Hello!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a nice holiday week. My trip to New York and Boston was wonderful – filled with family, friends, and of course good food. Check out my blog to read some fun vacation highlights!

Sadly, my boyfriend came down with a terrible stomach bug early Saturday morning, but I knew just the thing to make him feel better.

Growing up, as soon as my sister or I got sick, my mom would immediately make a pot of her famous chicken soup. I started making my own chicken soup a few years ago, and it has yet to fail. It’s a great recipe to have in your repertoire for those days when you or someone you love is feeling a little under the weather.

Enjoy!

Lauren Hillman

Mommy’s Homemade Chicken Soup

This recipe is so easy – it literally requires putting a whole bunch of stuff into a pot, covering it with water and then simmering it for 2 hours!

Combine the following ingredients into a large (at least 8 qt.) stock pot:

-1 whole chicken cut up into pieces, about 3 lbs. (usually you can find them in the meat department already cut up)
-1 package of soup vegetables (usually in the produce department near the cut-up vegetables)
-3 packets of soup seasoning mix (I use Washington’s Golden Seasoning and Broth Mix)
-3 chicken bullion cubes

(Note: if you can’t find the soup vegetables, substitute 1 carrot, 1 celery stalk, 1 parsnip, 1 turnip, 1 onion and a few sprigs each of dill and parsley.)

Cover the contents of the pot with water and turn the stove to medium high heat. When the soup begins to simmer, turn the heat to low. Once the pot heats up, foam will begin to form on the surface. When this happens, just skim off the foam with a spoon.

As the soup is simmering away some of the water will inevitably evaporate. Add a few cups of liquid (water) to maintain the level of broth.

After about two hours, taste the soup to determine if additional salt and pepper needs to be added.

Strain the soup with a strainer or colander so you are left with just the broth. (The veggies will be quite soggy from the boiling.) Add shredded chicken, rice or egg noodles to your liking.

Bon Appetit!

Note: Fat will rise to the top of the soup when you refrigerate it. Just skim the fat off the top and you’re ready to eat! This also saves a few extra calories and some fat!! ;)