Chicken Soup Base

A good chicken stock is one of the most important things we try to keep in our fridge or freezer for quick, healthy soups or stews.

Here is a basic soup recipe that can be used to make chicken noodle soup, chicken and dumplings or just about any soup that calls for chicken broth as the base.

What you will need:

• 1 small stewing hen (or meat chicken) - organic, pasture-raised is best for the healthiest broth
• Large stock pot (if you don't have one, purchase one, they are worth every penny!)
• Enough water to cover the hen inside the pot.  We use well water, but if you are on city water, consider using filtered water for your soup.
• 2-4 teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt
• 2-4 teaspoons pepper
• Dash of Turmeric
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3-4 carrots, sliced thinly
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 whole onion, diced
• 3 T. butter

Directions:

1. Place hen or meat chicken into stock pot and cover with water.
2. Turn up heat until close to boiling, then lower heat to a simmer.  If you are using a stewing hen, it is best if the hen cooks very slowly at a low temperature, for at least 4-5 hours.  I will usually set it on to cook over night, on simmer.  Never boiling.
3. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a few dashes of pepper.  Cover and let simmer 5+ hours or overnight.
4. When chicken is falling off of the bones, remove chicken from pot and remove meat from bones.  Set aside.
5. Add 3 T. of butter to a new stock pot and add the diced onions.  Cook on medium heat until onions are translucent.
6. Strain the broth through a metal strainer, into the onion butter mixture.  I usually use only 1/2 to 3/4 of the broth made for soup and put the remaining broth into jars in the fridge for later use.
7. Cook for 5-10 min until onions are soft. 
8. OPTIONAL:  Take a hand or stick blender and blend the onions and broth in the pot.  I like to do this because the blended onion makes a rich broth that looks more like a cream soup.  AND I do this in order to hide many of the onions so more onion is eaten by the children in the home who don't prefer them.  Onions are healthy and a part of a healthy soup.
9. Add salt, pepper, turmeric, salt, pepper, celery and carrots.
10. Cook 10-15 min. until vegetables are soft.
11. Add chicken (which was removed from the bones previously) to the soup and cook until warmed through.

And that's it!  From here you can add dumplings, noodles, rice, potatoes or any other favorite soup recipe ingredients.  Makes a healthy meal on it's own, or a great intro before the main course.