photo: foodnetwork.com

Serves 8
2 tablespoons margarine
1/4 cup thin spaghetti, 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup long-grain white rice
1 quart chicken stock
2 pieces chicken breast, cooked (great use of leftover chicken), shredded or cut into ½ inch pieces, or cut up smoked turkey
1 small yellow onion, peeled and halved
2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
2 fresh bay leaves
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces Italian sausage or kielbasa, sliced
1 large Spanish yellow onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
Few ribs celery from the heart, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (or for a less spicy soup, remove seeds and membrane, then slice)
1 cup water
1 cup red wine
4 cloves garlic, chopped or very thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pinch saffron threads (about 20)
1-1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika or sweet paprika
1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

Place the margarine in a small pot over medium heat. Melt the margarine and toast the pasta 2 to 3 minutes or until golden in color, add the rice and stir to coat. Add 1 cup stock to the pot and bring the mixture to a bubble, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and cook 15 minutes. Stir in parsley; turn off the heat and cover. Let stand to cool.

Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the extra-virgin olive oil, then the sausage or kielbasa and brown a couple of minutes. Add the onions, carrot, celery, chile, and garlic to the pot and season with a little salt and some black pepper. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes to soften. Stir in the saffron threads and paprika to combine. Add in the water and wine and add 3 cups more chicken stock, chicken, and tomatoes. Bring the soup to a boil; simmer 15 minutes to combine flavors. Add the rice and spaghetti mixture to the soup and serve.