Canless Cream of Onion Soup

There is nothing quite as comforting as a bowl of steaming cream soup.  As with most things in life, homemade is way better than canned.  So, when the pantry is low on stock, and the weather is too blustery for going to the store, this is a great choice for lifting your spirits and warming your body and heart.

This needs a medium or large slow cooker.

This recipe calls for chicken stock, but if you don't have any, I am including a small side note in the instructions that will be a good way to substitute the chicken stock.  If you do have chicken broth, do not add the chicken, and you won't need to cook the onion as long.

You will need:

2 large onions
2 Tablespoons butter
4 cups chicken broth (OR, 4 cups water and 1-2 lbs chicken)
black pepper
salt
2 cups whole milk, half-and-half, OR 1 cup skim milk and 1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup flour

turn Slow-Cooker on HIGH, and drop 2 Tablespoons of butter into the crock pot.  Finely chop onions(the more finely chopped, the better the end result), and add to butter.  Stir the onions until soft and brown.  Add the 4 cups of chicken stock, (OR the 4 cups of water and chicken).  Add salt and pepper, if desired.  Turn slow cooker on LOW and cook for at 6-8 hours.

After the chicken has cooked through, and the liquid in the pot is the rich color of broth, pull out the chicken pieces, keeping the onions in the slow cooker.  In a bowl, combine 1/3 cup flour with 1 cup of the milk, whisk until smooth.  Turn the slow cooker on HIGH once more, and pour the milk and flour mixture slowly into the cooker while stirring constantly.  Allow to cook, with the lid off, and stirring frequently about 10 minutes until the mixture thickens.  Add the rest of the milk or cream and just heat through, do not boil.

Serves 6

Sick Day Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

Like most people, I love chicken noodle soup when I'm sick.  But I don't like the condensed chicken noodle soups, and I always forget to pick up the non-condensed soups when I'm at the grocery store, because I rarely go grocery shopping when I'm sick.  So, here is a quick and easy solution.  It takes 30 minutes or less to prepare, and can be slowcooked on high or low settings, depending on when you are ready to have some.

Ingredients:

3-4 Stalks Celery, chopped
2-3 large Carrots, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced (garlic is Nature's immune booster, so this is essential in my soup)
1/2 small onion, chopped fine
2 halves boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small pieces
2-3 cups chicken stock mixed with 2-3 cups water to make a total of 5 cups liquid
poultry seasoning, or herbs to taste.
1-2 packs of Ramen noodles, with or without seasoning, whichever you prefer

combine everything in a medium or large slowcooker, cover and cook on low 6-8 hours, or high 3-4 hours.

It really is comfort food when you're sick; and the smell of simmering chicken noodle soup is soothing, too.  Don't forget to drink some orange juice, for a Vitamin C boost, and get plenty of rest.  If you have an upset stomach, mint tea is a good way to calm the stomach muscles.

Today, my household is feeling under the weather, and already the smell of my homemade chicken noodle soup is making my mouth water.