Chicken noodle soup and Crusty Soup Bread

You know those days when the rain is falling and you can't seem to warm up? We all experienced them with this last flood. It's all too easy to sit back, complain about the weather and dream of summer days. It just so happens that on those summer days, you are burning hot and praying for some rain. I'm working on that part of myself. The part of myself that is always looking for greener grass and future happiness. I think it's a poor habit. It leads to pretty permanent discontentment. So, as a declaration of my new outlook, during this last rainstorm, I dressed Lila and me up in our rain boots and set out to make Soup Day happen. We went to the store, used a giant umbrella, and made the most of the monsoon. We made an entire afternoon revolve around yeast, dough, veggies, broth, and plenty of "noonals". Which is her way of begging for noodles.

I want to share these recipes with you. The chicken noodle soup is just a staple. Totally make your own, or change mine anyway you'd like. But, this bread is amazing. Make this bread. I'm so serious. You can't stop. Chewy on the inside, crunchy on the outside. Baking bread is such a joy for me. I don't know why I love it so much. It is a lot of work, but it's so rewarding. It is always pleasing to watch the yeast at work and pull steamy bread from the oven. Try it! And try to make the most of your day. Embrace your weather, work, home, and circumstance. And while you're at it, make something fresh.

Crusty Soup Bread

2 cups warm whey or water (90-110 degrees)
1 tbs yeast
1 tbs olive oil
1 tbs sugar
2 tsp salt
5 to 5 1/2 cups flour

Now, the recipe mentioned that you could throw this all in a bread machine on the dough setting and pick up after the first rise. I didn't this time but I'll try it in the future. If you'd like, go for it.

Otherwise, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the bowl of your kitchen aid or just a regular bowl and let it "sponge" for ten minutes.
Add salt (2 tsp), oil (1tbs) and 3 cups flour. Beat for 2 minutes using the dough hook
Then add 2 cups of flour to make a stuff dough and beat it (or knead) for 10 minutes.
Place in an oiled covered bowl for an hour

Bread machine users, pick up here!

Punch down and divide in half


Make two long slender rolls and slice diagonal lines in the loaves. Place them on a pizza peak with corn meal or just a prepared pan with parchment paper and cornmeal if you have it.
Cover with a cloth and Let it rise for another hour.

Heat your pizza stone/ oven to 375 and place a pan full of water on the bottom rack.

When the rise is over, slide the bread onto the stone and bake for about 30 min

Then eat it all.





Chicken Noodle Soup

3 cartons of organic broth. I do 2 veggie broths and 1 chicken
1-2 cartons filled back up with water
1/2 of a celery package sliced
6 carrots peeled and sliced
2 cooked chicken breasts (I jut used leftovers)
1 bunch of parsley chopped
1 bag of small or medium egg noodles
S&P to taste.

In a medium to large soup pot, sauté carrots and celery with a bit of olive oil.

Then add your broth and water S&P and bring to a nice boil and cook for 25 min on medium heat. Add shredded chicken and parsley. Cool for another 25 min. Or pretty much whatever you want.

Soup is great if you're under the weather. The salt in the broth heals your throat and the pepper clears your sinuses. We like ours a little on the spicy side. I got that from Lisa. It adds a unique flavor. So don't be shy with your S&P!
In a SEPARATE pot, bring your water to a boil and add your egg noodles. Cook for 6 minutes and then drain.
Serve in a bowl with noodles and pour soup over. At the end of the night it's ok to add the noodles to the soup to store in the fridge once the soup is cooled. Otherwise they will just get too soggy.

Enjoy soup day!