I was sick last week. I am pretty sure it was from going to the optometrist. The optometrist is in the same building as internal medicine. I am usually very healthy until I come into contact with a new environment. If a new hire came into the office and they caught something I fell over like 9-pins. So I am pretty sure I came in contact with someone that was contagious. The first day I had a sleeve of water crackers and water. I know I sound pitiful, but it is all good now thanks to chicken soup.
I lay on the couch, too feverish to do much more. I watched all the Sunday political shows, but finally had to turn it on something else – I was getting sicker. I am all captivated by British television shows. I turned on PBS to watch reruns of Breathless. I had watched it before, but there are so many characters with so many issues, I had a problem keeping up with the characters, so it was good to see it again to acquaint myself with the characters. It is well written, but it is full of people with huge character flaws. I am waiting for one redeeming quality – there has to be a good guy in there somewhere. It is a show about the doctors at teaching hospital in the sixties; how women were treated, both socially and medically and lots of drama. All the doctors smoke and drink. All the women smoke, and drink. And everyone is cheating on everyone. One of the wives husband is cheating on her; her doctor prescribes her librium and premarin and tells her she will be good as new. Did I say the music is wonderful? For my evening meal I had a piece of toast.
By the next day I wanted something more, but what? Soup. I needed some chicken soup. I remembered I had made some chicken stock a few weeks ago. Previously I had made the stock from the bony pieces of chicken that I had saved, and the carcass of a couple rotisserie chickens. I froze them in the freezer until I had enough for stock. In a large pot, I rough chopped an onion, a couple stalks of celery, and a carrot. Dropped in to the pot with just enough water to cover the bones. I brought it to boil, reduced to simmer Do not stir – it will make your stock cloudy. Skim off any floating impurities. I think it simmered for about forty-five minutes. I turned off the stock and let the heat just steep the stock. When it cooled, I strained it, and then placed it in containers. I was so grateful I had this in the freezer.
Could I make soup? I small-diced up some shallots, celery, and a large carrot. Tossed it in the pot to sauté. I poured in stock and brought it to boil, then reduced to simmer. I was pretty weak by now so I tossed in a couple handful of squiggly pasta – stirred, put the lid back on, turned the heat off and went back to the couch.
When I had regained my strength I went back to the pot. It was still warm. I tasted it and it tasted like ambrosia; savory ambrosia. I ate a half bowl.
That worked well so I ate a little more.
I woke up the next day feeling fine. I was still a little wobbly, but I had chicken soup for breakfast. I am well. I can’t believe all the chicken carcasses I have tossed out. I could have been making stock – for almost free.
I hope you will understand and forgive this post that is short on photos. Oh, and a little advise. Make chicken stock. Stay out of places that have sick people. And, be glad it is no longer the sixties.
- For the Stock:
- Boney chicken parts and carcasses rotisserie chicken
- 1 – onion cut in half
- 2 - stalks of celery
- For the Soup
- 1 - onion or 2 shallots
- 1 - small dice carrot
- 1 - stalk of small dice celery
- 4 - cups of stock
- a handful of dry pasta or rice
- salt and pepper to taste
- Simmer 45 minutes.
- Turn off the heat to steep.
- Strain, portion in serving size.
- Freeze as soon as it cools.
- For the soup
- Small dice an onion or a couple shallots, a stalk of celery, a large carrot
- Sauté in a few tablespoons of olive oil until tender.
- Add stock. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer.
- Taste and season to taste.
- Add a handful of pasta or a little rice.
Do not boil stock - it should be simmered.
Skim the impurities as they form.
Don't salt your stock until you make it into soup. It will give you better control of how salty your dish becomes.
I am taking this to
Cuisinedeprovence says
Chicken soup – nature’s penicillin. Glad you are better!
Ms. Lemon says
I have heard that, but I was shocked by the immediate results. Thanks for stopping by Barbara.
cathy@My1929Charmer says
There’s nothing like a good bowl of soup when you’re not feeling…heck chicken soup is always good and I had a bowl tonight and I’m not sick. Hope you feel better soon. You will love the Grouper Pistou dish…and the French sure know how to cook!
Ms. Lemon says
I am well, thank you. I am on a mission to find some grouper.
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says
What a lovely bowl of soup. I hope you’re better now. Chicken soup fixes everything.
Sam
Ms. Lemon says
I am a believer now. Thanks for visiting Sam.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
They chick soup cures all that ails you. I’m glad it worked and you are feeling much better. Breathless was a good show…I’m sorry that they didn’t continue it to see where all the shenanigans led to.
Ms. Lemon says
I’m good as new. I was surprised how quickly I felt better.
Breathless is really well written. I wondered how many episodes would be coming our way. Maybe I saw the last episode? I have been so entertained by British television.
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine says
So sorry you were so sick Madonna. That sounds miserable. It’s great that you could get over it that quickly. I’m not sick but I want a bowl of that soup. It looks so good. I would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Ms. Lemon says
I’m well Chris. I am just a wimp with new viruses.
I was surprised how much flavor that is in a roasted carcass. I won’t be tossing them anymore. Thanks for visiting.
M.
Adri says
Mello MRs. Lemon,
I am so sorry to hear that you have been ill, but I am pleased to hear that your chicken soup has set you right. It is wonderful stuff indeed. I hope you stay well!
I enjoyed Breathless, but my, those men. When I was a young nurse in the very early seventies I was amazed at how the male OB-GYN docs treated women. Especially the older docs, but even the younger ones were patronizing – really dreadful. Their attitude was “Don’t ask questions. Just lean back and leave the driving to us.” And I am serious, these men really did say that to women. And so many of the women listened. Thankfully that attittude began to change, but all too slowly for my taste.
Ms. Lemon says
Thank you. I am usually very healthy for the most part.
I wonderful if that show is called Breathless because when I watched it I was all but gasping at the treatment of women? We still have issues, but I don’t think it would be tolerated now days.
Kitty says
Awww poor baby, but great advice at the end, Madonna! I make chicken soup from leftover rotisserie chickens, too….oh so good! Your soup must’ve soothed your soul and your poor body. I’m glad you’re feeling better now.
Ms. Lemon says
Thanks Kitty. I am well. I feel bad that I have not been using the leftover rotisserie chicken. What is really bad is, it is not that I did not know, I just didn’t. Now I feel wasteful.
Kitty says
Well, you will not be wasteful any more. I also use the carcass for chicken and dumplings. What flavor you get from those rotisserie chickens and the ones from Costco are so big. I always have leftover chicken on them.
Jules says
Hi Madonna,
I really enjoyed reading your post. Last week my husband was sick so I made him chicken soup from homemade stock. Thankfully, I made extra because then I got sick. Nothing like homemade chicken soup when you are sick!
I also love British television but can’t believe how I’ve gotten into watching Breathless. I don’t like soap operas and this show is certainly soapish but I can’t help it. Maybe it’s the clothes or how they make smoking and drinking look so glamorous. In any case, I’m hooked.
Miz Helen says
Comforting, delicious Chicken Soup, there is nothing like it! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
lynn @thevintagenest says
Chicken soup…..it’s good for the soul and body. 🙂 So glad you are all better now. I rarely ever get sick and if I do, I just feel bad for a day but bounce right back. Last winter my husband was in the hospital and I got very sick. Yuk!
Lou Lou Girls says
This looks so amazing! Yum! Pinned. Thank you for being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. We love partying with you! http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Stephanie says
Looks so good! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Ms. Lemon says
I hope you will give it a try.