Sunday, October 16, 2011

Chicken soup to soothe the soul…

The flu has reared it’s ugly head in our casa…


And the first thing I always do when this happens… is make a big pot of homemade


Chicken noodle soup


….it cures what ail's ya.


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Making it through the years I realize that I have learned from family and friends how


to steep this magical elixir of a broth. I swear it cures.


I always start with a whole organic chicken…which I place in a stock pot with


one or two onions…slice ‘em in half…leave the skin on my hubs taught me that.


3-4 carrots…washed, not peeled.


about 4 inches of the end of a clump of celery


a whole clump of garlic. ok…I know clump isnt the word. can’t think. clump works for my brain. just slice it in half so all of those little cloves can share their flavor


leave the skin on…again...like my hubs says.


IMG_0397



Throw in any fresh herbs you have…I didn't have any see previous post of swamp like flooding. But bay leaves and thyme are nice additions.


Next peel a rutabaga. I grew up calling them turnips. And I might add I refused to eat said turnips every Thanksgiving. I think my brothers did too. clearly a silent protest.


But…Tyler Florence told me to add them to soup stock… and by gum…they DO flavor it beautifully. Plus, turnips are good. Turnips are life force. That’s precisely what one needs to fight off the flu.


power to the turnip!


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you do need to peel the skin…but just slice in half and let it mingle with everyone else.


Add some whole pepper corns…fill with water to cover the chicken…and simmer away…for hours.


Pull out the chicken and let it cool…shred with your fingers discarding the skin and bones. Set aside.


Then strain the broth from the veggies…some say you can then puree the veggies and add them to the stock. I have a big Black Dog who happens to love them and a bit of stock and skin added to his dinner. He has never had the flu.Ever. See.


THIS is the elixir. The broth.


Next chop an onion and several carrots and some celery and some peeled parsnips my daughters favorite and saute in some olive oil. Sizzle.


Add stock and squeeze in the juice of a half of a lemon. My old boss Toni taught me this.


Let it all steep until veggies are soft. salt and pepper to taste.


Now... my friend Gail likes to make matzo balls at this juncture. I prefer homemade egg noodles. And if not them, then frozen egg noodles will do the trick quite beautifully.


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In the grocery freezer….next to frozen ravioli.


If I am making a lot of soup and want to freeze or keep in the fridge, I only cook as many noodles as I will need to re-heat.


I add the chicken last. Some fresh parsley.


and DARE the dayum flu to hang around.


If you are ailing…or just need a nutritious hug.


Make it.


soup


What do you add to your fave soup recipe?

34 comments:

An Urban Cottage said...

That looks awesome!

I think rutabaga and turnip are different. I used to love turnip when I was kid but can't stand it now. But I can see how it might be good to flavor the broth.

Hope it cures what ails 'ya!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Are they? It's the round whitish with purple. My mom used to mash them. Hard as a rock those suckers are!

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

I agree with you nothing better to stop that flu than with a good pot of chicken soup.
Hope you feel better soon
Maggie

erin's art and gardens said...

oh boy...that looks scrumptious! i have not yet made, home made chicken soup this fall. but i soon will, now that i am drooling over yours...i hear it is the steam and the fat that makes you feel better? i am sure the veggies help too. btw...there is indeed a difference between a rutabega and a turnip...rutabegas are orange...i know this, because my hubby makes them EVERY thanksgiving (whether we want him to, or not).
sending healing vibes your way,
erin
xxoo

Rick Forrestal said...

You've mixed one of the great medicines of mankind.

(You've got the essential ingredients, too . . . especially the garlic, turnip and lemon juice.)
What, no coconut?

Now all you need is rest.
Wishing you a speedy recovery!

PK Studios said...

I just bought a beautiful organic home grown chicken for farmers market....now I know what I'm going to make! I get into such cooking ruts...Thank you Linda for inspiring me to do something new : )

Mahek said...

HI
SUCH A WONDERFUL POST, I FELT LIKE PUTTING MY HAND OUT AND HAVING A BOWL FULL....

Sush said...

