Mediterranean Chicken Soup and Meli's Mutilated Whiskers

Mediterranean Chicken Soup - muy different, muy tasty

Stock:
1/2 cup cup orange juice (yeah!)
3 (10 1/2 oz) cans chicken broth
1 (8oz) can stewed tomatoes
4 medium (2 cups) carrots, sliced
2 medium (1 cup) onions, chopped
1 bulb (1 cup) fresh fennel, trimmed, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves (can sub dried in same amount)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves (can sub dried in same amount)
1 teaspood finely chopped fresh garlic

Chicken:
2 cups cubed 1 inch cooked chicken
1 (2 1/4 oz) can sliced ripe black olives, drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

In Dutch oven combine all stock ingredients. Cook over high heat until mixture comes to a full boil (8-10 min). Cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Stir in chicken and olvies, continue cooking until heated through (2-3) minutes. Ladle into individual service bowls. Sprinkle each serving with parsley.

YIELD: 4 servings
NUTRITION INFO: (1 serving) 270 calories, 27g protein, 21g carbohydrates, 9g fat, 60 mg cholesterol, 1230 mg sodium

While I was boiling the chicken, I am suspicious that Meli succumbed to her newfound fascination, which is crawling all over the countertops. We know this because she singed the whiskers on the left side of her face. Koby and I Googled all about whiskers after that - was she hurt? Hopefully she won't crawl around the stove top and the knives anymore. Part of me laughs when I look at her mutilated, curly whiskers, and part of me feels bad for my little kitty. She's just too curious for her own good.