Soup on a Rainy Day or any Day!
I woke up to a rainy morning today, and felt that it is a perfect day for soup. My garden club friends were here the other day for a meeting and lunch when I served this quick soup with just about everything I could find in my refrigerator.
Chicken Vegetable and Barley Soup for a rainy day!
4 cups of Chicken broth
2 large carrots – cut into small cubes
2 stalks celery – cut into small cubes
1 small red pepper – cut into small cubes
2 cups frozen green peas – optional
2 leeks – white and a little green only….cut into thin slices
Keep some sliced leek for garnish
10 to 15 or less.. whole pepper corns….you can use ground pepper as well…
4 medium size Red Potatoes – cut into small cubes
2 cups roasted chicken – cut into little pieces
1 cup of precooked Barley
Commercially prepared Chicken Base – optional
1 cup of heavy cream…or more if you desire
1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley…or
thin slices of leek for garnish
1 Tbsp of oil
Since I am always freezing left-overs I always have frozen baked/cooked chicken in my freezer for just such days when I feel like making a soup. I also have home-made chicken stock/broth in the freezer that I make from bones of a roasted chicken.
When I need these frozen items I microwave them to thaw them quickly and have them available on a day like today, or when I have friends come for an impromptu lunch.
Take a soup pot and add 1 Tbsp of oil and add all the cut/chopped vegetables, except the potato,to just glaze them, do not brown them. When the vegetables are slightly sautéed add the potato and the chicken broth and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.
Now add precooked barley, the meat and the frozen peas and bring the soup to boil, let it cook for another minute or so then add the cream and add salt and pepper as you like.
At this point instead of salt you can enhance the soup’s flavor with a tsp or two of commercially prepared chicken base….I use McCormick’s Chicken Base….
Finally add the chopped fresh parsley and serve it hot and steamy with some crusty fresh bread or home made rolls…….
Have a wonderful day….even if it is raining….
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Copyright: Maria Reisz Springer……..
Maja’s Kitchen LLC….
maria@majaskitchen.com
http://www.culinaryhalloffame.com/
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Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material without prior approval is prohibited. If you have any questions or would like permission, I can be contacted via email at: maria@majaskitchen.com Feel free to quote me, just give credit where credit is due, link to the recipe, and please send people to my website, http://www.majaskitchen.com
Dear Maria – This is so so lovely for the cool weather. Chicken and barley is just a marvelous combination! I love this soup ans must make this soon. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving next week with your family and friends.
chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors