Chicken Soup for Sick Folks

Good for what ails ya

As mentioned before, the last thing a person with the sniffles will feel like doing is standing in the kitchen and making a pot of soup. Folks, if you have a cold, flu like symptoms, sinus problems or any reasoning for a good-for-you, hearty bowl of chicken soup, get someone else in the kitchen now and tell them to make this for you. Tell them I said so. It will make you feel better and they will thank me for it. I promise.

As a child, whenever we had a tummy ache, Momma would make us a bowl of milk toast. Not for sure if it was good for us but the warm milk, tad of butter and soggy bread did make us feel better. Power of persuasion I suppose. When we got the sniffles, she would make us chicken soup in some form or another and that did help us feel better too. That I know was and still is good for all of us.

The thing about this soup is that it is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and we all know rich, hot chicken broth just can't be beat in clearing up the head and soothing the throat. For those like myself that suffer with sinus problems, I throw in a jalapeño to really get the head open plus it too is good for you, but you really don't know its there. I make this from time to time, for family and friends and I try to keep a container in the freezer for that day when I do not feel like standing in the kitchen. Hope none of you ever get sick with a cold but if you do, I hope you try it or get someone to make it for you. Enjoy and get to feeling better!

Chicken Soup for Sick Folks
really does make one feel better, good to boost the immune system

chicken broth with veggies
3 large bone-in chicken breasts, skin removed
3 bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed
3 leeks - cleaned, see below, green & white part separated
2 stalks of celery, cut in half
1 inch piece fresh ginger
4 garlic cloves, peeled -divided
2 cups peeled, sliced carrots -divided
1 sprig fresh oregano or 1 tablespoon dried
8 cups chicken stock
8 cups water
vegetables for the soup
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 jalapeno chili, seeded & minced
3 medium plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 pounds small new red potatoes, diced
1 head bok choy, washed - green & white part separated

In a large stockpot, place chicken, the dark green leaves from the leeks, celery, ginger, 2 garlic cloves, 1 cup sliced carrots, oregano and the white part of the bok choy. Add the chicken stock and water and place on high heat. When boiling, reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer for 1-hour.

Remove chicken to cool and strain broth through a colander into a large bowl discarding the solids. Strain any fat from the broth and wipe out the pot.

Mince the remaining garlic and thinly slice the leeks. Add the oil to the stockpot along with the garlic and jalapeño. Sauté over medium heat for a couple of minutes and add the leeks. Sauté for 5 minutes. Increase heat to high and add the broth, potatoes and remaining carrots. Bring to a simmer and cook about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, remove the chicken meat from the bones and tear into bite size pieces. Chop the boy choy into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the pot along with the tomatoes and bok choy. Add salt and pepper to taste, simmer until nice and hot and bok choy is tender.

To clean leeks: Trim off the root and about 1/4-inch of the white part. Trim off about an inch or any tattered/wilted part of the upper dark green portion of the leek. Wash under running water well as leeks are normally gritty with soil. Cut the dark green leaves about 1 to 1/2 inch from where the light green base starts. This light green and white is the part most will use in recipes and the dark green leaves are used to flavor broths. Depending on the use in cooking, slice in sections or lengthwise and rinse again under running water separating the leaves.

Comments

  1. That is the absolute truth! Soup cures what ails you whether you have a cold or just need a nourishing lunch.

    I printed out that apple dessert you posted before this post. Will let you know how it goes. Love the idea of Greek yogurt in that one!

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  2. I must show this to my husband so that he knows how to cook this for me should I fall ill again. Maybe I should send him to you to learn cos I'm afraid he will end up with something totally different...haha.

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  3. I actually made a batch of chicken soup recently "for medicinal" purposes but I wish I had your version...the jalapenos and garlic would have tasted and felt sooo good! This is an awesome version for sure!

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  4. Happy Belated New Year, Drick! :o) This don't even look like food just for the sick. I like it alot. It looks nice and light. I can have this for my brunch. Wishing you all the best & may all the good things coming to you in year 2011. Maybe more cookbooks coming up!
    Blessings, Kristy

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  5. Oh wow. If it wasn't 11pm I'd be making this right now. No one's sick here, but it looks fantastic and I'd eat it in good health too! Thanks for passing a wonderful recipe along, as usual.

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  6. You really can't beat a good chicken soup to chase away all kinds of ailments. I love the ginger and jalapeno. If that doesn't clear you up, I don't know what will!

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  7. I looovee the milk toast! What a great memory to have!

    I should make this and distribute it to everyone I know. EVERYONE is sick, but somehow, I've managed to stay healthy. Medical oddity!

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  8. Drick, I really wish you could come make this for me, I just know you've got a special way with it!

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  9. I must try this soup, we are having a bit of cold weather lately, which is wonderful so we are sipping on soups for as long as we can..thanks for sharing, have a great weekend!

    sweetlife

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  10. Sick or not, I would enjoy a bowlful of that soup anytime. It looks so hearty and flavorful.

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  11. I love greens in my soup and this is quite the healthy bowl of soup I am feeling better already! Glad I didnt miss this one...

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  12. Sick or healthy I'd love a bowl of that soup on a cold winter's day.

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  13. I'd take a bowl full of this, sick or not! Love your idea of putting in a jalapeno for those of us with sinus problems :-)

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  14. Beautiful soup...I just made a soup yesterday with leaks and ginger (a bean soup though). Look at all of your gorgeous fresh veggies, sick or not this would be a favorite. I am going to have to start adding jalapeño to my chicken soup that I make for the family :)

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  15. That chicken soup would be good for just about anything, not just sick folks! You have so many wonderful ingrediens in that soup, he ginger is a nice touch! Now if you only deliver!!
    Cheers
    Dennis

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  16. I bet the ginger and the jalapeno make sinus(s) happy and also add a dose of serotonin, always a good thing.

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  17. Whenever I'm sick, all I want is a good bowl of chicken soup. This one looks so perfect and delicious :)

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  18. That looks really amazing!

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  19. Mmmmmm, one of my favorite "feel good" foods...I love your variation with the jalapenos, ginger...woe, that's got to be good!!!

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  20. I made some last night, but I wish I saw your recipe before I did it! I'd love to have a bowl of your soup...sounds incredibly good ...and good for the soul!

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  21. I am going to fake being sick in hopes that you will deliver a bowl of this soup. It looks so hearty and comforting!

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  22. I will have this soup, sick or no sick. :)

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