Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

1 cup chopped Onions
1 cup chopped Carrots
1 cup diced Celery
8 oz fresh Mushrooms, sliced
5 cloves Garlic, crushed
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 dried Bay leaves dried
2 Tbsp Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute
1 tsp Pepper, black
0.75 cup raw Wild rice
1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
4 cup Simply Nature Chicken Broth, Low Sodium
2 cup (8 fl oz) Water, tap
3 tbsp Butter, salted
2 tbsp Canola Oil
0.50 cup Flour - Gold medal all purpose flour
3.5 cup Milk, nonfat

Combine chicken, wild rice, onions, celery, carrots, mushrooms, garlic, bay leaves, broth, water, bouillon cubes, and seasoning in slow cooker. Cook on low 7-8 hr or high 3-4 hr (or pressure cook 30 min). A half hour before cooking time is up, remove chicken breast and shred with fork when cool. Meanwhile, melt the butter and oil in a saucepan, stir in the flour and pepper, and let the mixture cook for 1 minute. Whisk the mixture slowly while adding in the milk. Continue to whisk until thickened, removing all lumps. Add to slow cooker with chicken when rice is cooked. Heat through.

Serving Size: Makes 10 1.5-cup servings