Chicken Soup with Dill

I've been feeling a little under the weather the past few days. And the last cold fingers of winter are holding on to spring. Sounds like a perfect excuse for some chicken soup.

Let's face it. It's a scary world out there. And your mamma isn't always gonna be there to fix you chicken soup. So, you have two options. One, find a nice girl that will take care of you and knows how to make chicken soup. Or, two, learn to make it yourself.

While I'm all for option 1, it's good to be realistic. And hey, if you ever find her, knowing how to make her soup when she is sick gives you some serious points. Now that's what I call working ahead.

Besides, it's one thing that is really easy to make, even if you're feeling sick. restorative. Its just chop an onion, a couple of carrots and a stalk of celery. Add some water or broth if you have it. And poach a chicken breast in it until the chicken is cooked through. If you are feeling well enough to run to the local grocery store to get the ingredients, I recommend getting the chicken breast on the bone, the bone gives the broth more body.

Dill is a wonderful summery herb that rounds the soup out nicely, use it if you can find it, but if you can't no problem.

Chicken Soup with Dill

Makes 8 cups

total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 yellow onion, medium dice

2 carrots, peeled, medium dice

2 stalk celery, medium dice

6 cups water or broth

2 skinless chicken breasts, on the bone if you can find them

1 clove garlic, stuck with 1 clove

1 bay leaf

1 Tbsp dill, feathered tops only, chopped

kosher salt, to taste
cracked black pepper, to taste

Method:
1.)  In a 3 quart heavy bottomed pot over medium heat add olive oil.
2.)  To pot add onions, carrots and celery. Stir and cover with the lid of the pot. Allow to sweat for 3 minutes.
3.)  To pot add the water or broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. When boiling reduce heat to a simmer and add the add the chicken, garlic, and bay leaf. Allow to simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.
4.)  When the chicken is cooked remove it to a small bowl. When cool enough to handle shred the chicken into pieces.
5.)  Add the chicken back to the pot, along with the dill. Season for taste with salt and pepper.