MomS Chicken Soup - chicken

Method

• Put chicken, water, salt, onion, peppercorns, 3 stalks celery, all the celery leaves and 3 carrots in a soup kettle.
• Cover and bring to boil.
• Skim off the foam.
• Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 2 hours or until meat is tender.
• (I usually cook this in the crock-pot 6 to 8 hours or until the meat is tender.)
• Remove the meat, vegetables and peppercorns.
• Strain stock, if desired. Chill stock, then skim fat layer.
• Dice remaining carrots and celery; add to the stock.
• Cook until the vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, remove chicken from the bones and dice.
• Add chicken, cooked rice or noodles and parsley.
• Heat through.
• Stir in food coloring.
• Yields 10 to 12 servings.