One thing I do that works out well for the family is setting aside some chicken broth in the freezer. I got this habit from Nonni. She would always have a stash in her kitchen and/or basement freezer for her homemade cappellettis and passatellis.
I started doing the same thing. Whenever I make stock (about three times a year, usually in the cooler months), I set aside one container's worth. I shred all of the chicken meat from the carcass into the broth and then freeze it. When the need arises, I just defrost the soup and add whatever I want as far as vegetables, pasta, or rice—the chicken is already there. Increasingly, this chicken broth gets used not for cappellettis or passatellis, but for emergency rations when someone in the family gets sick.
While I was on deadline last month, during the last week of school, the little one fell ill with a fever and nasty cough. He had to stay home for two days. Then the other one got sick. Out came the frozen broth from the freezer. That evening, while I ran out to pick up the fish from our fish CSA, sign up the 3rd grader for saxophone lessons, retrieve the little one's baseball bat that he left at his previous game, and made a quick trip to the grocery store for Children's Advil and saltines, Husband made soup. He sautéed a chopped onion, carrots, and celery in a little olive oil. When soft, he added the partially defrosted soup, heating it up until melted and bubbly. Then he poured in some egg noodles (less than you'd think as they expand a lot). He cooked it until the pasta was done, seasoned it with salt and pepper, and voila: amazing, healthful soup that everyone loves in 15 minutes.
When I was sick with that hideous stomach thing last spring, Husband made me chicken and rice soup this same way, and it was seriously the best thing I have ever tasted in my whole life. Turns out making that broth ahead of time was energy well invested! Funny how much you appreciate the little things (or what you think are little things) when you're sick.
(Not sure if you're up for making homemade broth? You are. Go here. It also comes in vegetarian.)
I named my new chicken Soup. And my first chicken is named Lemon because of your lemon chicken recipe. So they better start laying eggs where I can find them or bring on the egg noodles!
Posted by: Trish | July 11, 2012 at 09:24 PM
Chicken broth (or any broth, really) in the freezer is one of the best things ever. I usually use mine for risotto or some sort of broth with meatballs. Love the soup stash. :)
Posted by: Eileen | July 12, 2012 at 12:13 AM
Soup IS good food! Speaking of soup, are there any fantastic French onion recipes that you know of?
Posted by: Victoria | July 13, 2012 at 06:43 PM