Let's make some soup!

[sillyjilly]

Hey all, its getting kinda chilly out so what better than a nice big bowl of chicken soup? I don't work with fixed recipes so exact amounts of ingredients will not be included. This will make you enough for around 10 people, maybe more haha, but it stores well and can be frozen for future eating. Also, make sure you have a pot big enough to submerge the chicken!

Ok, so for starters, you will need: celery, onion, carrots, peas, bay leaves, 1 whole/halved/quartered 4-5 pound chicken, salt, pepper, parsely, fresh dill, and maybe some chives if youre in the mood.

Then you need your starch: potatoes, noodles, matzo balls, etc. For the rest of this recipe i will assume that we are doing chicken noodle.

So..what you do is cut up your vegetables and put them in a biiig soup pot, I usually do about a whole bunch of celery, 10 carrots, 1 whole onion, a can or two of peas, etc. If youre really hungering for carrots, put in more carrots! you get the idea.

Next, salt and pepper the vegetables, add a chunk o butter and simmer the vegetables for a little bit, being a few minutes while tossing them around.

Once I get a little sizzling, I then add the water. I am going to guess that I use about 3 to 4 gallons, but once again I am not entirely sure. fill the pot, leaving some room for the water that the chicken will displace.

At this point, add a few bay leaves, and bring to a boil. Once it it boiling, I add the chicken to the pot. Let boil for an hour to cook completely, but you may do so for more than that and I believe it enhanced the flavor. Also, from what I have read, many people skim the top of the pot for fat, but I figure it helps to keep it in for the flavor. After the hour is up, take the chicken out of the pot, and pick the meat off in the sizes that you prefer and put it back in the soup pot (if you leave the chicken in for longer, it will come apart on its own, but i feel it is best to do it this way to get the bones and skin out of the soup). It will be HOT, so watch out!

After you finish picking at the chicken, it is time to season. I find sea salt or kosher salt tastes best, and just pour it in increments, taste, and stop when you are satisfied. Add pepper to taste as well, and chives and parsely.

At this point, I will put the soup back on the stove, and cook the pasta in it. Potatoes would be introduced at the beginning of the process with the other vegetables. Cook for another ten minutes and.... voila! Add fresh dill to the bowl, and your favorite crackers and it is good to go.

I also do a tex mex kind of variation with garlic, lime, tomatoes, beans, and cilantro if there is any interest in hearing that.

So...I hope this helps, its really simple and good eating!

[JubesInquest]

Soup is soooo welcome this time of year.
Very good recipe. I've got chicken soup for lunch today!

[Neaky]

A family recipe of a dang good soup! Lol. I've been eating it the past couple days being sick and all and ohmigosh, it's so good One of my favorite home-made meals.. Give it a try!


Ingredients:

* 3-5 BONED chicken breasts (skinned is optional)
* Your choice of Davinci noodles (i prefer Stars or Alphabet, lol)
* 4-6 carrots, sliced
* 4-6 sticks celery, sliced
* 4 skinned and cubed potatoes
* 1 (VERY) thinly sliced clove of garlic
* (optional) 1 finely diced SMALL onion
* salt & pepper for seasoning


How to:

- Put chicken breasts in pot, fill with water an inch and a 1/2 below brim. Bring to a boil, skim off all excess fat that goes to surface of water. Boil to all fat has been skimmed.. Should be about 20 minutes. Lower to a light boil. Add your vegetables and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. The chicken will fall off the bone when about ready (make sure potatoes are soft) and shred chicken to your liking. Make sure all bones are taken out of chicken and add back to pot.

- Boil water in a separate small pot for noodles, add noodles, lightly season with salt so noodles don't stick together, stirring occasionally. When noodles are to your liking, add to your bowl, throw in some soup and voila!! Soups on!! Lol


Hope you guys enjoy

[Neaky]

Oh snap! Lol, i forgot to mention, you don't have to make the entire thing of noodles, about a cup, cup and a 1/2. You can save the soup for a couple days after.. It's even good the next day! Lol