The Man woke up this morning with the beginnings of a cold. All those little drippy nosed kids got to him last week while he was doing the Santa gig I guess. Not having any Oscillo in the house, I decided to make him some simple but really yummy chicken soup to help him on his road to recovery. An incredibly simple combo of carrot, celery, onion and parsnip with parsley, dill and thyme, it's a quick way to make something that tastes like it's cooked all day long.
Start with your veggies in the bottom of a chicken fryer. Tie your herbs up together so you can fish them out when you're done, and tuck them in among the veg. I quartered a free range chicken, leaving everything on the bone, and placed that on top. Season well with salt and pepper, add about a half cup of white wine then enough chicken stock to just about cover the chicken. Set it on a medium low heat, bring it up to a simmer and keep it there for about an hour. What you get is moist and flavorful chicken, tender vegetables and an incredibly rich broth. I pulled the meat off of the breasts and put them in our little individual Crock-Pots, split up the broth, and made an amazing lunch for two.
He uses his all the time, I'm using mine for the first time today. I pack the removable crock the night before, then put it into the pot for him to take to work in the morning. He plugs it in when he gets to work, and by lunchtime (which is two hours for him) it is a steaming pot of love. Nifty little gadget for someone who takes their lunch every day.