
Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C).
In a 6 quart Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp of vegetable oil and sauté the shallots, garlic, celery, thyme, and bay leaf until fragrant and translucent.
Place all of the ingredients except for the squash into the Dutch oven.
Season the soup with salt and pepper.
Cook the dish in the oven for 3 hours.
Remove the Dutch oven from the oven and shred the chicken. Season the stew with salt and pepper to taste. Add the brown rice. Cook for an additional 2 hours.
Remove the Dutch oven from the oven and allow the soup to cool covered for at least fifteen minutes.
Place all of the ingredients except for the squash into a 6 quart slow cooker.
Season the soup with salt and pepper.
Cook the dish on low heat for 4 hours, or high heat for 2 hours.
Shred the chicken, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the brown rice. Cook for an additional 2 hours on low heat, or 1 hour on high heat.
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
Roughly half an hour before the soup is finished, toss the sliced squash pieces with 2 tbsp of vegetable oil and salt and pepper to taste in a large mixing bowl.
Bake the squash for 35 minutes, or until caramelized and browned.
Serve the soup and top with the roasted delicata squash. Serve with garlic bread if desired.