Puertorican Chicken/rice Soup

I learned this recipe from years of watching my mother in law make it. It is the soup my husband craves when he is sick.....so it was a necessity to learn for me.

Chicken (1 whole or 1/2 cut in pieces),
6-8 cups water
1 onion chopped
2 T salt

In a large kettle, heat all ingredients to a boil till chicken is cooked and chicken broth is made. I do this part a little different then my mother in-law..she just puts the chicken pieces in her soup directly, but I don't like picking bones out my soup. I boil my chicken first then pull it out of the broth and debone. at this point I strain the broth to get the yuckys out. and start adding the veggies..

1/2 to 1 cup cut carrots
1/2 to 1 cup cut potatoes
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup of Sofrito (recipe in blog under seasonings)
1 packet Sazon Goya
1/2 can tomato paste or 1 can tomato sauce
1 cup rice
bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
add chicken back to pot
and about 4 more cups of water

let ingredients come to a boil and then simmer..enjoy with rolls