OLD-FASHIONED CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• Dry chicken thighs with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over med-high heat until just smoking.
• Brown chicken thighs well on both sides, 6-8 minutes.
• Transfer to plate, let cool slightly, and discard skin.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat left in pan.
• Add in carrots, celery, and onions; cook over medium heat until vegetables are softened, 7-10 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, tomato paste, thyme, and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in 1 cup chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits; transfer to slow cooker.
• Stir remaining 7 cups broth and bay leaves into slow cooker.
• Nestle browned chicken with any accumulated juice into slow cooker.
• Season chicken breast with salt and pepper, wrap in foil packet, and lay on top of soup.
• Cover and cook until chicken is tender, 4-6 hours on LOW.
• Remove foil packet, open it carefully (watch for steam), and transfer chicken breast to cutting board.
• Transfer chicken thighs to cutting board.
• Let all chicken cool slightly, then shred into bite-size pieces, discarding skin and bones.
• Let soup settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat from surface using large spoon.
• Discard bay leaves.
• Cook egg noodles in boiling salted water until tender, then drain.
• Stir cooked noodles, shredded chicken, and peas into soup and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in parsley, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.