Mother has a cold, so I have a pot of homemade chicken soup to take as soon as it gets done. Some of my warmest memories are of days I was sick enough to stay home from school and be coddled by Mother all day. The very best part was having her all to myself. I loved having her spread one of Grandma’s quilt over the sofa, putting a pillow at the end, and draping the warm quilt over me. If it was winter, she’d warm the quilt in front of the fire before wrapping me in it. It was heavenly. I loved her settling me on the sofa with a tray for meals. When she had time, she’d read to me. When she was busy, I enjoyed my books and toys on my own. I frequently called out for a delivery of fresh books or drink, till I’d worn out my “sick credit” with her. Best of all was the envy of the other kids when Mother reminded them, “Leave her alone. She is sick.”
A few times I was able to convince Mother I was sick when I wasn’t. One day, I waved at Phyllis getting on the bus and foolishly slipped out to play as soon as the bus ran. Mother hustled me down to the corner to catch the bus at the next stop. It wasn’t long till I had to produce fever or throw up to get the chance to miss school. I broke the thermometer once holding it near to fire to simulate a fever. All the got me was a warm bottom. Thermometers don’t grow on trees.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
One quart deboned chicken
One quart chicken broth
Large can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 to 1 ½ cup vegetables (today I tossed in diced turnips, potatoes, and carrots)
3 TBS parsley
2 cloves garlic or to tast
I large diced onion
3 TBS chives
2 TBS oregana
Salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste
I use fresh herbs and vegetables but frozen will do
½ lb noodles, fresh, frozen, or dried. You may want more for thicker soup. Add with caution or it may get too thick and stick.
Simmer chicken, broth, herbs, vegetables, and cream of chicken soup. Reduce to simmer and add noodles, stirring constantly for at least 20 minutes. Sometimes I simmer much longer. Serve with crackers or cornbread and butter.
Thanks so much.
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Just a bit of trivia – chicken soup has been found to have healing properties, so it’s not just an old wive’s tale. Best is to make it using the bones to get all the goodness of the whole bird. I live in the city so I buy chicken frames, cook those up first into a stock, then clean the meat off them and go from there. More work, but worth the effort !
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You are right. I use my own home canned or fresh. I have six quarts of home canned chicken in my pantry right now.
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You’re so organised !!
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No, I just like be to can. I can everything I can get my hands on, even dry beans. It’s the original fast food. If we come in late, we open a can of beans or soup, make a pan of cornbread, and are eating a home cooked meal in 30 minutes.
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So you’re efficient too 🙂
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I can’t sit still for a minute. Is that the same thing.
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Probably not. It just means you get a lot done! I have no trouble sitting still, lol. Maybe that’s why my pantry has no homemade canned stuff in it !!
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Oh my gosh, that soup sounded and looked good, Linda. I wish I could have lifted it off the computer screen and had it for dinner. I saved the recipe. My mom used to do the same, make a bed for me on the sofa when I was ill. Your mom is a jewel as I’m sure you know. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I am so fortunate.
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Copied and printed the recipe – mille gracias! Nothing like a good chicken soup on a cold winter’s day and it looks delicious. Thank you for following me. 🙂
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Hope you enjoy it. Thanks.
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I love these memories! I can smell and taste them! lovely
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I am so lucky to have a good mother. I know your kids feel the same way.
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Thanks!
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Mothers have such power for healing. You are blessed to be able to repay her kindness. Thanks for the memory and the recipe!
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You are so welcome.
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What a neat blog! Your mom was a neat lady.
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Oh she’s all be and well at 88.
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Nothing like homemade chicken soup. Good for the soul. If not for the bottom. 😜
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There is always that!
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I smell it from here. Saving the recipe. Thanks. Hope you mom feels better soon. I’m sure this chicken soup will do the trick. ❤ ❤
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Thanks. Just a cold.
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Still, sometimes they hang on longer than appreciated.
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That looks delicious!
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It is so good. Wish I could share.
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I love a good homemade chicken noodle soup! I like to put homemade noodles in mine.
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I do, too. Sometimes I have some frozen. I can the broth and chicken and add noodles and veggies at time of cooking. I bought four turkeys for $0.19 pound at Thanksgiving and canned them. Only 1 quart left.
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Oh my gosh, you do the same thing that I do. Make noodles ahead of time and freeze them. But I do can my noodles/chicken/broth right after I cook the chicken so all I have to do is open up a jar of chicken noodle soup and heat it up. I tried canning the chicken and chicken broth then later canning the soup but it makes the meat too tough to go through the canning process twice.
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I can the broth and chicken then add fresh veggies, herbs and noodles the day I serve. I love having all that soup starter ready to go. Saved my life lots of times.
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That sounds like a great way to do it too! Sounds delicious!
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