The Soup Sisters and Their Cousin the Hotty

I have been remiss. 

For this, i humbly apologize.

I have just come to realize that i have failed to share the best chicken soup recipe in the world. 

The children love this stuff, can make it themselves, and will eat it all year round...even when it is a hundred degrees outside!!

I usually set up a little assembly line and make the mix up by the dozen, putting all the dry ingredients into baggies, so when we are crazy bizzy i can grab a baggie out of the basket and get dinner on the table in twenty minutes.  The other great thing is that a pot of this stuff will feed six or eight people, or more, if they are small, so it is handy to have around if you need to feed a crowd on the spur of the moment.

When celery and carrots go on sale, i buy massive quantities and run them through the dehydrator.  The dehydrated onions i buy, if you recall.  I also can chicken when i find a good sale on it, so that is what i use. I would think it would take at least a couple of the small cans of store bought canned chicken.  Also, this is a good recipe to use leftover chicken or turkey.

When i make the mix, i go ahead and make up three or four fancy cello bags with cute ties, and put the mix, a  jar of chicken and an instruction card in them.  Then you have a really great bribe, thank you or hostess gift ready to go, or if a friend turns up sick you can leave a bag on the doorstep, ring the bell, and run like mad.

Here we go....

THE WORLD'S BEST CHICKEN SOUP

This is what you put in each baggie: 
1 1/2 T chicken bouillon
1/2 t pepper
1/4 t thyme
1/8 t celery seeds
1/8 t garlic powder
1 bay leaf
1 T dried carrots
1 T dried celery
1 T dried onion
1 c uncooked egg noodles (we like noodles, so i double this)

When you get ready to cook the soup, combine:
1 baggie of mix
3 c diced chicken
8 c water

and then simmer 20 minutes.

That's it!!  Give it a try.  It is fast, easy, and delish!!


Since i am on a roll here,  have another one. 

I triple or quadruple this recipe, and store it in a half gallon jar that seals well.  This one is lunch in less than five minutes, and ya can't beat that!

POTATO SOUP
1 3/4 c instant mashed potatoes
1 1/2 c dried milk
2 T chicken bouillon
1 t dried parsley
2 t dried onion
1/4 t pepper
1/4 t thyme
1/8 t turmeric
1/2+ t seasoning salt


1/2 c mix plus 1 c boiling water, stir smooth, top with cheese, bacon bits and sour cream.



Last one.  This one also feeds a crowd, and i do the assembly line thing and make it up by the dozen.

(During the winter and kidding season, I keep several baskets all in a row on a shelf, each basket containing a different soup or meal mix, so i can just grab and go.)

JAMBALAYA
In the baggie:
1 c raw long grain rice
1 T dried onion
1 T dried bell pepper
1 T parsley
1 bay leaf
2 t beef bouillon
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t thyme
1/4 - 1/2 t crushed red pepper (to taste, i use 1/4 for small peeps, 1/2 for big peeps)


To prepare, combine:
1 baggie of mix
3 c water
8 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 c ham or smoked sausage

simmer 20 minutes, then add:


1/2 c cooked shrimp
simmer 5 minutes.