Old Fashioned Chicken Soup From Scratch

by Suzan Ferreira
Old Fashioned Chicken Soup From Scratch in a bowl with a closeup view pictured

Make the best chicken soup the old fashioned way, from scratch. This restorative, cold-busting, hearty chicken soup recipe using a whole chicken, homemade broth, fresh chunky vegetables, & herbs is a soup reminiscent of how grandmothers have made it for millennia. This old fashioned chicken soup recipe from scratch, the ultimate comfort food, is one that will surely satisfy.

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Nothing satisfies & nurtures the body and soul, then a healing, homemade chicken soup made from scratch. Using only the best, organic ingredients, this delicious, flavorful soup is one that we crave during the cold winter months. It is also one that is so easy to make from scratch, it will have you feeling like a pro in no time. And the best part? It’s all made in one pot 🙂

WHY IS CHICKEN SOUP HEALTHY & GOOD FOR COLDS

Don’t deny it, we’ve all heard that when you’re feeling under the weather it’s best to drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest, and you guessed it, eat chicken soup.

We’re not talking about the store-bought, pre-packaged varieties that are ladened with sodium and who knows what else. We’re talking about the homemade kind. The kind that if you were fortunate enough, your mother or grandmother brought you when you were feeling down and out.

But what makes this soup so comforting & more importantly, healthy? What did our ancestors know intuitively? With a bit of research, this is what we found.

As with any healthy diet, the healing benefits in the dishes we make lay in its ingredients. So what’s the healing benefits of chicken soups ingredients? Let’s break it down.

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  • Chicken – Obviously the main ingredient, chicken, not only offers a good source of low-fat proteins, but is also a good source of selenium, phosphorus, Vitamin B6, and niacin
  • Chicken Broth – The benefits of chicken broth abound and are created naturally through the making of this recipe. Not only does the broth stimulate nasal clearance, but also hydrates the body. The option of increasing the nutrient levels when making your broth is available by adding additional bone broth. To find out how you can easily make your own from scratch, be sure to visit “Bone Broth How To Make It & Why You Should”
  • Carrots – Carrots bring tons of nutritional value as well as a bright pop of color to your soup. They are also good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants
  • Onions – These globes of goodness containing antioxidants & anti-inflammatory compounds, may help decrease triglycerides & reduce cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure levels & protect against blood clots
  • Celery – Rich in many vitamins & minerals, celery boasts of Vitamins A, K, & C as well as potassium and folate. This cleansing vegetable is low on the glycemic index, offering a steadying effect on blood sugar levels
  • Rosemary – Rosemary’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds only add nutritional value to this soup
  • Thyme Packed with Vitamins C & A, as well as a good source of copper, fiber, iron, & manganese

Adding to all the nutrients that this soup is packed with, is that when this soup is made from scratch, it may be the love with which it’s made that is the most important ingredient 🙂

TIPS FOR MAKING THE PERFECT CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH

The beauty of making delicious hearty soup is that it’s made in one pot. If your anything like me, cleaning up is not one of my favorite things about cooking. This homemade soup all cooked in one pot alleviates that issue!

All you need to make this chicken soup recipe is a large pot and a little simmering time. The chicken will simmer for several hours allowing it to release all its wonderful nutrients and cook the chicken to a moist tenderness all at the same time!

Now is not the time to remove fat. Yes, you heard correctly, there is much benefit to eating healthy fats especially when talking about chicken soup. When you see recipes calling for the removal of skin or using only chicken breasts or even, gasp, pre-bought rotisserie chickens we can only say one thing …. RUN!!

There is much benefit if the healthy fats that are derived from the skin are left in to nurture and heal the body. The skin, unlike what most believe, consists of not only fats. It also contains a healthy dose of collagen, so important for healthy skin, muscles, tendons, and joints.

Start with selecting the best whole chicken you can source. In our opinion, nothing beats organic (how we raise everything here on the hill) and greatly reduces the need to skim as it simmers (impurities are greatly reduced if not completely eliminated), and locally sourced if possible (we are fortunate to be able to raise our own). You get the idea, choose the best quality bird you can afford.

