Thursday, January 30, 2014

Chicken and Rice Soup for Whatever Ails You

We had such a fabulous time at my party the other night, but I'm afraid that I overate. It was the chips and dip that finished me off. What is it about crispy potato chips? It didn't help that the dip was fabulous! Thank you, Midge! That wasn't meant to be sarcastic! The dip was awesome!

Not surprisingly, I awoke with an uncomfortable tummy. My digestive system just isn't what it used to me. That cast iron stomach is only a fleeting memory.

Yesterday, I mainly ate broth and yogurt. I was better this morning, but still feeling some after effects. That's where the chicken soup comes in.

This particular soup is very much like one that my grandmother used to make. It's great for tummy woes, colds, and whenever you need something light and nutritious.

Grandma wasn't much with a needle and thread, but her cooking was fantastic. Mother, on the other hand, was a remarkably skilled seamstress, but she couldn't cook. I was fortunate to have both mother and daughter for teachers.

You know how I cook - a bit of this, a pinch of that, a handful of the other - so that's the way this recipe reads. Add, subtract, substitute, design it to fit your taste buds.



CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP
A light, simple soup that's easy on your tummy.

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons olive oil
One small onion, chopped
1/2 - 1 cup diced chicken breast
About 1/2 cup diced carrots
About 1/2 cup diced celery
1 garlic clove, chopped very fine
1 can of chicken broth
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup rice
A handful of lentils
1 - 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
1 medium basil leaf
A sprinkling of dried onion flakes
8 or 10 whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt
4 or 5 cups of water

Directions:

1. Saute the onion in the olive oil until it becomes very lightly browned and  translucent. Add the chicken and saute for two or three additional minutes.

2. Add the carrots, celery, and garlic. Saute for another two or three minutes.

3. Add chicken broth, parsley, onion flakes, vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaf, salt, rice, lentils, and water.

4. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to medium low and simmer for about an hour.

Yum! 

  


2 comments:

  1. I really like your new pattern for the crochet case and plan to make some as Christmas gifts for my friends. Although I realize that knitting needles come in all shapes and sizes, I was wondering if you have a similar pattern on the drawing board for knitters, e.g. a travel kit? Thanks.

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  2. I'm really pleased to hear that you like that little pattern. I've thought about a designing a case for knitters, too, but I haven't really started considering a design. As you say, there are so many sizes and shapes of knitting needles. The case would need to be adaptable for different sized needles, so the case would likely need elastic loops to hold the basic straight needles. I suppose that spaces for circular needles would also be good, and there would have to be a pocket for scissors and other odds and ends. I wonder if the best style would be a roll up something or a stiffer folding case that would be more like a briefcase in appearance. Or, should it be a tote to carry yarn and the current project as well? I'd love to hear your thoughts on that as well as ideas from your friends who knit.

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