There are many memories I have of my Grandmother but the two that stand out the most are her contagious laughter and her turkey soup. Whenever my grandma would babysit us she would begin the week with a roast turkey dinner and stretch that turkey to feed us for the rest of the week. The smell of turkey soup cooking on the stove remains one of my most comforting aromas. Even when my grandma wasn’t around my mom always had a pot of soup waiting for us. When I graduated from college mastering my grandma’s turkey soup was one of my first “I’m an adult now” moments. When I called my mom for the recipe I was surprised at how simple it was to make. 11 years since my first attempt I now make my own version of my grandma’s soup once a week. It’s the perfect lunch or dinner, and even makes its rounds into our breakfast rotation.
- roast turkey or chicken (roast your own or buy a rotesserie chicken)
- 1 onion, diced
- 6 carrots, diced
- 4 celery stalks, diced
- 1 C rice, uncooked (or barley or cooked noodles)
- Place roasted chicken in a large pot.
- Fill with water almost to top of pot (leave 2-3 inches).
- Simmer on medium-low for 1 hour.
- While simmering cut up the onion, carrots and celery into small, spoon-sized pieces.
- Add the vegetable scraps to the simmering pot.
- After an hour take the turkey (or chicken) and vegetable scraps out of the water. I find it easiest to put a colander on a second pot and pour the entire contents into the colander.
- Next add the diced vegetables and rice to the water.
- Bring to a gentle boil and then turn heat down to medium low and simmer until vegetables and rice are soft (about 45 minutes).
- Take chicken off bone and cut into small pieces. Add to the pot.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP
Place roasted chicken in a large pot. Fill with water almost to top of pot (leave 2-3 inches). Simmer on medium-low for 1 hour.
While simmering cut up the onion, carrots and celery into small, spoon-sized pieces.
Add the vegetable scraps to the simmering pot.
After an hour take the turkey (or chicken) and vegetable scraps out of the water. I find it easiest to put a colander on a second pot and pour the entire contents into the colander. Next add the diced vegetables and rice to the water.
Bring to a gentle boil and then turn heat down to medium low and simmer until vegetables and rice are soft (about 45 minutes). Take chicken off bone and cut into small pieces. Add to the pot. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
This is the perfect comfort meal! Enjoy!
Do you have a family recipe that was passed down to you?
