From the time that COVID19 entered our lives in the U.S, the most vulnerable have been in the line of fire.  The elderly and health compromised seem to be more susceptible to this deadly virus. 

Personally, health wise I have had my own cross to bear. Instead of hiding from it, I decided to confront it head on.   Cooking with healthy ingredients is a great way to keep yourself healthy…mind,  body, and soul. A staple that I keep in my refrigerator and freezer is homemade chicken bone broth soup.

Growing up, chicken soup was considered “Jewish Penicillin.” My modern Jewish grandmother taught me all of life’s ailments could be cured with a steaming bowl of chicken soup. Even though this way of thinking seems a bit extreme…there is truth to it.

Studies have shown that chicken soup is more than just a tasty meal. Treasured by many cultures, chicken soup has been documented to help clear nasal congestion, reduce upper respiratory congestion, increase hydration, and have a mild anti-inflammatory effect that can ease cold and flu symptoms.

Ingredients

  • 1 Package of chicken legs or thighs or a mixture of both
  • (8 pieces)
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil 
  • 3 medium onions
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 5 large carrots
  • 5 celery stalks or 1 bunch of celery heart
  • 1 small bunch of parsley (hand full)
  • 1 small bunch of dill (hand full)
  • 3 Quarts of water
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • ½ Hand full of Thyme
  • Salt & Pepper

Optional Vegetables:                                           

  • 3 medium turnips 
  • 4 parsnips (this has a strong flavor) 

Cooking Equipment 

  • 4 quart soup pot, knife and wooden spoon. 

Cooking Instructions

  • Peel and chop onions/ carrots and celery in medium  to large pieces
  • Place your soup pot on the stove and add olive oil on  medium heat
  • Once oil is hot, saute onions, carrots and celery until vegetables are slightly soft. 
  • Mix with a wooden spoon
  • Add 3 quarts of water to the pot.  Add parsley, dill, thyme, and bay leaf to the pot.
  • Add chicken leg/ thighs to soup mixture. Bring to a boil. Salt and pepper to taste.
  • Once boiled for 5 minutes, turn heat to low setting and cook for 5 hours. During this time, the meat of the chicken will fall off the bone.  Add more water if needed. After the 5 hours are up the soup/ broth can still cook further to make a stronger bone broth.(2 to 3 hours) it is up to the preference of the chef.  Salt and pepper to taste it is up to the preference of the chef
  • Once the soup/broth cooking is completed, remove bones from the soup.
  • Place into containers and cool completely before placing in the refrigerator or freezer, or enjoy a steaming bowl of chicken soup

Enjoy ?

Fun Facts:

  1. Full of nutrients, chicken/bone broth soup is an immune booster, soothing to the throat, easy-to-digest and hits the spot.
  2. Bone stock and broths provide calcium and mineralsin a form that the body can easily absorb. 
  3. It is also helpful because the gelatin in properly made stock/broth helps the body use protein in an efficient way. It also repairs, and calms the mucous lining in the small intestine.
  4. Bone broth is an excellent source of iodine, chloride, sodium, magnesium, and potassium.A nourished body is a protected body and chicken soup lives up to its reputation by helping support immunity and resistance to colds and flu.    

Created By Amelia Taurisano
https://ataurisanosmallspacebigtaste.blogspot.com/