Come on Irene...

That was it?? Really?
So the Hurricane past us and the worst we got were some leaves in the parking lot but that didn't stop up from preparing for the worst! We had all the candles in the house ready, flashlights, and a battery operated radio just in case and of course food!. We didn't need any of it, well we needed the food.
What did we have for a nasty windy Saturday dinner? Chicken soup! It may be good for the soul but it's also good to warm you up down to your toes and make your heart smile.

2-3 chicken breasts cut into bit sized pieces.
3-4 celery stalks
1/2 onion
1 cup of peas and carrots
some fresh parsley (I'm really not sure how much)
1 1/2 boxes of chicken stock
1 cup pearl barley

Put all the ingredients except the barley and 2 cups of the chicken stock in a 4 qt crock pot and set on high for 4 hours. when the soup has cooked for the 4 hours add the barley and 2 cups of broth a 1 qt pot on the stove on medium/high heat for about 10 minutes; then add to the chicken soup. Cook for at least 1/2 hour more.
Pretty easy for a really filling happy meal! I serve it with nice thick Italian bread to sop up what's left in the bowl. Perfect for hurricanes, blizzards, freezing cold days, and any time you need an internal pick me up!

Soup's on!

As the weather starts to get cooler and the fall fruits ripen on the trees it’s time to start thinking about cozy foods for the colder nights. I always feel warm and cozy coming home to a nice hot bowl of soup. You can’t go wrong with a good hearty chicken soup after a long day of raking leaves or picking apples. And as an extra bonus I get to pull out the crock pot again!

I’m a big fan of setting up a soup the night before and leaving it to cook all day. It’s great, you wake up to the smell of chicken, or beef, or turkey knowing that it will be waiting for you when you come home from work or school.

Here’s my recipe for chicken stuff (a soup like concoction that can be served on it’s own or over rice, barley or some other grain):

1 can cream of ____ soup (whatever cream of soup you’re feeling, I like cream of chicken with herbs)

1 chicken breast

½ onion

1 potato

Corn (however much you feel like)

Chicken stock

Carrots (I use crinkle cut frozen)

Thyme

Start by cutting up the potato and the chicken into small bite size pieces. Layer the all veggies and chicken in a 2 qt crock pot and pour on the can of soup. Pour in as much chicken stock as you need to cover the veggies and chicken. Add the thyme and mix. Set your crock pot on low and let it cook overnight. In the morning check to see if the potatoes are cooked. If not set the crock pot on high and let it cook the rest of the day. You’ll come home to a nice creamy warm soup for dinner and you won’t have to do anything but serve it!