November 2, 2010

chicken soup for the soul

Last week Andy was sick and I could have just bought him a can of soup, but i decided to use a little of my chef skills and make him some from scratch. Soup is my hands down favorite thing to make. I love eating soup, and think it's pretty rare to find a good bowl out there in the world. I decided on Chicken Soup, because Andy loves chick. But you can make this as a vegetable soup as well!

What you'll need:
2 Quarts of Chicken or Veggie Stock
Fresh sprigs of thyme
2 Bay leafs
2 or 3 carrots
1 large onion
2 stocks on celery
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper
1 Rotissier chicken, picked
3 cloves of garlic
1 package of cheese tortellini
Parmesean Cheese for the top


What you do:
Cut your veggies. I small diced my onion, and cut my carrots into rounds. Cut your celery as well, and mince your garlic. I like a lot of garlic, but you can use less.

Pour a bit of oil into the bottom of the pan. Make sure you coat the entire bottom, but don't use too much oil. You don't ant oily soup. Once your oil is hot, throw in your garlic. You cant a medium hot.Garlic will fry if you let it, and that is the last thing you want. Throw in two fresh sprigs of thyme and sweat both for about 3 minutes. Then throw in your onions, carrots, and celery. Sweat these off as well. For about 8 minutes. Carrots require a good amount of cooking. Also, season now. What you want is to always build flavor. So I season at least three times. I threw in a pinch or two of red pepper because Andy was sick and I wanted him to kind of sweat it out. Plus, we like spicy.

After cooking your veggies for a bit, you'll add your stock and your bay leaf. Bring up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for about 30 minutes. I like to build flavor. Then, throw in your shredded chicken and tortellini. Cook tortellini through. About 5-6 minutes and serve. Top with some fresh Parm and you are ready to go. Enjoy!


XOXO,
Shawni Marie


p.s. Diana did the sweetest post about me and it made me all misty eyed, I can't believe how many special, talented, beautiful friends i have found through blogging and Diana is pure proof of that. She has been sweet and kind to me from the very beginning, without even meeting. I am a lucky girl. Say hello to her. She is the one in a million kind of special. And look at the photo she took of my bookmarks!! Eeep. I am getting so excited.

10 comments:

  1. Making soup for someone you care for is the cutest and sweetest thing a person can do! I am sure Andy was very grateful.

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  2. awwwwww love the post that diana wrote about you~!! and yay for the book mark sneak peek!! :D can't wait for your shop to open!! oh yea, and MUST TRY that recipe, perfect for a sick person or just on a cold day!

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  3. I love that bookmark! I wish I had one of my own. :)

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  4. aw, that's so sweet of you! i should learn. my bf would like that :P

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  5. can i have some soup?!
    and what a pretty bookmark, friend!

    happy tuesday!!

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  6. diana really is sweet, isn't she?! i wish i knew her in offline life!

    even t hough my grandma hates to hear it, i have to admit, i've never liked chicken soup. i know, i'm probably the only one!

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  7. that soup sounds so yummy, and I'm happy for you to have great friends

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  8. Mmmmmmmmmmm. I'm going to come visit you and you can cook for me, and I'll knit you things to wear, okay? hehe. Then we'll read books together and drink tea, and wine! And just have an awesome time. Sound good? :)

    I loved that post Diana wrote about you.

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  9. I love making soup, probably one of my favorite things!

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