"Okay, who's sick?" or, the best chicken soup you'll ever have someone make for you.

[The following is copied from Andy's personal cooking notebook, with credit and apologies to the authors of The New Basics Cookbook, which originally inspired this soup for us many years ago. Whatever you do, don't omit the fresh dill here. Trust me.]

Chicken Soup

1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs)
2 onions, halved
4 celery ribs, with leaves
4 carrots, peeled
3 parsnips, peeled
4 whole cloves
3 cloves of garlic
6 sprigs of fresh dill + 1/4 c fresh dill, chopped
6 sprigs of fresh parsley + 2 tablepoons fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 quarts water
2 chicken boullion cubes
8 oz medium-sized shell pasta
1 1/2 c frozen baby peas, thawed

"Rinse the chicken well and place it in a big soup pot. Throw the onions, celery, carrots, parsnips, garlic, cloves, sprigs of dill and parsley, salt, and pepper in. Add the water and bring this stuff to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours. Every once in a while, skim the foam off the top. Remove the chicken from the soup and let it cool off a little bit. Remove the skin and bones (not as gross as you might think -- I wear insulated rubber gloves which I scrub before and after use) and then pull the meat apart, shredding it. Set this aside in a bowl. Strain the soup, getting rid of the veggies. Return the liquid to the pot and add a boullion cube. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes. This will intensify the flavor. At this same time, start some water boiling for the noodles. Throw a boullion cube into the pasta water to cook that flavor into the pasta. Cook only as much pasta as you will eat at this meal (leaving the pasta in soup that will be reheated overcooks the pasta and grosses Alicia out). When the pasta is cooked, divide it into individual bowls. Reduce the boiling soup to a gentle roll and add the peas, shredded chicken, chopped dill, and chopped parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. When this stuff is all heated through, pour it over the pasta into the bowls. Good with Airborne and pulp-free orange juice as beverages."

[Worked for me. I feel great today. THANK YOU HONEY!]

Comments

[Libby]

I'll take Andy anyday! even with his village people policeman moustache! Glad you're feeling better!

[pretty penny designs]

Chicken soup is real, actual magic. Thanks for reminding me. We've all been sick around here, I'll have to make some.

[Diana]

Aww...how sweet of him? It looks great! My mom has a "Get Well Soup" that I make (or she makes) when I'm sick. It's a chicken and rice soup - really easy on the tummy and always makes me feel better. Let me know if you want the recipe. Sounds like you don't need it though...glad you're feeling better! :)

[leanne]

i would be ok with the whole feeling like crud thing...if i had a man around who could do this for me. it would just be a miracle alicia. my guy can make kd in case of an emergency. he can also butter his own bagel every morning. that's about it i'm afraid.......<3xo

[Claire]

That's so sweet to cook you soup - it really sounds tasty, in fact I may try it this weekend x

[Michele @ Frugal Granola]

Ooh, yum- parsnips! We love parsnips; I don't know why I never thought of putting them in soup!

As a cold remedy, I usually end up making a homemade chicken stock, and then turning it into an "egg flower" type soup (whisking in a scrambled egg) along with lots of raw garlic and cayenne- served with lemon tea & raw honey. :)

Glad the soup worked for you! Hope you're entirely well soon!

[Daisy]

Okay. Thanks for the recipe. Now (a-choo!) I will have to go find the guy to make it for me....

Maybe when I'm feeling better....

[Puanani]

Aah, true love. It takes a real man to make real chicken soup for his lady love! Feel better...

[Stephanie]

That looks wonderful and delicious! It reminds me of my mom's homemade chicken noodle soup. *yum!* You and Andy are the best couple! Hope you feel better soon!

[Melissa]

Wow, that's a really different kind of soup recipe! Will definitely try it - and glad you're feeling better!

[Julie (Knitsational)]

I love a good chicken soup. I'll have to try this recipe. Glad to hear you're feeling better. :)

[Larraine]

Don't mean to be overly judgmental, but I don't understand why you need to add two chicken bouillon cubes. First of all, you are adding a lot of unnecessary salt. Secondly, if you let it cook for a nice long time, you'll get a really good flavor. Adding a little sea salt is much preferable to the cubes. If you are feeling really ambitious, try roasting the chicken and veggies first and then make soup. You get a really warm brown broth that is absolutely wonderful. Plus, you've cooked off a lot of the fat. It's the best.

[shabby girl]

Most things go with Airborne, don't you think??
Glad you're feeling better.
I keep searching for a "good" chicken soup recipe, but to no avail. My mother makes a great one, but she's 86 years old and can't remember what she puts in it. Dang!

[pam]

Chicken soup is always the best treatment for colds. Scientists are finding that there are actual chemicals in the soup that work against the viruses that cause the common cold. Hurray, chicken soup.

[Natalie]

Wonderful.

[Paige]

I once had an ersatz boyfriend who had gone to cooking school (a good quality even in an iffy bf) who swore by dill in chicken soup, and once showed up at my door with a big French jar of it when I was sick. The dill does make it amazing, truly--I had forgotten about that trick until reading this post. The other thing I like to do (and this one, my husband taught me--funny) is to squeeze a bit of lemon into my bowl of chicken soup just before eating. Makes everything bright and fresh, and no doubt makes it even more healing/healthy. Bon appetit!

[Leslie]

Good to know that you are on the mend and that you have the very best of nurses by your side :) I know it's a bit of a pain but you HAVE at least TRIED the homemade noodle from this recipe in New Basics, yes? Either way, this really is the best damn chicken soup.
Ever.
Smooches and no more need for tissues wishes your way,

[Suzan]

whew...I'm so glad you're feeling better! It's friggin' freezing here.....stay warm where ever you are!

[Claire]

i'm pretty sure you meant to say high-pulp orange juice! mmmm

[Kelly]

Thank you for sharing! I am glad you are on the mend. The creepy crud has hit our home. A very teary ten year old struggled to stay home this morning disappointed her perfect attendance award has been thwarted by a temperature of 103. ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

[Linn]

Glad you're feeling better and that the soup helped. Unfortunately, my husband is allergic to chicken (I know, I know!) so we're limited on our soup making!

[patsy]

what a stud!

hope it helps & you are all better right away :)

ps. I got your book for Christmas & put the name plate -I sent away for & you sent back- inside! I'ts so lovely. I absolutely love it!Thank you

[christina(apronstrings)]

oh man, i am *almost* hoping to get sick. must remember this link....

[Cherry Tree Lane]

My husband is sick and will want me to make this for him if he sees it. So.....I am slowly closing the laptop (but going to come back for the recipe).......:)

[Mary Jo]

Thank you for this lovely recipe. I'm getting over stomach flu so have been indulging in the blandest of campbell soups (I know, ew!) in the world as that's all that sounds good right now, but soon I will try your recipe. Feel better!

xo Mary Jo