of oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.  Add the onion and stir for a few minutes with a heat-proof rubber spatula.  Add the garlic, fennel, and carrots, and continue to stir over medium heat until the vegetables are slightly softened and translucent but not browned.
2. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Add the chicken meat.  Reduce heat to a simmer, adding more water or broth if needed to make the soup as broth-y as you like.
3. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, so that the veggies get soft and the flavors combine.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Keeps in the fridge for a few days, and also freezes well.