What's Better on a Cold Rainy Night Then...

Chicken Noodle Soup? Last week it rained almost every day, and it was COLD rain. Kate and I got out real early one morning in that pitch black very cold rain for her last 12 mile long run before Marine Corp this coming weekend. I say "her last run" because I have switched my bib to the 10K. We found out we are expecting again!!! I'll be 12 weeks the day of Marine Corp. So anyway, after a long cold run like that, what better way to warm your cockles then some homemade chicken noodle soup. This recipe is SUPER easy. I think I might make it for the many pregnant friends I have who all delivered this week, or are expecting to deliver next week!

In a soup pan saute in olive oil the following veggies (or any veggies you have on hand that you like in your chicken noodle soup). I used:

• chopped carrots
• chopped onions
• chopped celery
• mushrooms
• chopped garlic

Secret Number 1: Chop up the greens on the celery - the part that almost looks like flat parsley? That part of the celery has more flavor then the celery itself! I could tell by adding it to the broth that it really brought out the celery flavor.

Now add a box of chicken stock. I think its like 32 ounces.

Secret number 2: Add 2 cubes of chicken bullion. This helped to make the broth more chickeny and rich. Add a dash of oregano and let the veggies and broth simmer, almost to a boil, for a bit.

Add pasta noodles of your choice right into the soup pot. I used fettuccine broken into thirds. A little pasta goes a long way - it soaks up the liquid. I used maybe 25 noodles broken into thirds maybe?

Once your pasta looks about ready add your already cooked chicken. I used a rotisserie chicken, but if you have some leftover chicken then shred that to use. It should already be cooked so you're really just heating it through.

Secret Number 3: What I thought really made the soup were these two ingredients... an entire freshly squeezed lemon. This gives the broth some zing. I also added ground cayenne pepper. Just add a dash if you're worried about it being spicy. It just makes the broth more interesting and complex. I added a lot because I actually wanted it to be spicy since I had a little cold and I wanted to kick it.

*Serve this relatively soon after its done, or the pasta will continue to absorb the liquid. If you're making it for someone, then cook the pasta noodles separately and have the person add the cooked noodles when reheating. I waited to eat a few hours until Kevin got home and although the flavors were on, that broth that I really wanted had been mostly absorbed.