Oh dang...the list of foods I want to try out on my new range just keeps growing. It's getting colder this weekend perhaps I can whip up a pot by then!
Hugs~

Barbara said...

Flu bug...stay away!!
Sorry you've got it at your house, but chicken soup is definitely the answer. Great recipe!

Unknown said...

Yum! I'd want some even if I felt as fit as a fiddle :)

Hope you feel better soon!

Renée Finberg said...

you will have the anti- cold remedy streaming strong in your system.
xx looks so yummy

A.J.Barnes said...

It's all about the broth. Recently I was in Dallas and had lunch with a friend in the Zodac dining room at Neiman's. They serve tiny little tea cups of the best broth I have every tasted. Just broth...nothing else...we asked for seconds...

Unknown said...

yes yes!! this is my favorite too. I have never added rutabaga/turnip but will next time.

and

I am of the type that makes matzoh balls.
x..x
p.s.
you should be on the lookout for a package from Colorado!

niartist said...

Yuuuu-mmmmmmy! Hope you get to feeling better Linda, we need you around these parts! :)

xo,
A

Cobalt Violet said...

What beautiful soup! Yum!
Hope your home is filled with radiant wellness
as soon as possible Linda!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Aww. Thanks for the healing thoughts. They worked...and the chicken soup worked. I had only a mild case...but the sickest amongst us is up and moving.

Rick...had to LOL about the coconut!

Erin...I remeber the turnips I turned down were orange also...this was too, on the inside.

Blue Muse said...

That's what we call witches brew in our house! It is the cure, for sure. I want to come to your house, sister-friend and have a bowl of that powerfully delicious blend you cooked up and give and get a hug. LOL.
The round one with purple is a turnip :)
I hope your household feels better quick!
xo isa

rjerdee said...

wow, lottza cooking...we're doing chicken tortilla soup today on this rainy day...however, no one's sick in THIS little house :)

Willow Decor said...

The soup looks yummy! I alsways put a parmesean cheese rind in my soup - I think it adds depth. Hope you are on the mend!
xx-Gina

Renae Moore said...

Gosh that looks yummy. I hope yous guys are all feeling better! ((hugs))))

SarahWhite said...

Sorry yous guys are ailing Linda. The soup looks SO good. I had a man tell me the secret to good healing soup was to use chicken thighs...something about the grease in them. :)

Linda McMullan said...

Wow. Hungry for that soup, right now! Only other thing I always put in my chicken soup is fresh ginger...gives a peppery, zingy note, plus it reduces inflammation. Hope you feel better soon!

Sally Tharpe Rowles said...

Great ideas for flavoring a good & healing chicken soup...great photos too! Hope it did the trick & all are well!

somepinkflowers said...

~~~What do you add to your fave soup recipe?~~

a bottle of beer.


no.
seriously.

:-)

the alcohol cooks plum out
& one is left
with a Certain Hardiness...

Renée Finberg said...

this recipe will go on record as one of the best remedies.
xx
i hope i do not need it this season.
xxx

SHERRY HART said...

I am sure in some underground cultures chix soup is definitely medicinal....along with shots of tequila.....:). I am game for trying both.....hope you feel better!

welltraveled said...

How did you survive the tornado?

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Welltraveled...we were fine...'cept for a bird that flew into our house...the livingroom.

Enjoying our own little wild life refuge we are!

Melissah from Coastal Style said...

That looks delicious - perfect for the cold, dreary day we are having here. My blog has just had a revamp with seven new pages of inspiration. Take a peak when you next stop by.
x
Melissah

Anita said...

I just made a pot of chicken chili, which included the rutabaga. But I learned some new stock tricks from ya! Will try next time!!

Anonymous said...

ails --
not "ail's"

Unknown said...

How did I miss this? Yum! This is a must keep.

Melissa said...

O. M. G.

It's 9:13 pm on Sunday night where I live, but I'm so tempted to run out to the store to get the fixings for this. Man, oh man. I wonder if this also cures a little one who doesn't like to eat much in the way of "real" food??

Hope everyone is over the flu!

Melissa said...

Just stopping by to get this recipe again. It's awesome!!!

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