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Utilize & add EVERYTHING that comes with the chicken when purchasing organically raised birds. That includes the neck and internal organs. I know, offal (organ meats) has gotten a bad rap in today’s society. Add them to the pot to release all their nutrients (Vit B12, folate, iron, & proteins). We even mush up the liver into the soup once cooked, you never even know it’s there 🙂

Don’t BOIL the whole chicken. In order to create a clear broth, you want a gentle to a bit stronger simmer for a long period of time. I have boiled the whole chicken before, and quite honestly, the taste is just as good but the broth will not be as clear and the shredded chicken will not be as tender and moist.

Use a large stockpot than you think you will need. If nothing else, you will have extra broth available to freeze and use in other recipes, or simply drink. I always add additional water than would be called for when making this soup from a whole chicken so I can enjoy the broth anytime.

No need to use store-bought chicken broths, instead use simple clean, filtered water in this recipe when using a whole chicken. The simmering will make the broth for you. The herbs and seasonings, as well as the other ingredients, will add the additional flavor needed.

HOW TO MAKE OLD FASHIONED CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH

Follow these simple directions and in a few hours, you too could be enjoying this wonderful soup. As I am the type of cook that tends to add a pinch of this and a glop of that and taste, my apologies for the lack of specific amounts 🙂 All efforts have been made to approximate how much of each ingredient is added.

Take your whole, rinsed, chicken along with your organ meats (only if organic) if you choose, and place into a large stockpot. I use a 24-quart stainless steel stockpot similar to the ones below. Again, use a larger one than you think you will need.

Cover the whole chicken with good, filtered water and bring to the boil. Cover (keep all that goodness in the pot & not evaporating!), reduce the heat and simmer for 3 plus hours, depending on the size of the bird. We have used an 8# bird for this soup and simmered ours for 3 1/2 hours. You will know it’s cooked well enough when the skin begins to peel back from the leg bones and or you can twist the leg bone easily.

PRO TIP: Halfway through simmering time, roll the bird over in the water to evenly cook.

While the chicken is simmering, prepare your vegetables and gather your ingredients. The star(s) of this homemade chicken soup are carrots (we’ve used approximately 10 plus organic carrots of good size), celery (approximately 1 full organic bunch), and onions (2 large organic onions). Peel, chop (we like to leave a bit chunky) and slice to your liking and set aside. Additional and optional ingredients are listed below.

Remove the chicken, and organ meat if used, once all is completely cooked from the pot and cool. I find it helpful to peel back the skin while it’s still hot and then allow the rest of the chicken to cool.

Add your vegetables, any herbs you choose (we’ve used 1 spring of fresh rosemary and 1 tsp dried thyme as no fresh was available) and any additional flavorings of your choice. We’ve added 1 cup of organic brown rice, 1/2 pound of mushrooms, swiss chard from our garden that was preserved last summer…keep your eye out how easy it is to do that in upcoming posts, as well as a big handful of baby spinach added at the end of the cooking process. Season with salt and pepper and begin the cooking process.

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De-bone your whole chicken and add the shredded chicken to the pot as the vegetables are cooking. Do not throw away the remaining skin, bones, and tissues. These can be added to your next bone broth production! I place all in a freezer bag until enough is saved to make additional broth(s).

Cook all until the rice is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Taste! Tasting is your best friend with any cooking endeavor. If the flavor is not as rich as you would like, add organic chicken bouillon if desired, a tablespoon at a time. A little can go a long way where bouillon is concerned. Our favorite bouillon is Better Than Bouillon Organic Chicken.

