Showing posts with label soup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soup. Show all posts

11.07.2010

Chicken Not Pie


Get out your stock pot and hold on to your wooden spoon. Kathy's Famous Chicken Soup is so delicious and comforting that my mom made it for our Christmas day meal several years in a row. It's like the filling of a chicken pot pie, only a little soupier. Make it for a sick friend, make it for guests, make it for a holiday meal, make it for yourself, just make it!

KATHY'S FAMOUS CHICKEN SOUP

You will need:
8 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup chopped celery, about 4 stalks
1 cup chopped carrots, about 4
1/2 cup chopped onion
Several (10ish) chicken bouillon or
"Better Than Bouillon"
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup flour
1 cup rice
1 small carton whipping cream, don't whip
*Rumor has it that English peas are also good to add.

Disclaimer- The measurements for the water and bullion are not precise. Don't get scared. Soup is hard to mess up. Start with less and add as much water and bullion as you need.

Place chicken in a stockpot with several teaspoons of "Better Than Bouillon" and 1/2 to 1 cup of water.
Stew for an hour or more on low until the chicken is cooked.
Meanwhile, chop the veggies.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the pot (don't discard broth).
Shred with your fingers.
Add chicken back to broth along with onion, celery and carrots.
Add water to cover, about 10 cups.
Add more bouillon, several tablespoons.
Melt butter in a small saucepan (low heat not to brown).
Whisk in flour until thick.
Cook while whisking for a minute or so (to cook out some raw flour taste).
This is called roux.
Add roux to soup and simmer for an hour or more. The longer the better.
Add cup of rice towards the end of cooking.
Stir in whipping cream just before serving.

Tips-
Not thick enough? Melt more butter, add flour and throw in pot.
Want more rice? Add some more!
Too thick? Add more water
Needs more flavor? Add salt, pepper and more bouillon

I ended up adding more roux, rice, water and bullion to this batch. And it was GOOD!

Place chicken in a stockpot with several teaspoons of "Better Than Bullion" and 1/2 to 1 cup of water. Stew for an hour or more on low until the chicken is cooked.


Meanwhile, chop the veggies.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the pot (don't discard broth). Shred with your fingers. Add chicken back to broth along with onion, celery and carrots.

Add water to cover, about 10 cups. Add more bouillon, several tablespoons.

Melt butter in a small saucepan (low heat not to brown). Whisk in flour until thick. Cook while whisking for a minute or so (to cook out some raw flour taste). This is called roux.

Add roux to soup and simmer for an hour or more. The longer the better! Add cup of rice towards the end of cooking. Stir in whipping cream just before serving.


Thank you for this yummy recipe Kathy!

10.08.2010

Under The Weather

Soup season has officially begun at our house. Soups, stews and chili keep tummies warm in this cooler weather and leave the best leftovers. This Italian Tortellini Soup is very easy to combine. The vegetables make it healthy while the sausage and tortellini add heartiness. A warm bowl of this soup made me feel much better when feeling sick this week.



ITALIAN TORTELLINI SOUP

4 cans (14 1/2 oz each) Italian style stewed tomatoes, coarsely chopped, plus liquid
2 cans (14 1/2oz each) beef broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 medium zucchini, halved and thinly sliced (and/or squash)
3/4 pound green beans, snapped and cut into thirds
3/4 pound Italian sausage, casings removed, crumbled, browned and drained
1 package tortellini with cheese (6-8 ounces)
Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Combine tomatoes plus liquid, broth, basil and pepper in a dutch oven.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat.
Add zucchini, green beans, sausage, and tortellini.
Cook about 10-15 minutes or until tortellini is tender.
Serve with grated Parmesan.