Souper Simple Chicken Soup

Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts, with bones and skin attached
• 2 whole carrots, cleaned, not skinned, cut in 2-inch chunks
• 1 large onion, quartered
• 3 stalks celery, cleaned, leaves attached, cut in 2-inch chunks
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 12 cups water
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• salt and pepper
• cooked noodles (optional) or cooked rice (optional)

Recipe

• 1 season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
• 2 roast chicken breasts with large chunk-veggies in a large dutch at 400°f until done, 35-45 minutes.
• 3 remove chicken from pan and cool.
• 4 remove meat from breasts and reserve.
• 5 place skin and bones back into the dutch oven.
• 6 place pan back on stove over a medium heat, stirring occasionally until contents are well browned.
• 7 add small amount of water to pan and bring to a boil, stir to remove all brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
• 8 add remaining water and peppercorns, bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook, partially covered, for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
• 9 skim as required.
• 10 add more water if level gets too low.
• 11 you can add any other herbs that you like at this time.
• 12 i like thyme and basil, but nothing is required.
• 13 remove dutch oven from heat, skim fat off surface and strain liquid into a soup pot.
• 14 place soup pot over medium heat and bring stock to a boil.
• 15 add chopped veggies and parsley and lower heat to maintain a good rolling boil.
• 16 cook for 15-20 minutes, or until veggies are tender and sweet.
• 17 lower heat to simmer.
• 18 adjust water to suit your own tastes add more if you want more, weaker, broth.
• 19 if desired add some frozen vegetables at this time.
• 20 a bit of corn and lima beans are good, while the veggies are boiling chop reserved chicken and prepare your noodles.
• 21 add chicken to pot and stir.
• 22 don't add the chicken too early or it will be shredded.
• 23 adjust seasoning.
• 24 place noodles or rice in bottom of a soup bowl, ladle a generous amount of soup over it.
• 25 don't add your rice/pasta to the main soup bowl--it will quickly over cook and become mush (and ruin all your leftovers!).