Healthy Chicken Noodle soup.

I believe homemade chicken soup and bubble baths are cure for just about anything. In our mundane life style, I believe in the power of cooking uplifts spirits and bring everyone a step closer to the kitchen and closer to me.  Here is my version of Chicken Noodle soup.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoon oil
• 1 medium size onion (chopped)
• 1 cup  carrots (chopped)
• 1 stalk celery (chopped)
• 1 sprig thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Few cloves
• 4 to 5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1tbsp of ginger finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp Oregano, ½ tsp basil,  ¼ of a bunch, fresh parsley.
• Salt and paprika to taste
• (Optional spices garam masala, green chilies)
• a pound of boneless or chicken breast( trim fat and discard  (or keep just few ) bones .) I usually cook boneless. I also do not add stock as there is enough meat to make its own stock. Why use extra sodium!
• Noodles for the soup: I usually boil noodles separately drain and keep it ready to serve along with a soup. Just another tip to avoid extra starch. Do not dump LEAVE pre cooked macaroni in the soup( or may be any pasta). They drink soup and turn into real fat noodles with no broth left behind. Been there done that.

In a pot pour oil, add Onions, garlic, ginger , bay leaf, cloves. Fry for  for ½ minute,  add cut cubed  boneless ( or with bones) chicken . Stir them well. Now add all the spices, parsley, basil oregano, paprika, salt. Stir fry them in high heat. After 5 minutes, add chopped vegetables. Stir for another 5 minutes on high. Its ok if chicken sticks to the bottom of the pan, scrape the bottom of the pan, this way soup is more flavorful.  Add 5 to 6 cups of water. Let it boil and then simmer for an hour and a half. Cook Noodles on the side.  Serve it with steaming chicken noodle soup and experience Nirvana.