Well, it is cold and flu season. I caught a little cold while I was visiting in Fayetteville. The first thing I do is Emergent C, lots of water and I make chicken soup. I love soup, tomato soup with grilled cheese, clam chowder, beef barley soup and chicken tortilla soup. They are all good. This is the easy recipe I use for chicken soup, you could add left over turkey or chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons butter

• 1 cup sliced celery, 3 stalks

• 1 cup chopped carrot, 4 carrots

• 1/2 cup chopped onion about ½ large onion

• 1 1/2 teaspoon thyme

• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

• 8 cups of chicken broth

• 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon chicken base

• 8 ounces egg noodles

• 2 cups cooked chicken breast or a rotisserie chicken

• parsley

Directions

1. Melt butter in large pot.

2. Sauté the celery, carrot and onion for 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Add thyme, poultry seasoning, chicken broth and bouillon.

4. Bring to a boil.

5. Add noodles and chicken and cook on low for 20 minutes.

6. Sprinkle with parsley.

Beef Barley Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

Servings 8

· 1 1⁄2 lbs. lean stew meat, cut into bite size pieces

· 2 tablespoons flour

· 4 garlic cloves, minced

· 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

· 8 cups beef broth or stock

· 1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

· 1⁄2 cup barley

· 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

· 1 tablespoon salt

· 1 teaspoon basil

· 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

· 1 (10 ounce) package frozen green beans

· 2 cups carrots, cut to desired thickness

· 1 cup celery, cut to desired thickness

· 1 medium onion, chopped to desired chunks

Directions

1. In a gallon Ziploc bag, place meat and flour. Shake until the meat is evenly coated. Heat oil in a large pot and brown meat. It will stick some but don't worry about that, just don't let it burn.

2. Remove meat, add a little more oil, cook onions, celery, garlic and carrots, cook for 5-6 minutes, add basil, stir cook a couple more mins. Add meat back to pan.

3. Add broth, tomatoes, barley, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

4. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour and ½ hour, stirring every so often, until the meat is tender and the veggies are to your liking.