Karen's Famous Chicken Soup!

Prep Notes

First off let me start by saying that my Mom who is 87 years old has always recommended a good hot soup for keeping healthy and longevity. Once a month she makes a big pot. For those of you who like a little chicken soup every now and then this is how I make mine. I have also provided some healthy things of the ingredients I have added:

Chicken: Chicken contains an amino acid called cysteine, a substance released when you make the soup. This amino acid is similar to the drug acetylcysteine, which is prescribed by doctors to patients with bronchitis. It thins the mucus in the lungs, making it easier to cough out. And hot chicken vapors have been proven more effective than hot water vapors in clearing out the cold in your nose.

Carrots: Carrots, one of the routine vegetable ingredients found in chicken soup, are the best natural source of beta-carotene. The body takes that beta-carotene and converts it to vitamin A. Vitamin A helps prevent and fight off infections by enhancing the actions of white blood cells that destroy harmful bacteria and viruses.

Onions: Onions, another chicken soup regular, contains quercetin, a powerful anti-oxidant that is also a natural anti-histamine, and anti-inflammatory.

Celery: The benefits of celery begin with it being an excellent source of antioxidants and beneficial enzymes, in addition to vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin B6

Parsnips: Parsnips contain a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, including dietary fiber, folate, potassium and vitamin C. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the main health benefit of including fresh produce like parsnips in your diet regularly is that the nutrients consumed can significantly reduce your risk of a number of serious medical problems

Turnips:  Turnips contain a category of phytonutrients -- substances in plant foods that improve health but are not essential to life -- called indoles. Indoles in turnips may reduce your risk for lung and colorectal cancers, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. A tissue culture study published in the March 2012 issue of the "International Journal of Oncology" found that brassinin, a type of indole compound, killed human colon cancer cells. Researchers noted that their experiment was the first to determine the particular stage of cancer cell growth that the turnip compound affected.

Parsley:  Not only is it an excellent source of vitamins A and K, parsley also supplies small amounts of potassium, iron and fiber.

And now for the recipe! : )

First off by Organic Chicken if you can but if you can't I always go for a smaller chicken like a Cornish Hen. When I can't buy organic I go lean and small. Too oversized meats can surely mean too many hormones as well!

Clean chicken well. Leaving the skin on will provide more fatty and juice and this is one reason why I say if your not skinning it you definitely want to choose organic or smaller chicken.

Add enough water just to cover the chicken and then some.

Add onion either whole or chopped. Personally I chop mine as all the natural ingredients get released into the broth.

Add fresh celery preferably organic, carrots, turnips and parsnips, celery and fresh parsley.

Add some sea salt and pepper for taste if you would like.

Cook for an hour or so. When chicken comes right off the bone you will know that it is cooked.

You can make any pasta or rice on the side and not too much so that you can really enjoy the broth!

If you enjoy this recipe please share with those you love!