Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Monday, April 22, 2013

Soup

Soup is a favorite of mine. I like to get creative and try different herbs and spices, toss in leftovers, add cans of this and that. I save the turkey carcass and make soup from it every day after Thanksgiving. I make soup from leftover chicken, beef drippings, whatever I can find. Give me bones, I'll make soup.


Flu-Busting Chicken Soup

When spring is colder than it should be a big pot of chicken soup helps everyone feel better, whether you’re in the early stages of catching cold or just need warming up!

Ingredients:
One chicken, whole or cut in pieces
2 fresh jalapeno peppers
garlic cloves
1 tablespoon salt
2 onions, peeled and diced
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped, reserve the leaves for stock
chopped garlic
herbs and seasonings to taste: parsley, tarragon, basil, oregano, sage, chopped garlic
4 cups canned crushed tomatoes
1 cup uncooked rice or barley

Directions:
Cover chicken with water in a large stock pot. Add celery leaves, unchopped, the whole jalapeno peppers, 3 or 4 garlic cloves, and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for an hour, or until chicken is cooked through but not falling off the bone.

Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.  Remove chicken, garlic cloves and celery leaves to a large bowl. Skim fat off top of chicken stock.

Take meat off bones and save. Chop remaining vegetables and add to stock. With a spoon, break up the softened jalapeno peppers. Bring soup to a boil and simmer until carrots are tender, about an hour. Add uncooked rice and simmer another thirty minutes. Add chicken and heat through.

Makes a large pot that isn’t as spicy as one might think, considering the jalapenos. If you want less kick to it, use only one but remember it’s the peppers that contribute to its healing qualities.

19 comments:

  1. Mmmm, your chicken soup sounds good. I especially like eating soup during the winter months, because it always warms me up.

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  2. "Give me bones, I'll make soup"!!! That is such a glorious catchphrase!! Take care
    x

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  3. LOL- you lost me at Jalapenos. It would kill me.
    ~Summer

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  4. I love the addition of jalapenos here. That would cure you of any ills! My favorite pepper. So mild, yet so flavorful.

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  5. Oh, I haven't had soup with barley in a long time. My dad just visited. He's got bronchitis--I should've made this for him.

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  6. Soup of the evening, beautiful soup!

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  7. Trying to get over a cold so will be trying this out! YUM!

    Shelly in Nebraska checking in from A to Z!

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  8. That sounds good for today. It's just cool enough out - and inside since I don't want to turn the heat up!
    Another S is for Soup over at Lynn's today too: http://lynnproctor.blogspot.com/2013/04/soup.html

    atoz challenge
    www.mainelywrite.blogspot.com

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  9. Sounds like a soup that will cure it all.

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    Replies
    1. Inger, It is! Definitely my go to soup when someone in the house is sick.

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  10. We love soup at our house. I will try this one.

    Paula's Place

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  11. haha this does sound like a delicious cure all :)

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  12. Mmmm, I love me some soup and I always have it when I'm sick with a cold or sinus infection.

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  13. Sounds yummy! I love soup too--and homemade chicken soup is one of my favorites!

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  14. Hmmm. I can smell it now Karen. And yes, this spring is cold all over, even here in Central Florida... WInds are howling and rain is pelting... this is truly unusual for this time of year.

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  15. I love soup any time of the year. You are so right. Soup is creative, the combinations are nearly endless. My son is a fantastic soup maker and he has made up some of his own recipes that are wonderful.

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  16. We use just about anything to make a soup. There's a chicken carcass in the freezer right now just begging to be used.

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  17. Hi Karen .. had to get out of my sick bed in January and get the basics to make chicken soup for my soul - it was essential to my life - not literally, but nearly so. I couldn't make it that day - too much energy expended ... but it helped me recover!

    So yes zupe for the soul .. at all times .. cheers Hilary

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Comments are welcome!