Old Fashioned Chicken Soup From Scratch in a bowl with a closeup view pictured

Old Fashioned Chicken Soup From Scratch

Print
Prep Time: Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 4.5/5
( 2 voted )

Ingredients

  • Whole Chicken (plus organ meats if organically sourced)
  • Fresh Filtered Water
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onions
  • Herbs of Choice
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Instructions

Place rinsed whole chicken & organ meats in a large stockpot.  Cover with fresh, filtered water.  Bring to the boil.  Cover the pot and reduce heat to simmer.  Simmer until skin peels back from leg bones and the leg bone can be easily twisted.

Remove the chicken and organ meats.  Do not drain the water.  This is the broth for your soup.  De-bone & shred the chicken, placing the bones and skin aside.  Add the shredded chicken back to the broth.

Cut, dice, or slice your carrots, onions, and celery to your desired thickness.  Add to the stockpot in the broth.  Add rice if using, any desired herbs, salt and pepper.  Add any additional ingredients you may like (add spinach at the end of cooking) Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to simmer and cook until rice is done and vegetables are tender.

Taste and add any additional flavorings if needed.

 

Notes

Optional ingredients; Bone Broth, chicken bouillon, mushrooms, greens of choice (kale, swiss chard, spinach)

Voila! The best old fashioned chicken soup from scratch that you will ever have. We literally cannot leave this soup alone. Made too much? This soup freezes well and can be easily canned if you choose.

UNIQUE ADDITIONS TO CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH

Don’t feel as though you need to keep to this recipe! Be adventurous! Make changes to suit your tastes and dietary needs. Here are a few suggestions you may want to add to create additional flavor and or healing components to your chicken soup.

  • Garlic – High in vitamins & minerals, garlic has been used medicinally for ages. Studies are now confirming garlic’s roll in preventing and treating the common cold
  • Turmeric – Turmerics health benefits are many, but none are better suited to chicken soup as a cold relief than it’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds
  • Alternative Herbs – Adjusting the herbs used to suit your tastes is easy. Don’t like the herbs we’ve chosen to use? Think basil, parsley, or even tarragon in its place
  • Ginger – Ginger contains a bioactive compound; gingerol, which is largely responsible for all of ginger’s medicinal properties. It’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidants make ginger the perfect addition
  • Bone Broth – If you are looking to add even greater depth of flavor and umami to your chicken soup, add your own homemade bone broth. Don’t know how? Check out our tutorial on how to make bone broth and why you should!
  • Noodles – If rice isn’t your thing, make noodles (keep on the lookout for an upcoming post on how we make our own!) and add to the soup once the vegetables are finished cooking

There you have it! Our recipe for what is in our humble opinion, the best chicken soup from scratch recipe made the old fashioned way! Already make your own? What are your favorite additions to add?

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Love, Light, & Laughter ~

Signature of Suzan from It's My Sustainable Life

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54 comments

Lisa March 2, 2020 - 8:13 am

Yummy! I have some extra carrots and celery to use up this week so I need to try this recipe out.

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Melissa Jones March 2, 2020 - 4:34 am

That looks amazing!

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T.M. Brown March 2, 2020 - 1:40 am

Oh, I love me some homemade chicken soup!! This looks delicious.

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Marilyn Lesniak February 26, 2020 - 11:49 pm

Sorry I am late! I have been running behind this making memories! Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn

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Christina Furnival February 26, 2020 - 5:12 am

Nothing quite like a hearty home-made chicken soup!

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Alice February 26, 2020 - 2:25 am

This sounds so yummy and not too hard to make.

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vanessa February 25, 2020 - 10:36 pm

Every time I read one of your post, I learn something new. I’m not a fan of internal organs of the chicken, but your info on the nutrients they provide was eye-opening. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. You really know your stuff!

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Suzan Ferreira February 26, 2020 - 1:53 pm

Thank you, Vanessa! So glad you’ve found the content of use!

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Sydney Delong February 25, 2020 - 2:36 pm

This looks delicious! The perfect soup for cold winter days!

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Brianna Fitzgerald February 25, 2020 - 2:31 pm

This is a perfect recipe for cold weather!

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Jennifer February 25, 2020 - 6:00 am

Your chicken soup looks and sounds delicious.
It’s interesting that you have put much effort and information into your posts.

