Homemade chicken soup for the common cold

During the winter months, my family tends to get slammed with one cold after another.  As we all know, there are no cures for the common cold, but there are non-medicinal remedies that can work wonders. As moms and grandmas have known for centuries, one of the best ways to deal with a cold is a steaming hot bowl of chicken soup. Or, in the case of serving soup to a toddler, a lukewarm sippy cup of chicken soup broth. When I’m sick, as I am this week, I would still much rather spend a few minutes prepping my own soup than pull out the canned stuff. There is something so healing about homemade soup, even when you’re the sick one who has to make it!

According to the Mayo Clinic, chicken soup for the common cold it’s not just an old wives’ tale. Scientists have verified the medical benefits to slurping down chicken soup during cold and flu season. The ingredients in chicken soup can serve two really beneficial purposes for combating a cold; it can act as an anti-inflammatory which can help sooth sore throats and it can speed up the movement of mucus which can help relieve congestion.

Some people are intimated by the thought of making homemade chicken soup or may believe that it takes too long to prepare. Not true! I have found a very quick and easy recipe from Martha Stewart that I love because it’s so easy and quick.  The original recipe is very good, but lacking a bit in flavor. Here is the original version of the recipe along with some of my minor tweaking:

Basic Chicken Soup (adapted from Martha Stewart)

Serves 6-10

• 1 Whole Chicken (about 4 lbs) – I  either buy pre-packaged cut-up chicken pieces or have a butcher cut up a whole chicken. If you’re comfortable butchering your own whole chicken, go for it! Also, I prefer to buy organic and local chicken.
• 8-10 cups of water – the recipe calls for only 8 cups of water but I use 10 cups. Not only does that give you more soup, but the soup is still very rich despite the additional water.
• 1-2 tablespoons of coarse salt – I prefer kosher and/or sea salt
• 2-3 medium onions, diced – the recipe calls for 3 onions but I find that 2 good-size onions give it plenty of flavor.
• 2-4 celery stalks, sliced crosswise about 1/4 inch thick – I use 2 since my husband hates celery, but I would use a few more if that weren’t an issue.
• 4-8 garlic cloves, crushed – I use about 8 cloves of garlic even though the recipe calls for 4. Why? Because there is never such a thing as too much garlic.
• 6-8 medium carrots, sliced crosswise 1/2 inch thick – the more carrots, the better. I use about 8.
• Pepper, to taste.

1. Bring the chicken pieces, water, and salt to a boil in a large pot. Skim the foam. Add the onion, garlic, and celery. Reduce heat. Simmer, partially covered, for about 30 minutes.

2. Remove the chicken breast and set aside. If you don’t remove the breast at this point, it will overcook. Add the carrots. Simmer, partially covered, for about 40 minutes.

3. Remove the remaining chicken and discard the wings, back, and neck-bone. Let cool. Remove the skin off the meat by simply peeling it off. It will almost fall away. Cut the meat from the bones in bite-sized pieces.

4. Stir in the desired amount of chicken. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.

During cold and flu season, I make this soup almost once a week. It stays very fresh in the fridge for about a week. When you get ready to heat up a pot of soup, make sure to skim off the surface layer of fat! Yuck.

Enjoy…and stay healthy!

The holiday blues can get to any of us.

‘Tis the season for large family gatherings, spending more money than we should, eating more than we should, and driving ourselves crazy trying to be thankful, happy, and merry.

The “most wonderful time of the year” ain’t always that wonderful.

Holidays can often wreak havoc on our mental health as we try to live up to the emotional expectations and obligations of the holiday season. We are often stressed out and stretched too thin as we prepare for a time of peace and joy. The holiday season can easily take a toll on any of us, but for some people it can be a time filled with serious conflicts and emotions.

There are people that tend to be more prone to the holiday blues. People who have lost a loved one may be flooded with unresolved grief and painful memories of a once joyful time of year. For people with strained relationships with family members, this time of year can be filled with stress and conflict. Some people are not able to join their families for the holidays, which can bring on  feelings of guilt and loneliness. And for people and families that are struggling financially, stretching the wallet or debt even more can trigger feelings of shame and depression.

For many people, the next 6 weeks are often filled with anything but holiday cheer.

If you’re feeling stressed or anxious during the upcoming holidays, make the time to check in with yourself.  Putting on a happy face to “get through the holidays” isn’t doing anyone any favors, especially not for you. If this time of year is usually more stressful than festive, figure out what you need to do to alleviate that stress and make some changes.

Here are some great tips to beat the Holiday Blues from the Mayo Clinic:

1. Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.
2. Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
3. Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult children can’t come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videotapes.
4. Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they’re feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression too.
5. Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Try these alternatives: Donate to a charity in someone’s name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
6. Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That will help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.
7. Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity. If it’s not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.
8. Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity.
9. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Take a walk. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing, and restoring inner calm.
10. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

Have any other tips to beat the holiday blues? Please share them here.