Chicken Tuesday
Time to think about tonight and the rest of the week.
The easiest is chicken.
Today I am going to roast one chicken and make soup with another.
The chickens are $.88 a pound at Big Y.
Buy two big fat chickens. Wash them in and out and pat dry.
Put one chicken in a big soup pot and cover it with water. Add one tablespoon of salt Let it come to a boil then simmer it for two to three hours till the meat falls off the bones. Set aside and let it cool then strain the entire pot of liquid . Put the broth into a container and chill until all the fat is on the top and you can scoop it off and throw it away. In the meantime take all the meat off the chicken discarding , the skin and bones. I love boiled chicken so I have to try not to eat too much. My grandchild loves the chicken too so I make little snack bags for him when he visits.You can stop now and continue in a couple of days. Refrigerate and wrap everything.
Start with a clean pot and take 1/2 stick of butter and chop 2 stalks of celery, 6 carrots and one big onion, saute untill they are soft but not brown . Then add the defatted broth and the chicken. You may want to add a couple of chicken cubes for more flavor.
Sometimes I add a small turnip, it gives it a different flavor.
You can also add small beef or turkey meatballs and spinach for Italian wedding soup.
Options for pasta is noodles, orzo, rice, tortellini or whatever you have on hand .
Always cook the pasta in a separate pot or your soup will be stew in one hour.
If your soup isn’t tasty enough or if it gets too thick, never hesitate to use canned chicken broth. It is a staple in my house.
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Roasted Chicken
Either use a foil pan or foil your own . Helps with clean up.
Wash and dry the chicken, Squeeze the juice of one lemon all over the bird . Peel one small onion , slice it in half, sprinkle garlic powder,salt, pepper and paprika all over inside and out being pretty generous with the garlic powder. Put the onion and lemon inside the bird. Place in the pan with the breast side down for two hours at 350 degrees or until the leg can be pulled off easily. Never eat pink chicken.
Put a couple of baked potatoes in the oven at the same time . Put some corn in a pot to boil.
If you are really feeling ambitious, slice up a couple of your touched apples because we never waste anything. Keep the skin on. Melt 1/2 stick of butter in a pan and fry the apples till just a little soft. I like mine crunchy. Then add 1/2 tablespoon of brown sugar for every apple then1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and one tablespoon of lemon juice. You can also add some raisens. This is not alot of work and it is such a delicious extra. My husband loved it.
At Valentines Day I would add the red cinnamon hearts and eliminate the cinnamon and decrease the sugar. Very red and pretty.
Take the leftover chicken off the bones and save for chicken salad, stirfry or sandwiches. This is so much better for you then deli meat.
What To Cook Tonight 