Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat with EVOO. Add celery, carrots, onions, thyme and bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 2-3 minutes then add chicken stock. Bring to a bubble and cook 5 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and continue to simmer for 4-5 minutes. Serve immediately or leave on the stove and reheat by bringing back up to a bubble.
To serve, add a portion of the popcorn, rice, pasta or egg noodles into a soup bowl. Ladle some of the hot chicken soup over it and finish it off with your choice of lime juice, hot sauce and/or dill.