Yummy Chicken Soup

Great chicken soup starts off with homemade stock. It's a must. Below is a simple stock recipe. It's nothing to put together. Please start the recipe the day before you serve.

10 cups water
1 whole chicken - 3-4 pounds - cleaned and packet of giblets removed
1 tablespoon of whole black peppercorns
1 tsp of kosher salt
1 onion, cut in half
2 carrots
2 ribs celery

Combine the above ingredients into one pot. Cook for 4 hours on low heat. Your kitchen will smell divine.

Drain in colander. Dispose of vegetables, and reserve chicken. The chicken is going to fall apart. It's a bit messy, but throw it all in a bowl and let cool. Once cooled remove all the meat. Best to do it with your hands. Shred chicken into small bit size pieces. You will use for chicken soup.

Place stock into large bowl, and place in refrigerator. The next day you will notice a nasty layer of fat on top. Skim it off.

Now, you are ready to make the soup.

Below are your final ingredients

2 cups each of celery and carrots, sliced.
3-4 cups of shredded chicken - whatever you got from the chicken the day before.
10 cups chicken stock
salt/pepper to taste

Combine the above items in large soup pot. Bring to a high bowl, and then lower to simmer. Cook for about 40 mins, or until celery and carrots are soft.

All done!

Feel free to add pasta or rice if you want.