Healing Chicken Soup

This chicken soup combines nourishment with the healing properties of herbs. Cook a big pot of it one day, eat the potatoes from it, and then save the rest in the freezer for the next time someone in the family catches a cold or flu. Boil some noodles or more chopped potatoes in it on the second cooking, for added nutrition.

Why does chicken soup work?

It's no mystery. Chicken soup works for the same reason the doctor tells you to gargle warm salt water when you have a sore throat, or use tears-in-a-bottle to lubricate your contact lenses, or take a walk by the sea when you're recovering from pneumonia. It's basically a mild saline solution that is warm. The salty, wet steam clears up your congestion, and the vitamins help you to stay strong when you don't feel like eating heavy food. Vegans can substitute tofu or a couple of handfulls of white beans for the chicken. It works just as well.

You will need:

• the meat, bones, and skin of a whole chicken, chopped into parts
• 6 to 8 regular sized potatoes, peeled and chopped into quarters
• 4-6 carrots
• 2 sticks of chopped celery including the leaves
• 2 cups of corn
• 1 large onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried sage or 5 leaves of fresh sage
• a good pinch of dried rosemary, crushed between the fingers, or 6 leaves of fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoons, chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
• 1/4 tsp crushed black pepper
• a good pinch of dried lemongrass
• 1 teaspoon ginger powder
• salt to your taste
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 5 litres of water

1. Place a large pot on high heat, and pour in the olive oil.
2. Brown the chicken lightly.
3. Add the onions and celery. Saute until thoroughly wilted, and then add the garlic and all fresh herbs.
4. Add the potatoes, carrots, dry herbs, and water.
5. Bring to a boil, and then begin salting it to your taste. Salt a little, stir a little, taste, salt a little, and so on.
6. Reduce the heat to low, but still barely boiling.
7. Keep on low heat for approximately 3 hours, more if you prefer.

This soup is great with the drop biscuits. :-)