Recipe(tried): Mama Mandola's Sicilian Chicken Noodle Soup (Carrabba's)

I also schmoozed one of the chef's at our local Carrabba's and he would only let on an ingredient at a time at each visit, lol. *The missing ingredients are asterisked. Please let me know how it turns out!

MAMA MANDOLA'S CHICKEN SOUP (MINESTRA DI POLLO)
From Carrabba's
Makes 1 1/2 gallons

5 celery ribs
4 medium carrots, peeled
1 large yellow onion
2 medium potatoes, peeled
1 large green bell pepper
1(14-ounce) can imported Italian plum tomatoes
1(5-pound) hen, washed, *ROASTED FIRST, cooled, and cut into 8 pieces
*1 (6-8 oz.) Ball of Fresh Romano Cheese UNGRATED
*1 (8 oz.) Chunk of smoked Prosciutto - Unchopped, Unsliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
6 quarts water
Salt and freshly ground *white pepper (This is THE key in the spicyness I am told and have succeeded!!)

Dice celery, carrots, onion, potatoes and bell pepper into 1/4-inch pieces. Chop tomatoes; reserve all juice.

Place vegetables, tomatoes with their juice, chicken pieces, parsley and garlic in a 10-quart stockpot. Add water. Season with salt and pepper.

Slowly bring soup to a boil over low heat. Skim off foam that rises to the surface; may have to skim 2 or 3 times. Partially cover pot and simmer 2 hours.

When soup is finished, remove chicken pieces with a slotted spoon. Let cool.

Meanwhile, mash vegetables in the bottom of the pot with the back side of a large cooking spoon or a potato masher.

When chicken has cooled enough to handle, remove skin and bones and return meat to soup. *At this time, also had wholly the lump of Romano and Prosciutto. The Romano may just cook into a blob. Remove the Romano AND the Prosciutto and discard before serving the soup.

Notes:
- Soup is best served the day after it is made. Refrigerate and remove fat that solidifies on the surface of the soup.

- Serve soup with rice or small, stubby pasta such as pastina, tubetti or small elbow macaroni. For better flavor, cook the rice or pasta in the soup when reheating.

- Add freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, if desired.