Chicken Soup for My Soul... :)~

I rarely post any real personal things about my life here. Mostly just recipes....But I've been so stressed out the past few days. I thought I would try to vent it this way...

The other day I took my mom to work. She wasn't feeling well so I made her some of my Famous Chicken Soup.....Well today I had to take her to the doctor... She has the flu.... But for her it is way worse because she has lung disease. Sick or not, she always has caughing fits followed by bouts of shortness of breath. When she is sick obviously they get much worse, and closer together, and very hard for me to watch... I tried to fight back the tears in front of her, but they just streamed down.
Things I hate that I can't control right now!!!!!
I hate that I can't help her...... financially that is......
I hate that our Health Care system is a complete F-ing joke!!!!.......
I hate that she can't afford health insurance and has NOT been properly treated for her condition.....
I hate being faced with realizing my mother's mortality...
O.K. ....End rant......Thanx for listening if you read this far....LOL....


Mom's Chicken Soup

For stock:
1 Whole chicken, remove bag of innards
3 Carrots cut in half
3 Celerly ribs cut in half
1 Parsnip
2 Onions cut in half with skin left on
2 Turnips cut in half
2 Cloves of garlic.....more if you like more
1 Bay Leaf
S & P to taste

Veggies for soup
4 carrots diced
3 potatoes diced
3 ribs celerly diced
2 sm turnips diced
1lg onion diced
1 parsnip diced
S & P to taste

I start off by washing the chicken inside and out. That is very important for a nice clear broth. Put all the stock ingredients into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to just a boil and then turn down to low. Simmer for an hour, or even two if you have the time. If a froth forms on top just skim it off. When stock is done cooking strain, and reserve the liquid. Set chicken aside so it can cool off a bit.

Return the large pot to the heat on med. heat and use a non-stick spray. Sautee all the veggies for soup for 5 min. Then add the stock to the pot bringing it to just a boil, and turn down to simmer till veggies are tender. While the veggies are cooking start cleaning the meat off the chicken, and discard bones. Be careful and check for bones twice. Add the cleaned chicken to the pot.

I have served this with a variety of different kinds of pasta, like ...egg noodles...orzo...pastina... ect.... and I keep it separate adding it to each bowl. This prevents the pasta from sucking up all the broth. And of course a nice piece of crusty bread.