February 2nd
2006
The past days of sub zero temperatures have taken their toll, on both of us. A nasty flu has been going around and decided to hit us at full speed. No fun. On a brighter note, I just realized that the days begin to become longer again! Yay! I'm done with the cold period. Period.
What's even worse for a serious foodie than not having the time to cook, is to not being able to taste. Luckily by now my taste palettes are back in o-k shape, well, at least I can tell what I'm eating again. A few days ago, Richard over at German Diary asked for our favorite chicken soup recipe and with all the colds going around, the timing couldn't have been any better. Temporarily returning from a journey into a colorful pink world, it's -for now- back to the basics:
Here is our home made medicine to get a handle on the ugliest cold - from a culinary angle. Many recipes call for vermicelli noodles, I like it better with ditali rigati - this way I have something to actually bite on. Chicken broth made from scratch simply can't be compared to an off the shelf instant something - it's just so much better. And most important, it makes you instantly feel better, too.
This post is also dedicated to Stephanie, who during our visit managed to have chicken noodle soup three times a week :)
Brown onion halves (leave onion skins on, they add a nice color to the soup afterwards) and bacon in a flat pan. If they gain a little more color than necessary no worries (in fact it adds a nice taste), but don't completely burn them either.
One bird makes one pot of soup. Quarter gutted chicken (no need to separate the flesh from the bones) and blanch for two or three minutes in boiling water. Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Clean and roughly dice the vegetables for the stock base. Place chicken pieces, vegetables and bacon in a large pot. Add cold water to cover as well as the spices & herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium/low and simmer for about 2.5-3 hours. Remove any foam that may be building up throughout the simmering process with a skimmer.
Remove chicken and strain the remaining mixture through a fine sieve or cloth (I prefer a clear broth). Skim off fat from the surface, season to taste and briefly bring to a boil again. For the last three minutes or so - add the small cut vegetables (the ones that will remain in the soup).
I prefer to cook pasta in a separate pot. This yields a clearer broth and in case I have leftovers, the noodles don't get all mushy - up to you. When done, arrange in a bowl with the chicken broth and some fresh parsley.
Of course there are a zillion ways of turning this naked bird into your fave chicken soup, this recipe has been a good and steady companion through our nasal and cough times.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Recipe source: own creation
Prep time: 15min., cooking: 2-3 hours
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Ingredients (serves 4):
1 onion, halved (with skin)
bacon, chopped (amount to taste)
2 carrots
1/2 celery tuber
1/2 leek (only the white/light green parts)
fresh thyme and parsley, chopped (amounts to taste)
2 bay leaves
1 boiler chicken, quartered
1.75 - 2l water
salt, black pepper corns and freshly ground pepper, nutmeg
finely chopped carrots and green onions (remain in soup!)
150g ditali rigati (pasta)
Ahhh, Jewish penicillin! Hope you feel better soon.
That is the kind of medicine I would take all the time. Sempre!!! I love chicken soup. It is one of my favourites and I agree that it is most comforting.
I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you are both feeling much better.
Ciao!
Very nice comfort food. And the garnish colors are bright and cheery. I agree with you that not being able to taste can be a bit depressing. Keep warm and feel better soon.
Hmmm..Chicken noodle soup is 'the Sunday aroma' of my home! (with egg vermicelli) And as you mentioned, it is used as a medicine too. I used to be told as a child to eat up every drop of this soup as it was supposed to make you healthier and stronger. I know what I am having this Sunday..
Thank you for a nice recipe and get well soon.
If someone can make even a dead cold chicken look so good on a photo (sorry for my denglish), he can do everything. I wonder, if a „boiler” is the good old German „Suppenhuhn” ? And: It may add flavour and power to the soup, when you rest the chicken overnight in it. Nothing for the quick „jewish penicillin” (I like that name), of course.
Nicky- thanks for the dedication! I'm honored ;-). And you never know what the cravings of a pregnant woman will be next... Que les sienten mejor (get well soon!). Besos y Abrazos from S & D in CO.
Yes definitely the kind of food you want, when you are not feeling well. It looks good.
I also usually drink hot/lemon/ginger/honey with hot water. That usually clears everything as well.
Hope you feel better.
Bea
Thanks Sebastian for the tip! I'm not a 100% sure on the chicken/hen/boiler nomenclature, but boiler I thought would do, on second thought, however, boiler chicken could be closer,...
Hey Stephanie, what a lovely surprise! Good to know you've had your share of colds this year already and are all well (and of course Special K)!!! Oh and thanks for the latest Donna Hay fix, it seems that just opening the package gave N. a real energy boost :)
Bea, That's exactly what I've been having every morning, too (except the ginger). Adding ginger to the mix sounds like good way to enhance it though - and besides, didn't someone just recently tell me about having made it a ritual to prepare a glass of "ginger-water" every morning at work. Sebastian? :)
Thank you all for the Get Well wishes!
I don't know if I've ever seen such a cute and pretty bowl of chicken noodle soup before. I almost want to hug it...except I'd rather eat it. Yes, I'd really like to eat it.
Here, here for chicken soup! The flu and a nasty cold has been, no wait, still ARE houseguests in this abode. Besides not being able to smell or taste, I can barely read anything without my eyeballs watering up! So much for thinking it was so much fun to be outside shoveling snow. :-( Atleast the dog is okay.
Thats a real comfort food. Looks delish too.
I made the soup yesterday evening after coming home with a light stomach ache. I reduced many of the portions, so the balance was probably a bit different from yours, but it was delicious.
My only warning is be careful if you decide to throw the chicken into the soup. The meat is wonderfully tender, but I got teensy bits of bone in my bowl. But despite the bones, my stomach ache was healed by later in the evening. Oh the power of chicken soup!
Mmm. I didn't grow up having chicken soup as a cold remedy, but simply as something my mother made when she was too tired to make anything else. Even so, I was still able to take note of its ability to comfort. Chicken noodle soup sounds so delicious, even if one doesn't have a cold. Hope you get well soon :)
Oh, I hear you. I think we food bloggers have been trading around the bug through the internet. Bleh. I just recovered from a ten-day version of the achy-feverish-congested winter blahs. But I lived on a chicken-millet soup I made up one day --almost exactly like this one, except without the noodles -- and I'm feeling much better now. In fact, I just returned from a bike ride in the incipient sunlight. Spring is coming soon!
I am a huge fan of chicken soup, in fact I was pretty much raised on the stuff coming from a Jewish home. This recipe looks great I will definately be trying it. Thanks
yes yes yes! i have been so into making chicken soup lately. this is so similar to my recipe! ... i will make a few adjustments the next time i make it to match up a bit more.
it is my first time here since the new header went up. i just LOVE it. hugs to you both!! mav
I trust that you're feeling much better now. That chicken looks really good as does your recipe. I think your soup will make anyone feel better after having some.
Paz
Finally on the net a home made chicken soup....no convenience broths wanted! I lost my Gram's recipe but will tear things apart to find it...but not today. Headache, cold coming on. I need the real thing. Thanks so much!
Karyl
Those are great pictures of noodle soup! I personally like Thai noodle soup for colds and for quick meals. It takes less than 5 minutes of prep and cook time and fills the belly and cures all that ails you. You can see the recipe at http://www.thainoodlesoup.com Try it out!
This soup looks so comforting. I wish i could have a bowl of it right now.
I am currently in the UK and it's freezeing; maybe not as much as in Germany, but far enough for a sun grown dhild like me.
I hope you and O. will get better soon.
Love
xoxo
Fanny