Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

Scientists still haven't come up with a cure for the common cold or influenza but there is a traditional remedy, and generations of grandmothers can't be wrong. Chicken soup is said to be good not only for colds, but also for just about everything else that ails you! This recipe from Geoff Jansz is tasty, nutritious, virtually fat free and costs less than $1 per serving.

Ingredients

• 4 carrots
• 2 sticks celery
• 2 onions
• 6-8 parsley stalks
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 bayleaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 chicken, size 18
• 200g chicken giblets
• parsley leaves, for garnish

Method

1. Put a small quantity of each vegetable aside. Chop the rest roughly and put them into a large pot, along with the parsley stalks, black peppercorns and the bayleaf.

2. Put the whole chicken into the pot and add the salt. Add just enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 40 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to come back to room temperature. (Tip: cover the chicken and vegetables with a dinner plate to hold them down.)

3. Put the whole pot into the fridge. When the fat hardens, skim it off with a spoon.

4. Take the chicken out of the pot and pull it apart. Put the lean, cooked chicken meat on a plate and set aside. Put the skin, bones and fat back into the pot along with the chicken giblets. Simmer for 1 hour.

5. Chop the parsley leaves and cut the cooked chicken meat into bite sized pieces.

6. Strain the contents of the pot. Keep the liquid but discard the solids. (Tip: add the solids to your pet's dinner, but make sure you pick out the bones first).

7. Just before you are ready to eat, simmer the reserved vegetables and liquid for about 5 minutes, then add the cooked chicken and the parsley.

8. Warm the soup for 30 seconds, then serve.

Copyright 2000 CTC Productions