Chicken Soup

I said I wouldn't do it, and I did it. I'm posting about chicken again. I wish it weren't so. But the sad truth of things is this: when it's cold, gray and rainy, a little chicken soup goes a long way. And while everyone can open a little can of Campbell's, I think there's something to be said for going the extra mile to put on a pot of your own home-made chicken loveliness.

Suggestion: if ever you see a whole chicken on sale, grab one and stick it in the freezer. You never know when you might need it. Today I opened the freezer and was so grateful to see my little chicken stash, as the rain pelted the windows and the heater was struggling to keep the house warm.

What you'll need:

1 whole chicken, on the bone with skin

rosemary

or

thyme

or

sage

or all of the above

salt

pepper

water

pasta noodles

Remove frozen chicken from freezer and place chicken in a stock pot. Cover the chicken with water, and set on stove to boil. Add whatever herbs you have on hand; if fresh, a sprig of rosemary, thyme, or sage. If dried, add a pinch of one or a combination of all three (based on your preference). Salt and pepper the water, cover with lid, and bring to a boil. You may add carrots, celery and onion, if you like, but even without veggies, the broth is still tasty and rich. When the broth boils, turn down the heat to simmer. Let cook for 2-3 hours, or until the chicken meat begins to fall off the bones. When the meat separates from the bone, remove the entire chicken, and let cool. Remove the skin and bones, and set aside. At the same time, in a separate stock pot, ladle in chicken broth and bring to a boil. When broth boils, add a package of your favorite small noodles (mini farfalle, mini penne, tiny chicarinna, etc), and cook the pasta thoroughly. When the pasta is ready, do not drain. Add the deboned chicken to the broth/pasta, and incorporate evenly. The broth will become thickened by the pasta.

Spoon into bowls, season with salt and pepper, and pair with good crusty bread or some crunch crackers. This simple, hearty soup will take the cold edge off any winter day. And frankly, nothing makes a home smell homier than one with chicken soup cooking on the stove.