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Beatriz Herrera February 25, 2020 - 5:52 am

I want to definitely try this recipe!

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Karla Petersen February 25, 2020 - 4:16 am

Oh, my goodness! What a great article. I have 7 kids here and like to cook double anything and freeze the second batch for an easy pull-out-of-the-freezer meal on busy days. Do you know if this freezes well or have ideas for preserving it for the future? Yes, I make two stock pot soups at a time. 🙂 I always make two huge lasagnes, two batches of fajitias, a lot of crock pot recipes… cook one prepped and freeze the other prepped ready to pop into a crock pot first thing in the morning. Pinning this.

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Suzan Ferreira February 25, 2020 - 12:56 pm

I have frozen this soup. It usually doesn’t last long enough to freeze, however, lol! Thanks so much for reading and hope it works for you!

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Angela February 25, 2020 - 3:46 am

Heaty old school chicken soup is a recipe everyone needs to master and yours is amazing!

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Liz February 25, 2020 - 3:20 am

My BF, who’s from India, turned me onto Tumeric too! I add it to the onions to let it cook before adding the rest of the veggies. It’s such an interesting ingredient! Love this recipe!

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Suzan Ferreira February 25, 2020 - 12:57 pm

And so beneficial! Be sure to check out my article on its benefits…
https://www.itsmysustainablelife.com/golden-paste-10-reasons-why-you-your-pets-will-benefit/

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Christina Siwik February 25, 2020 - 2:49 am

Very similar to my husband’s chicken soup. Looks yummy. Thank you for sharing.

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Leslie February 25, 2020 - 1:41 am

This is wonderful! Exactly what I remember from my childhood, soup being made from a whole chicken. Reading your post I can smell that soup again.

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Lisa February 25, 2020 - 12:55 am

It’s been a while since we’ve had chicken soup! Putting this on our recipe list!

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heather jandrue February 25, 2020 - 12:08 am

This looks and sounds delicious. There really is not like homemade chicken soup. My nana made a wonderful one. I am going to give this recipe a try. My mouth is watering.

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Suzan Ferreira February 25, 2020 - 12:58 pm

Hope you enjoy it, Heather!

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Tricia Snow February 24, 2020 - 11:08 pm

Chicken Soup is a staple here in the winter! I can’t wait to try your recipe.

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Holly February 24, 2020 - 10:59 pm

This looks like a great recipe! I never thought about adding Tumeric to chicken noodle…can’t wait to try it!!

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Jill DeMasi February 24, 2020 - 9:30 pm

I love the idea of making soup from scratch! Thanks for this detailed recipe! Can’t wait to try it.

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Tiffany February 24, 2020 - 9:29 pm

Loving homemade chicken soup! Hits the spot every time!

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Noelle February 24, 2020 - 9:06 pm

There is nothing more comforting and wholesome than homemade chicken soup!

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Charlotte February 24, 2020 - 8:17 pm

This looks like such a hearty soup! Delicious!

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jen February 24, 2020 - 7:34 pm

Looks a lot like what we make too. so awesome

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Sandi February 24, 2020 - 7:32 pm

You photos are beautiful and you soups looks like what mom used to make. Thanks

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Jenny February 24, 2020 - 7:23 pm

My kids love an old fashioned chicken soup. It’s so healthy and so yummy… This are great detailed instructions to follow. Thank you! I can’t wait to try it.

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Lisa Manderino February 24, 2020 - 7:07 pm

We need this at our house right now! All my kiddos are so sick!

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Suzan Ferreira February 25, 2020 - 12:59 pm

Oh no! Hope you all are on the mend soon!! This chicken soup will definitely be of benefit for your house right now!

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Stacey Billinglsey February 24, 2020 - 7:02 pm

This looks so good, especially on a cold cloudy day like today. I’ve never thought about leaving the organ meat in. I may have to try that sometime. I love all the vegetables added!

