Ugh. I’ve had a nasty head cold for over a week, and it just seems to be getting worse each day. Fortunately I have my beloved neti pot on hand to help ease the congestion, but I’m amazed at how much sleep I have needed. I’ve had so little energy that the last thing I’ve wanted to do is cook – or eat at all for that matter, so I am pretty pleased with myself for putting together a little chicken soup the other night. Hey, they say there’s some sort of magic in chicken soup that remedies a cold, so I’m goin’ for it! (It would have been chicken noodle soup if I’d had any noodles, but I decided I could make rice and add it to the bowl if I felt so moved.)
This is truly the lazy gal’s soup. I chopped some onion, carrots and celery and put them in the crock pot along with a chicken breast and the last cup of my homemade turkey stock from the freezer (thanks to mom for letting me take the Thanksgiving turkey carcass!). Then I added about a cup and a half of water just so that it was covered, a couple sprigs of rosemary, some oregano clippings and a handful of dried thyme. (the fresh stuff gave out a while back) Oh – and a little black and cayenne pepper – I figure my sinuses need a little kick, right? Overnight it cooked on low and I had soup when I woke up the next morning. The chicken breast just fell apart as it cooked, so there was no chopping necessary. E-Z!
Unfortunately, with my taste buds being compromised, it took a few days before I could really tell what it tasted like, but it actually turned out pretty good! I’ve had soup for breakfast a couple times this week already.
**If you have never made your own Turkey/Chicken/Beef/Vegetable stock, go here and ask the Country Tart.
(Makes 6 1 cup Servings)
0.5 teaspoon Salt
8.5 ounce Turkey stock, home made
8 ounce Carrots, fresh
4.5 ounce Celery, fresh
4 ounce Onions, fresh
14 ounce Chicken, raw, breast, meat only
Per Serving:
Calories 114
Total Fat 1.5 g
Saturated Fat 0.3 g
Cholesterol 39 mg
Sodium 338 mg
Total Carbohydrate 8 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Sugars 4 g
Protein 17 g
Vitamin A 319 µg
Vitamin C 5 mg
Calcium 36 mg
Iron 1 mg
The Whole Picture 