cold season

  As you all know it's cold and flu season just about everywhere in the world . I presume it's worldwide because it sure seems like everyone is catching something .  My husband was sick for over a week and of course he was like most males with a cold. he needed to almost be spoon fed , I am of course exaggerating but it seemed like he was almost to that point . He needed to go to the doctor because of course he wasn't suffering from anything ''normal'' . He did have a sinus infection and she gave him an antibiotic . He is better but still complaining of tiredness .  I made him some homemade chicken noodle soup which he really liked . It wasn't as good reheated as it was fresh. I suppose the noodles soaked up all the liquid overnight .


1              whole chicken 
1/2           yellow onion sliced or diced
2              stalks celery  chopped
2              carrots sliced
1 tsp         minced garlic ( or fresh if you prefer)
1              lemon cut in half
1              orange cut in half   ( I used a meyer lemon if you can find them they're a lemon tangerine cross



      Remove the package of giblets and if you prefer wash the chicken ( I don't always do this )
       Use a large stock pot  place the lemon and orange halves in the cavity of the chicken , I try to remove any seeds but since I strain later this isn't always necessary . then add the other ingredients and cover with water , cover with a lid and turn on high when to comes to a rolling boil, lower the heat to a medium high and let cook for  several hours. I cooked mine for 6 hours . I removed the chicken ( use a large heavily made spoon ) to a large bowl to allow it to cool enough to handle . Save the liquid the chicken was cooking in . I use a skimmer or ladle with the holes and remove all the pieces that are floating around so that just the liquid remains in the pot .
    When the chicken is cool enough to touch , remove all the bones,skin and unwanted meat . I use mostly the white meat. This also becomes very messy and not for the squeamish. But the whole chicken gives such a good flavor to the broth that it is worth the trouble.
   when the meat is separated return the broth to a boil and add the noodles you choose to use - I use egg noodles but occasionally find Amish made noodles and use those . cook the noodles until done . and the add the chicken back to the pot and cook until heated . I serve with warm French bread or garlic knots ( frozen as I haven't been successful in making homemade yeast breads )