February 19, 2012 Jeannie Pence

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Some days just call for chicken noodle soup. Kids love it, it's hot, it's a recipe that hard to mess up! Open a couple of cans.....or make the homemade kind. We have it both ways at our house, just mainly depends on how quick we need something hot. Since I was already cooking chicken today for another recipe, figured I might as well cook all the chicken at one time. The stock wasn't going to be used for the other recipe and I hated to let it go to waste. So here's my quick easy version of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped into small pieces 2 quarts (there about) chicken stock 1 can cream of chicken soup 2-3 chicken bullion cubes 1 small package thin spaghetti 1 cup milk (more or less) salt and pepper to taste The most important ingredient in making homemade chicken soup, is having the appropriate assistant! Today's assistant is our grandson Matt. He was very eager to help me make the soup. Cook the chicken in a deep dutch oven or stock pot. I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breast. Add 2-3 chicken bullion cubes while the chicken is cooking. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it and chop into small pieces. 2 cups or so if plenty and doesn't matter if you a little short or a little over. That the good thing about homemade soup. If you're short on chicken, add more noodles......if it's too thick....add milk... Stir in the can of cream of chicken soup into the stock. Break the spaghetti into pieces and add to the stock. Here's where the help came in))) Even the smallest can break up spaghetti and throw in a pot. (Don't send me hate mail......the stock was cooked earlier in the day, was cool and reheated once the spaghetti and chicken were added))

Once the spaghetti has been added, put in the chopped chicken.

The knack to adding the chicken....is dropping it in at just the right angle. Once the spaghetti and chicken have been added, remove the grandchild and place the stock pot back on the burner. Bring to a boil and cook gently until the noodles are tender. At this point decide if you need more liquid or not. If it's a little thick add milk, but only have after you have removed from the heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. While the soup is cooking.....put your assistant to work doing other things. Make good use of that time!