Comfort Food: Chicken Soup

If I had to choose only one hot meal for each of my family members to learn how to make, it would be chicken soup. Chicken soup is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for illnesses, cold nights, and gift-giving to a family in need. It took a few years to find the right chicken soup recipe for me. This recipe is easy to make and tastes light. Roasting the chickens first is key.

Chicken Noodle Soup from Whole Foods for the Whole Family

2 1/2 to 3 lb. whole chicken
2 C. water
1/2 lb. carrots, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4 or 5 stalks celery, chopped
1 T butter
8 C water
6-8 oz. noodles
1/2 to 1 t salt
dash of pepper

Place whole chicken in baking pan with 2 C water; bake 2 hours, uncovered, at 325 degrees. Cool chicken (reserving broth,) and discard skin and bones. Saute vegetables in butter in 4-5 qt. pot until golden. Add broth from baking pan and 4 C water. Add remaining water to baking pan; bring to a boil on top of stove, stirring up cooked bits from pan; add this water to pot with chicken meat. Bring to a boil; simmer 1 hour or longer. Add noodles 20 minutes before serving. Season to taste. Makes about 14 C.

I usually double the batch to make sure that I have enough to freeze for a quick family dinner.