Hearty chicken soup

Most of you probably know how on television shows whenever someone has a cold or flu, a friend or family member will bring them chicken soup.Well, it is not just a TV thing.

You can also treat yourself to some chicken soup on any day. The good thing about chicken soup is that it is not only filling, delicious and nutritious but it is also easy to prepare so you don’t need to be an expert in the kitchen to make this dish. Below is a simplified version of the dish. You can go to town with the ingredients and relish if you want a chicken soup that “went to Harvard” by adding different vegetables, spices and herbs or even noodles, and all that shebang. Serves 6

Ingredients:

*One whole chicken or portions, or fresh chicken strips

*8 cups of water

*Coarse salt (or some aromat if you please, wink)

*2 onions, finely cut

*4 cloves of garlic

*4 medium carrots, sliced *Finely sliced half a cabbage or celery

*Stock, spice or your preferred herbs to taste

Method:

-Bring the chicken, water, and one tablespoon salt to a boil in a large stockpot. Skim foam. Add the onions, celery/cabbage and garlic. Reduce the heat and allow the ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes. Make sure that the lid is partially open.

Then add the carrots and simmer again, partially covered for another 30 minutes.

-Remove the remaining chicken; and discard back and wings.

Let them cool slightly. Remove the meat from bones, and cut it into bite-size pieces.

-Stir in the desired amount of chicken. Skim fat and then season with salt, spices, herbs or stock and allow to simmer for 10 more minutes until it is thick and cooked.