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Nothing Better Than Homemade Chicken Soup

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beam & Branch Realty TREC #547752

What a fun, June Challenge for all of us to share our favorite foodie creations. We all should get a lot of wonderful, new ideas from one another. And, to top it off–an ActiveRain cookbook! How fun!

I decided to share a tried-and-true comfort food recipe that never gets old. This creation is great for those times when you are under the weather and need a good,  old-fashioned immunity boost. Also, this comfort food will bring back memories of a Grandmother who lovingly prepared it for us. No matter the time of year or reason, a good, bowl of homemade chicken soup is always welcomed.

I have been in the practice of cooking without using exact measurements for years. I have learned to improvise and to use what I have on hand. Therefore, because this challenge requests ingredients and measurements, I will do my best:

INGREDIENTS:

🧑‍🍳 2- 4 Seasoned chicken breasts - cook & season to taste (I prefer to cook in a large, iron pan) *The better chicken quality the better. Farm-raised, organic, air-chilled.

🧑‍🍳 1 red onion minced

🧑‍🍳 2 tablespoons freshly minced garlic (or, use garlic powder or store-bought in a jar)

🧑‍🍳 1/2 stick of real butter - *Do NOT use margarine!

🧑‍🍳 2 cups of Half-n-Half or 1 & 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream

🧑‍🍳 Salt & Pepper to taste

🧑‍🍳 1 tsp. of cooking starch (for thickening purposes)

🧑‍🍳 1 tablespoon of dried Tarragon or Parsley

🧑‍🍳 32 oz of organic chicken stock

🧑‍🍳 Pasta - use whatever shape you wish. I pre-cook first and then add.

Additional ingredients that are always an option:

Fresh carrots, celery, radishes, small potatoes, etc. Use what you like! 😀🧑‍🍳

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook Chicken 

2. Cook pasta - al dente

3. In a Dutch oven, add butter, onion, garlic, salt & pepper and saute until tender

4. Add cream, chicken stock liquid, starch, Tarragon or Parsley

5. Allow to simmer and thicken

(Taste along the way to determine if you need to add anything else)

6. Add chicken and continue to simmer

7. When soup is at the consistency you desire, add pasta and cook for a few more minutes.

8. Voila! You are ready to enjoy your tasty, homemade chicken soup!

Serve with a healthy salad and a slice of good, sourdough bread. YUM!

Here is my picture tutorial:

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Comments(28)

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Deb Dahlberg - Rowland
ASK FOR DEB! Stanberry Realtors - Bastrop, TX
Deb Sells Texas!

All I can say is YUM!  Will be saving this recipe for my next soup night!  Awesomeness!

Jun 11, 2024 04:32 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

Hi Deb. And look! You are a fellow Texan. Thank you for stopping by.

Jun 11, 2024 09:51 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Paula. Don't believe I have ever had chicken soup with cream but it sure sounds good. Thanks for the recipe. Enjoy your soup. 

Jun 11, 2024 04:43 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

Hi Wayne. The cream provides a silky texture that I believe makes it even better.

Jun 11, 2024 09:52 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Paula - looking at the preceding comments, I guess I am out of step with many others (no surprise there) in that I don't appreciate soup as much as most. 

From following your posts over the years, I know you have shared that you enjoyed the classic Seinfeld comedy show (am I remembering correctly?).  I do as well but I know from reading comments on that subject everyone does not agree.  Your excellent step-by-step post reminds me of a well-known episode.  No, not the one inspired by a memorable soup purveyor but a line that has a different message.  Not that's there anything wrong with that.   Each of us is different - even when it comes to comfort food.   Thank you for sharing the recipe.  

Jun 11, 2024 04:58 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

I do remember that line! That show has many, memorable one-liners.

Jun 11, 2024 09:53 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing (and I totally understand cooking by feel -  a pinch of this and a handful of that!)

Jun 11, 2024 05:18 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

Exactly, Kat! I cook, taste, adjust, repeat! It's the way I roll in the kitchen.

Jun 11, 2024 09:54 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Paul,

Wow! This chicken soup sounds so good!! I will definitely try your recipe, I've never added the cream and starch and bet that really makes a difference!

Jun 11, 2024 05:31 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

Dorie, I think you will find the creamy consistency really adds to the flavor.

Jun 11, 2024 09:54 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I would really enjoy that soup!  I like that you use real butter too!

Jun 11, 2024 06:04 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

Oh yes, Brian. The more butter the better! Butter is a must.

Jun 11, 2024 09:55 AM
Mike McCann Broker - Mach1 Realty
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
ALL Types of Property For Sale 308-627-3700

Will definitely give this a shot as I love soup and I also love butter and creamy!!  Never have used heavy cream but that might be my missing ingredient! I will probably go with a small potato instead of the pasta.  Thank you for sharing!  I am jealous of your stove.

Jun 11, 2024 06:04 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

Thanks, Mike. And yes, this stove is fantastic. I have really enjoy it.

Jun 11, 2024 09:55 AM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

Agreed chicken soup is good for the soul.  My husband's recipe is a little different however the end result is very good.

Jun 11, 2024 06:37 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

I've had many different chicken soup variations and love them all.

Jun 11, 2024 09:56 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

 

Hello Dr. Paula McDonald sounds like "winner-winner, chicken soup dinner". 

I would modify it without the chicken and cream ... (LOL). 

Congrats on the Feature.  You covered the challenge well with step-by-step photos. 

Jun 11, 2024 08:57 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Of course, you would modify it, Kathleen! You are the queen of dedication to a strict diet. I love my cream and butter a lot! :)

Jun 11, 2024 09:57 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Hello Dr. Paula McDonald thank you for sharing a delicious homemade chicken soup. I will try to prepare this chicken soup.

Jun 11, 2024 04:04 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Hey, John! Let me know how it turns out. My family scarfs this up big time.

Jun 11, 2024 04:56 PM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

No kidding.  Home made is less salty.   

We used to bring a can of soup to a meeting on Thanksgiving making witches soup. It tasted very different if you have 30 different cans of ingrient in the big pot. 

Jun 11, 2024 06:13 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

This is the greatest  thing since sliced bread and then again, it’s way better! You can’t go wrong with a classic chicken soup!

Jun 11, 2024 10:15 PM
Melanie Bocock
M Bee Creative - Naples, FL
Marketing creative in Naples, FL

That looks like delicious comfort food!  Yum!

Jun 12, 2024 05:26 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald

Hi Melanie. I have in-laws in your area. I may need to refer some work your way.

Jun 12, 2024 09:20 AM
June Piper-Brandon
Coldwell Banker Realty - Baltimore, MD
Creating Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

Chicken soup makes for a great comfort food and seems to be the cure-all for many things, there's even a book called Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Jun 12, 2024 10:50 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Now my mouth is watering, this sounds delish.

Jun 12, 2024 12:50 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

While many people love soup, for me it is something that I will eat only when I am sick and need something less harsh to chew.

Jun 19, 2024 07:05 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

From all these comments - it is clear that this one was a big success as an addition to the cookbook! 

Jun 24, 2024 05:36 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

SO yummy, Paula and you are SO right - there's nothing better and this recipe looks and sounds amazing. Thank you so much for participating in this month's challenge and sharing this wonderful recipe. I'm definitely bookmarking!

Jun 30, 2024 06:45 PM