Chicken Soup for the Soul

I have never been a huge fan of chicken. I visited a family chicken farm during slaughtering season one summer as a seven year old and have not been able to look at chicken the same way since.

However, I love a whole roasted chicken. Even better, I love making chicken soup from a leftover whole roasted chicken. Making chicken soup is an exercise in love and healing. And as I learned now that I'm flying solo in the suburbs, it's even a comfort food when made and consumed on your own.

This recipe is a Pesek family institution, handed down over at least five generations. Making stock is easy enough and the homemade noodles make this recipe hearty and heartwarming.

Ingredients:
Whole roasted chicken (minus whatever has been eaten already)
Onions, garlic, celery, and carrots
Fresh (or dried) parsley
Salt and pepper

1 cup flour
1 egg
1/2 eggshell of milk
1 tsp salt

1. Take the whole roasted chicken and separate the meat from the bones and chicken fat.

2. Roughly chop onion, celery, and carrots and cook in a pot in a little olive oil (I use one onion, 3 garlic cloves, 2 carrots and 2 celery stalks).

3. Fill pot with water 3/4 full. Add chicken bones, skin, and fat. Salt and season to taste. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 1 hour. Strain out the chicken stock and discard bones, skin, and veggies.

4. Chop more onions, celery, and carrots, the desired size for your soup. Cook for a few minutes in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.

5. Add stock to veggies, cook for a few minutes longer, add chicken that was removed from the bones in the first step. Add salt, parsley, and more water if needed.

6. For noodles, mix together flour, egg, milk, and salt. Roll out and cut into thin strips of dough. Drop each noodle directly into the soup to cook. Noodles are cooked within 2 minutes.

7. Serve and enjoy!

Note: Soup can be "extended" by adding water and seasoning, depending on how much chicken and veggies you have used.

I saved about 3 bowls in the fridge and put the rest in the freezer for quick meals in the future!