My little guy stayed home sick today and of course he asked mommy to make some soup for him! I usually make a big batch of chicken or vegetable broth and keep it in the freezer. We eat a lot of soup here. It’s easy and affordable to make your own broth. You can also use it to cook veggies or rice instead of water. It adds flavor and nutrition. So, here you have it:
Chicken Broth:
1 chicken carcass ( never throw your chicken bones away!)
a couple of potatoes diced ( i use 2 large or 4 small)
1 large onion, diced
3 large carrots, chopped
3 or4 stalks of celery, chopped
3 bay leaves, dried
salt and pepper to taste
Optional: I like to add a can of diced or stewed tomatoes for color and flavor.
( to make veggie broth omit the chicken and add any veggies you have available!)
Put all ingredients into a large 6.5 quart pot, fill with water and begin to boil. If you are using chicken you will need to boil for at least 2 hours or more. I’m usually pulling the chicken out of the freezer so I cook mine longer. Bring the ingredients to a boil, then simmer till done. Drain all vegges and chicken out. Then you have yourself some fabulous broth to work with or freeze. If you have children that aren’t big veggie eaters or like a thicker soup, you can take the veggies out and puree them. I then would add them back into the soup. This also can be used for baby food and you can add the chicken to the puree. It’s really about using all you have and making a meal out of it.
I then added the pasta to the soup and filled my little guys tummy with some homemade joy!
Mal says
can you use raw chix??? then let it boil for 2hrs??? Thanks for sharing this.
beyourbestmom says
Yes, raw chicken has more flavor. Another thing I do is buy the breast w/rib meat on the bone cut thin breast off the bone and use whatever chicken and bone leftover to make soup. It’s cheaper.
the husband says
Love to the potatoes that are left over!
Louise says
If you have the time, leave it at a very slow boil for 8 hours or more – you get a much richer broth, you can tell by the colour. This allows more minerals to leach out of the bones and makes it even more nutritious. I save up my bones and make a big batch at once and freeze some for later.
beyourbestmom says
Good to know. I’m always worried about it boiling down to much. I usually leave mine on for 3 hours. 2 if I’m in a rush. I’ll try this way next time – thanks!