Chicken Soup for the Slightly Sick

Soup in July? Why of course, soup anytime!

Particularly when someone isn't feeling their best, like NH who has been suffering from hay fever and asthma all weekend.

It's easy to throw together a delicious homemade soup with ingredients you have on hand.

So put down that can of Progresso soup, and try this.

Chicken Soup

1 teaspoon olive oil or a mist of olive oil spray
1 large carrot, sliced OR 6 sliced baby carrots
1 stalk celery, sliced
1/2 onion, chopped OR 2 chopped shallots
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
8 cups low sodium chicken broth OR 6 cups chicken broth, 2 cups water
3/4 cup cooked and shredded chicken
1/2 cup soup pasta, such as acini di pepe, orzo, or any other small macaroni
A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon or so salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper

In a large pot, add the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrot, celery, and onion. Saute until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.
Add the dried thyme and the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and add the shredded chicken. Simmer for about 15 minutes or so until the vegetables are tender.
In the meantime, note the cooking time of the pasta and add at the appropriate moment during the 15 minutes; the pasta should be al dente by the time the veggies are tender.
Add the chopped parsley, a teaspoon of salt, and some freshly ground pepper. Ladle into bowls and enjoy! Serves about 4.


You can't screw this up because substitution works so well. Don't have one of these traditional chicken noodle soup ingredients? Use something else, like potatoes or beans, corn or peas.
Today, I didn't have enough chicken broth so I subbed 2 cups of beef broth and 2 cups of water. It was delicious! And the "O" pasta was a fun change from my usual acini di pepe.

The best part: the look of true appreciation from your loved one as you set a steaming bowl in front of their stuffy nose. :-)

Feel better hubby!

~:~