 |
| Chicken and Vegetable Soup |
Another grey day. I was glad I could sleep in. Once again, I got 7 hours of sleep, falling asleep a little after 3:00 a.m. and waking up a little after 10:00 a.m. I might have cuddled Dancer, who came to see if I was ready to give him breakfast, and snoozed a bit longer, too!
It's another chilly day, but I layered up and opened the windows to air out the house. I had a cup of tea and replied to blog posts, in the morning. Stephenie at The Awakened Soul had mentioned she has been making bone broths in her comment on my May Groceries post and I thought that some soup would be nice. Soup is good especially in this type of weather and it is a nourishing, frugal meal, as well.
I had a roast chicken breast in the freezer from the last time I roasted a whole chicken. I put it into a pot, still frozen, covered it with water, added some peppercorns, and boiled it to make a broth. Then, I added onions, carrots, a tomato, green beans, and a radish from the garden, sliced thinly. I wasn't sure how the radish would be, but, I don't like to eat them raw (I don't like their peppery taste!), so they've been sitting in the fridge after I harvested them. I discovered that I liked them best when cooked in a soup!
 |
| Pot of Chicken Soup |
I don't have a specific recipe for chicken soup - I just add whatever vegetables I have on hand and, well, chicken, of course! If I had some celery, I would have definitely added that.
I enjoyed a bowl of the soup for my lunch, today. There is plenty leftover, too. I think I will freeze a couple of portions of it for later. It's not exactly bulk cooking, but, a couple of extra portions in the freezer means having some quick and easy meals for when one isn't up to, or doesn't feel like, cooking, or there's unexpected company, etc.
Thank you, Stephenie for inspiring me to make soup, today!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to sleep in and get another 7+ hours of sleep
- A safe night
- Waking up to another day
- Chicken soup made mostly with ingredients I had on hand
- A relaxed day
Do you have a favorite recipe for chicken soup? Or, do you pretty much add whatever you have on hand to the basic broth?
Hi Bless, Thank YOU! I usually make chicken soup with the carcass from a whole chicken. I use lots of fresh garlic and garden herbs in mine. Did you know that you can reuse the bones over and over? That's what I do. I keep them in the freezer. I love Mexican rice simmered in chicken broth.
ReplyDeleteUsually, when I make the soup, I keep the bones in it, so that they continue to add a little more goodness to it each time I warm it up. Sometimes, I add a little vinegar to the water when I am making the broth to extract more calcium from the bones. But, afterwards, I toss the bones to the stray cats and what they don't eat, the possums eat! :)
DeleteYour soup looks good. I always like noodles or rice in mine, so it is more often appropriate called chicken and noodles around here.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susanne. Chicken and noodles is a classic, isn't it? But, soup is my way to sneak more vegetables into my diet, so, it's usually chicken (or beef) and vegetable soup! :)
DeleteYou did well to get to sleep not long after 3 am, as you have sometimes written that you have been awake much later. I think it is hard to keep to a routine when you live alone. A neighbour of mine once remarked when her husband was away that she hadn't realized how much her day was organized around him! I've noticed the same when DH is away. I get involved in stuff and time just goes and then I eat much later than usual, and then bed time gets shifted as well. When he is home I try to keep on track with meals so the poor man doesn't get too hungry! Of course as retirees we don't hurry to get up in the mornings unless there is some commitment to be ready for.
ReplyDeleteHa, ha, yes! There have been nights when I've said if I'm not asleep by 6:00 a.m., I will just get up and start my day! Although, quite what I'll do at that time of the morning, I wouldn't know! LOL. I've learned to make most of my appointments for the afternoon, so, I get to sleep in!
DeleteWhen I lived in my apartment, I would boil a whole chicken. Then I’d make 3-4 small freezer bags of shredded chicken for meals later. I also froze most broth. I took enough broth and chicken for one or two servings, and add rice, onions, egg and lemon and a bay leaf. Haven’t done that in months
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a very good way to do things! You've reminded me that I forgot to put in a couple of bay leaves when I was making my soup, today! I'll add it to the pot when I reheat my soup, tomorrow. :)
DeleteWe also like to write wishes on bay leaves and then burn them while praying for our wish. It leaves a very beautiful smell.
DeleteI've never heard of this, before! Do you do it at a special time of the year (like a birthday, or New Year) or can it be done at any time? I imagine it is like burning incense. :)
DeleteHi, Jean. No, I haven't tried oven roasted radishes! I just looked up some recipes and they sound pretty good! Thanks for mentioning them!
ReplyDeleteI like soup any time of the year and it's always a good place to use whatever happens to be in the fridge.
ReplyDeleteThat it is, Live and Learn. :)
DeleteIt’s never occurred to me to add radishes to a soup but I will try it now that you’ve mentioned it. I can never decide whether I like them raw ... love the texture but not always fond of the taste. I’ll have a go at roasting some as well so many thanks to Jean for the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I've done so, Eileen, and I liked it. I haven't tried roasting them, but they sound good, roasted, too.
DeleteYour soup looks delicious. I think a large bowl of soup would do me the world of good right now. X
ReplyDeleteIf you lived close, I'd have brought you some. As it is, you'll have to make a pot of soup, yourself, and enjoy it. :)
DeleteThis looks really good!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried oven roasted radishes? They are so good.
Anne, no, I haven't tried roasted radishes yet! Something to try, one of these days. :)
DeleteIt's funny, I don't like radish in soups, but like them otherwise. :)
ReplyDeleteYour soup looks really tasty.
This is the first time I've tried adding them to soup and I was happy to find out that I liked them, that way! Funny how people like certain things and not others, isn't it? Ah, but I bought something today that I just know you will like - seeni sambol! :D
Delete