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Adrienne Foxx February 24, 2020 - 5:58 pm

I love the information regarding the benefits of the different ingredieints used. Definately gives some food for thought. Plus your tips pre recipe are definately useful. I have always wanted to make homemade chicken noodle soup but it seems so intimidating so any tips are definitely appreciated

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Eva February 24, 2020 - 5:51 pm

Those pictures are so good! This looks delicious. We’ve been fighting colds recently and have been looking for some good homemade soup recipes. We’ll have to give this one a try!

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Lucy February 24, 2020 - 4:40 pm

this soup looks delicious! perfect for when under the weather..

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Ramae Hamrin February 24, 2020 - 4:08 pm

I learned a lot from this post, and I’m looking forward to your making your own noodles post. Your photos absolutely sold this soup. Great job!

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Debbie February 24, 2020 - 3:24 pm

Wonderful hearty and healthy recipe! I love changing up with what I have on hand and your suggestions are awesome..

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Dee | Grammy's Grid February 24, 2020 - 2:51 pm

YUM, looks good!! Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 9, open February 1 to 26, shared. My themed party 11 for Handcrafted Jewelry is open February 15 to 25 if you have any appropriate posts.

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Jean | Delightful Repast February 24, 2020 - 2:43 pm

Suzan, this is a marvelous soup! And I so agree with you about sourcing the ingredients and starting with a real chicken rather than an overseasoned, already cooked rotisserie chicken. And I’m glad garlic was not in the main recipe, just an option. IMHO garlic has no place in chicken soup! 🙂 #HearthAndSoul

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Suzan Ferreira February 25, 2020 - 1:01 pm

LOL! Garlic is not for everyone for sure!

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Cindy February 24, 2020 - 1:57 pm

I made some of this myself not too long ago. Yours looks much heartier than mine did.

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Angela Sedlak | Mean Green Chef February 24, 2020 - 1:45 pm

Nothing like a bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm the soul! This looks delish and your pictures are fab, thanks for sharing 🙂

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Dawn Conklin February 24, 2020 - 2:12 am

Looks and sounds so delicious 🙂 I always save the bones from meats and put them in the freezer until I have enough to make broth with them. I occasionally add chicken feet to the water and bones – they make an excellent addition but some people cannot stomach the idea when they look at them.

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Suzan Ferreira February 24, 2020 - 10:51 am

Bone broth is a staple here in our home as well. Be sure to check out our article on the benefits & how to make your own bone broth. Thank you for the read!
https://www.itsmysustainablelife.com/bone-broth-how-to-make-it-why-you-should/

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Joanne February 23, 2020 - 2:37 pm

That sounds delicious! Anytime I took a whole chicken (or even chicken pieces) in the crock pot I save any of the leftover broth and freeze it so I always have plenty of chicken stock for homemade soup.

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Suzan Ferreira February 24, 2020 - 10:54 am

Yes! Waste not, want not in this house 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Kippi February 22, 2020 - 12:55 am

After reading this beautiful home-cooked soup I am want to make my family some. I love that it cooks in pot!
Pinned
Hugs,
Kippi

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Amber Bradshaw February 20, 2020 - 4:47 pm

Beautiful recipe, especially the use of fresh herbs. Sharing from the blog hop @ Oak Hill.

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Sarah February 20, 2020 - 12:21 am

I love how simple chicken soup is and yet when it’s homemade it’s like no other soup out there. I have made it a few different ways, but for the most part it’s very similar to this recipe. I have never added turmeric to it though, I will have to do that the next time I make a batch.

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Gina February 19, 2020 - 3:13 pm

Great pictures! Looks delicious and simple!

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Beth Shields February 19, 2020 - 1:50 pm

I love a good old fashioned chicken soup. My mom used to call it “One Bowl A Piece” because we would only have one bowl a piece. But you have added some great herbs with medicinal qualities – like the tumeric. I will have to try that . Thanks!

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Suzan Ferreira February 19, 2020 - 2:13 pm

Oh geez, Beth. I don’t know if I could stop at one bowl 🙂 Thanks for reading!

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