house full of sickies.

hey folks. after this weekend's personal flu attack on yours truly, and ro being sick last monday, we're having a banner 3-for-3 in our house now that jeremy has come down with it too.

today, i'm going to post the recipe (read: guideline) for my uber lazy, anyone can make this, good for what ails ya, chicken noodle soup. 

when you've got a house full of sickies, noone wants to cook, but someone has to.

and it might as well be me. 

stuff to get at the grocery:

• rotisserie chicken. cut all the meat off the bones, into small bite size pieces, and reserve. if you're feeling adventurous, you can save the bones to make homemade stock . if you're feeling less than kitchen-competent, let them go. 
• fresh rosemary. it seems like it's superfluous to ask anyone to chop fresh herbs when they feel lousy. but you don't have to chop em much, and it will make the soup that much better. only use 2 -3 springs. this stuff is potent.
• pre-cut matchstick carrots. see, this will save you the peeling and chopping time, and you can quit griping about the rosemary :)
• good quality low sodium chicken broth. today i'm using Kitchen Basics brand, but i also like the 365 Whole Foods house brand (and its priced well, too!) get at least 3 of those big pour-boxes. i have 4, and will probably use them all.
• lemon or lime juice - either works, your preference.
• little noodles. orzo, alphabets, whatever. the idea is for them to fit on your spoon happily.
• 1 finely chopped sweet onion. let your food processor do the work today.
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic. again, let the food processor do it OR buy it already chopped.
• small mushrooms, fresh. this is optional. you know, if you like mushrooms. slice or quarter them, please.
• jar GOOD QUALITY base - i prefer the kind with as little sodium as possible and NO MSG. better than bouillon brand is the current winner.

Now, what to do with all this stuff...

1. heat a stockpot, and add a little butter or oil. brown the mushrooms in the fat of your choosing, and set them aside while you continue
2. add onions and allow them to cook until translucent. lower heat.
3. add chopped rosemary 
4. add garlic. once garlic is translucent, add stock.
5. allow to simmer. once stock is at a soft gurgle, add pasta.
6. once pasta is cooked, add carrots, chicken, mushrooms.
7. allow to simmer for at least an hour, testing flavor and consistency. make sure you have back up stock to thin soup if it gets a little thick - the noodles will do this sometimes.
8. finish with a little lemon or lime juice, and add about a tsp of base if the chicken broth isn't chickeny enough for you. i use it sparingly, just to fortify the flavor.
9. black pepper, hot sauce, whatever makes you happy... to taste.

enjoy with saltines or whatever makes you feel better.

more from ro's lunch when we're all on the mend.

oh, and if you make soup, let me know how it turns out, please!