Homegirl's feeling a bit under the weather today.  *Sniffle, sniffle*.  Not like sick, sick…but you know…sick.  Perhaps I've run myself ragged a midst the garden weeding and harvesting, or perhaps I'm just being a runny-nosed-sissy.  Either way, I'm a wee achy and tired.

Speaking of weather, the current climate is cold, grey, and rainy.  Although, I must admit, I welcome the bleak weather as it seems to perfectly match the mood of this little germ-infestation I have goin' on.

In an effort to cure myself of what ails me, I have done the following:

1.  Worn my sweatpants all day.
2.  Made sure to spend plenty of time curled up in a blanket.
3.  Whined to Stuart.  Maybe a little.
4.  Sipped on many ‘o cup of Emergency-C.
5.  Taken a few tablespoons of my elderberry syrup.
6.  Found an excuse to procrastinate on doing dishes.
6.  What else?  Made chicken soup of course!

Nothing can cure a cold like a warm, salty chicken soup.  It's true – it's a proven fact.  All the goodness from that chicken stock replenishes the body and makes one feel warm, content, and satisfied.  Sigh.  I'm pretty sure I'll be eating it for the next few days, so I made sure to cook up a big batch!

Chicken Soup
You will need:
 – 1 roaster chicken, the best quality one you can find!
 – A big ‘ol pot of water
 – 2 tablespoons vinegar (I use raw apple cider)
 – 5 stocks celery, chopped
 – 5 carrots, peeled and chopped
 – 1 onion, peeled and diced
 – 4 tablespoons butter
 – 1 pound (or more!) potatoes, diced (I had a mismatch of varieties from the garden…use whichever variety you like the most!)
 – Handful or two of fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, chives…)
 – 1 minced dried chili (optional)

Step One:  Fill up your big pot of water, then add it your entire chicken and the vinegar.  Bring the water to a boil, cover, and simmer the chicken for as long as you can stand it (8-12 hours is great…but do what you can, even if it's just a few hours!).  When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot of broth (reserve this broth for your soup!).  Then, after it has cooled a little bit, pick the meat from the bones.

Note:  You can save the bones and carcass here to make another batch of broth, if you'd like!  I like.

Step Two:  In a large soup pot, melt the butter.  Then, add it your diced onions, chopped celery, and chopped carrots.  Allow them to sweat a little bit in the butter and soften.  That's where the goodness comes from, baby.

Step Three:  Add you chicken meat in with the veggies…along with your potatoes.  Feel free to add however much of the chicken you'd like – I used about half of the chicken and reserved half for another meal.  

Step Four:  Ladle the reserved chicken broth into your soup pot.  Really, you can add however much broth you'd like, but if I'm guesstimating, I'd say about 10 cups or so.

Step Five:  Season the soup with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.  Also, this is a great time to add in your freshly chopped herbs!  Whats that?  You have some kale from your garden?  What the heck…throw that in there too.  Dark greens never hurt anybody.

Step Six:  Simmer the soup for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.

YUM.

My bones are warm just thinking about this soup!  It's making my dark grey sweat pants feel all the more cozy.

I served the bowls of soup with baked apples and freshly-baked baguettes (which are another story in-and-of themselves.  Oh my none-whole-wheat goodness).  It was the perfect meal to soothe a weary, achy soul.  Although, I must admit, making your own chicken soup when you're sick is not quite the same as having someone cook it for you.  Mom?! Where are you?!  

Why is it that when someone else makes you something it always tastes so delicious! Especially when that someone is your Mom.  Sigh.

Be a grown-up Shaye.  You have to make your own chicken soup now.


I hate being a grow up.

Grr.

Now…if you'll excuse me, I have some snuggling to do with my blanket. 

How's that for being a grown up.

For other great meal ideas, no matter what your dietary restrictions, check out the meal planning service I use: Real Plans.

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