Chicken Soup is good for the mind body and soul. This recipe is one I have made up over the years and is the Best chicken soup ever. You will never again open a tin of chicken soup after trying this. It takes a while to prepare and cook but makes up a lot so there there is enough to spare and enough to share.

Chicken Soup

1 small fresh chicken about  1.5kg. (free range is best they really do taste better)

1 large onion, garlic to taste ( omit if you don’t like it) 3 stalks of celery, 3 carrots sliced in to rounds, 3 stalks of parsley (more if you wish) 6 pepper corns and 1 bay leaf.

Skin the chicken and put everything in a big pot and cover with water and bring to the boil. Simmer for about 1 hour or until the chicken is well cooked and the meat falling off the bones.

Take the chicken out of the pot and put it on a plate to cool. Strain the stock into a big bowl and put the vegetables into another bowl and let it all cool down. 

When its all cool or cold take the meat off the chicken bones and shred or cut it into bite sized pieces. Refrigerate. Put the stock into the fridge to get cold and then skim the fat off. If you put it in the freezer for a while the fat is really easy to remove.

Mash or blend the vegetables first removing the pepper corns and bay leaf.

When you are ready put it all back together reheat and EAT.

If you like mushrooms before serving fry up some mushrooms and add them before reheating.

Enjoy.