I don't want to brag--BUT, I make the best chicken soup on the face of the earth. If you don't believe me I can provide testimonials from my husband, my kids, and my neighbors. Last night we had chicken for supper and I couldn't go to bed until I had "boiled the bones." Chicken soup experts (even Alton Brown) argue that you can't make a great chicken soup without boiling the bones, it seems that the cartilage and calcium add both nourishment and flavor to the broth.
Side note: Recently my sisters-in-law were reminiscing about their great aunt Vera and commented that the weirdest thing about her was that she always boiled the bones to make soup instead of buying stock at the store. Well, of course she did--that's what soup experts do!
Anyway, I keep a stock bag in my freezer where I save leftover vegetables and chicken bones to make chicken stock. Once the stock is completed (Bobby Flay calls this broth "liquid gold") I refrigerate it overnight to allow the fat to solidify on the top. Once skimmed the broth is the perfect base for chicken soup.
My family's favorite is chicken noodle soup. I start with liquid gold and to that add chopped carrots, celery, and onions. Once the veggies are tender I add chopped chicken, whatever herbs are ripe from my garden (my favorites are parsley, basil, and rosemary) and homemade noodles. I simmer the soup until the noodles are done. Ambrosia.
Lately I've been making chicken tortilla soup and it's delicious. In fact, it was the hit of the night at our Relief Society birthday party last week. I start with liquid gold, add carrots, celery, and onions and simmer until tender. Next I added a jar of salsa, 2 cans of black beans, 1 can of corn, and some chopped chicken. For Relief Society I spiced it up with a few pepper flakes but I don't do this at home because Johnny doesn't like spicy food. When I serve the soup I provide tortilla chips, chopped green onions, sour cream (fat-free), and chopped avocado. Consumers can add as much or as little as they like. Heaven!
Tonight I'm making chicken tortilla soup (it's fast and easy) and I can't wait to eat it. This craving stems from 2 reasons--1) my chicken soup is the best! And 2) I'm unexpectedly substituting for another teacher. Hence, I missed lunch and I'm starving!
4 comments:
Your post made me homesick. My mother also makes the best chicken soup ever, and she makes broth from scratch. We even have several tupperwares of it in the freezer for emergency soup and our authentic enchilada sauce. I really truely believe that my mothers soup can cure any illness, one bowl and a nap, and you are cured.
For me, chicken soup is used purely for medicinal purposes. I've never had chicken noodle soup I've really enjoyed (probably because I've never had yours - or Bobby Flay's). Though I'm a huge fan of what my mom calls Nauvoo Soup - tomato-based, with ground beef, chopped carrots and bay leaves. That's easily been my favorite soup forever.
I am crazy about chicken tortilla soup. I also grew up eating chicken noodle soup. It used to me make me feel all grown up when I was little because I knew how to prepare it all by myself.
I also have a love for tortilla/chicken soup! It sounds good, but I don't think I could make it as well as you. It sounds so easy, but I am sure it takes years of cooking experience. I will get this cooking thing down though...one day.
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