Quick & Easy Comfort Chicken Soup

My girl was having some tummy trouble this week and missed a couple of days of school. Maybe it was a little acid reflux, a lot of stress and grief, and perhaps she even caught a bug. Who knows? But, this recipe seemed to be more than just a remedy...but it's one of my favorite comfort foods from when I was a kid. I never make it exactly the same each time...I leave a lot of my cooking to creativity in the moment...and I have never been asked to write it down, until now.

Also...my secret to making it quick and easy is to have some veggies prepped and in the refrigerator ahead of time, as well as to take a few shortcuts with some really good brands that do the work for you, but give you the homemade quality of whole foods in a convenient package.

Prep work pays off!
I often chop several onions at once, and put them into Ziploc Freezer bags and label them in the freezer in one-onion or half-onion portions.
When I make a trip to the grocery store for celery & carrots, (which we almost always have on hand) I cut them into snack-size stalks for the family to eat and store them in the fridge. Then, if I need them for cooking - just a few quick chops and it's into the pot. They're already washed and cleaned.


Shortcuts that don't take shortcuts
My advice: read the labels! I look for shelf stable or frozen items that have no MSG, no artificial colors or artificial flavors. Some natural preservatives are okay, and if you can't pronounce it, don't put it in your food.
Dorot frozen herb cubes can be purchased at Trader Joes, and I love the basil & garlic ones.
Kitchen Basics is one of my favorite soup stock brands.
Here's the ingredients to their original Chicken stock - Ingredients: Chicken stock, chicken flavor, sea salt, honey, vegetable stocks (carrot, onion, mushroom, celery), bay, thyme, pepper.

I have a few different short cuts for pre-cooked chicken.
A deli rotisserie chicken is a great way to make chicken salad, or to add meat to the soup recipe below. Just take a fork and knife and pull it apart one section at a time, then refrigerate and use within 1-2 days at most.
When we're grilling burgers in the summer, I often add a couple of chicken breast to the grill that have been pre-soaked in a salt-water brine, then cut into pieces and refrigerate or freeze after they've cooled.



Quick & Easy Comfort Chicken Soup
1 med onion - chopped
2 cubes frozen garlic (each cube is equal to one clove of garlic)
5-6 stalks celery (chopped)
1 cup chopped carrots

In large stock pot, saute above ingredients in 2 Tbsp olive oil until onions are transparent.

Then add...
2-3 pre-cooked cut up chicken breast (or canned chicken)
2-32oz boxes (1 gallon) chicken stock
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups water

Bring to a boil, and cook until veggies are tender.
Add salt & pepper to taste.

Optional add-in (one or more of these will make this recipe more special)

Add egg noodles - cook until done.
Add pea-pods, sliced green peppers, sliced leeks, or thick-cut zucchini
Simmer 5-10 minutes - you want these extra veggies to be slightly firm as you serve them.

Consider adding some fresh basil leaves (or Dorot frozen basil cubes) or spinach leaves a minute or so before serving. It'll turn the broth a little green, but adds some very healthy and tasty benefits to the soup.