Healing soup from Grandma Bisesi

My grandma was a beautiful woman, inside and out. Every Sunday, and I mean every Sunday, she would open her kitchen and her arms to us. There are few memories stronger than those of your sense of smell and taste to bring you back to a time and place of comfort with those you love or those who have loved you. Chicken soup does that for me. I remember the smells drifting from my grandmother's kitchen as she slaved away over a boiling pot of soup, or put the finishing touches on her homemade pizza. It was always a feast fit for kings and queens and she never took no for an answer. No such thing as full ... It was her way, no highway option;) She made a billion different courses and each one had to have its turn. Before we ate she would wash the kids' faces with Camay soap until we were wet from ear to ear and smelling like angels who had just run through a field of wildflowers. Camay was known back then as "the soap for beautiful women," so you can imagine I was quite fond of being scrubbed with such perfection. To this day, the smell of it makes me smile. Not to mention it was pink ... Hello! Little girls adore anything pink. Amazing how a silly bar of soap and some soup can make the best memories! My Grandma passed away from breast cancer when I was just fourteen after enduring a double massectomy. She was brave and strong. She inspires me to cook and reminds me that the smallest thing -- like a bar of soap or soup -- can make memories for a lifetime and nurture the ones you love.
This is hands down the simplest, best homemade chicken soup I have had. Complements of Grandma Bisesi:)


Music Cafe: Great soup making music:)
http://youtu.be/NwRG2VSpTsc

STOCK IS COOKING...

Spitziedo


Stock:
4 split fryer chicken breasts
6 cups approx. Water
1/2 onion quartered
3 stalks celery
2 carrots halved
1 clove garlic cut in half
2 fresh sprigs of thyme
I taste and add kosher salt as needed

VEGGIES AND HERBS READY TO BE CHOPPED

Heat a large soup pot, salt and pepper chicken. On high heat sear chicken on both sides. When the skin on the chicken is browned, pour enough water to cover chicken and and all above ingredients.


Boil for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on size of pieces.


Take chicken out to cool. Strain broth. (I usually eat the cooked bits of veggies I pull out of the stock while I'm cooking but feel free to puree them into the broth.)
When he chicken cools pull all the chicken off the bones ( this is really easy, right Ryan?) we use gloves:)


Soup
Add to stock:
1 cup of acini de pepe or tiniest pasta uncooked. Boil 5 min.
3 cloves of chopped garlic
1 tbsp. dried thyme and marjoram or other Italian herbs.
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
Add shredded chicken and dig in!


Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and a loaf of crusty fresh bread.


Mangiare, mangiare, mangiare, essere sani e lavare dietro le orecchie!
(eat, eat, eat, and clean behind your ears!)


Enjoy this Glorious day!
Celeste

FOUND SOME LOVE IN MY SOUP!

Thanks, Grammy