Homemade Chicken Soup

Ingredients: 

1 Chicken, cut up into pieces (or buy it cut up) 

water to cover the chicken 

1 large carrot

2 celery sticks

1 bay leaf

1/2 onion

6 peppercorns 

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Put all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Skim off the the foam from the top of the pot as the water heats. Once it boils, cover, and return to a gentle simmer for about 2 hours. 

Strain the broth. Add salt/pepper if more is needed. 

You can save the boiled chicken and have it when it's warm or cold on a sandwich. 

Then, I roast two chicken breasts at 350F for about 20 minutes,  with the bone in seasoned with salt/pepper Italian spices. Cool. You can buy a cooked chicken, and chop up the breast and high meat into 1" cubes.

Peel and slice a couple of carrots.

Chop about 1/2 cup green beans into 1" lengths. 

Slice 2 stalks of celery on the diagonal - about 1/4" slices. 

Dice 2 potatoes into 1/2" cubes, or cook some soup pasta. 

Roughly chop 2 Tablespoons of Italian parsley.

Then, drop the beans into boiling water to blanch them for about 1 minute till bright green. 

Remove the beans, then put the carrots and celery in to simmer till tender. 

Remove the carrots and celery.  Then add the potatoes or pasta and boil gently till cooked. 

Add the cooked vegetables to the broth - heat. 

Lastly, add the chopped cooked chicken and stir gently. 

Top with chopped parsley.

It is so good! Nothing is overdone and the colors are bright. 

Homemade soup has more taste than the boxed or canned version, especially when you can add your favorite vegetables and make a hearty meal out of it. 

I remember seeing soup like this in Unionville - sold in large mason jars where you can see all the ingredients. It makes a beautiful gift!