Montreal was amazing. Coming back with a terrible bout of the cold/flu not so much.
That's right, that's why I've been MIA. Rarely am I so sick that I don't even manage to turn the laptop on =/
Thankfully lots of sleep (18 hours alone on Monday!) plus home-cooked chicken soup did the trick in telling those pesky cold/flu germs they weren't welcome!
Many times had I heard that chicken soup was not only good for the soul, but the ultimate cold/flu-buster! Craving something comforting, I managed to go pick up the necessary ingredients to make chicken soup French-style poule au pot au feu which I'd learned to cook during my au-pair days. Here is cooking tee-syle:
1 - 6L pressure cooker filled with:
- a whole fresh chicken
- a large onion chopped in quarters
- a couple large carrots chopped in chunks
- a couple stalks of celery
- some small red potatoes chopped in quarters
- some cabbage (what i could fit in the pot)
- some English leeks (again what i could fit in the pot)
- a good chunk of ginger thinly sliced
- half a head of garlic (i peeled the cloves and crushed them slightly ever so gently)
- a couple bay leaves
- a small bunch of fresh thyme
- some black pepper corn
- a cuppa chicken broth
Seasoned to taste after cooking with Fleur de Sel (de La Boutique de Pont-Aven)... A treasured little bottle from my time in France)!
Since I don't use my pressure cooker that frequently, I googled cook time, which thankfully is a mere 12 minutes once pressurized.
While I dream of one day owning a bright coloured enameled cast-iron casserole a.k.a Le Creuset, I gotta admit I absolutely heart my pressure cooker from my Auntie A and Uncle M. It makes waiting when you're sick and hungry unnecessary, and so much better than opening a can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup!
Note: Recipe will work sans pressure cooker, and a bit more patience ;)
As the French say... Bon App !
tee.
PS- Found scientific proof of the power of (soupe) poulet here: "Chicken Soup Inhibits Neutrophil Chemotaxis In Vitro"
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Next time, I might try this. It might just kick James's grandma's soup's ass, no disrespect to grand mére. The only downside? I'll have to make it myself, since there will be no convincing James to commit what he would consider treason.
ReplyDeletePerhaps one day I'll get a chance to make it for you, Auntie M ;) xo.
ReplyDeleteWow this looks reeally good, I'm going to make this next time I'm under the weather!
ReplyDeleteThanks 2..! I forgot to mention, when the French serve this, they usually a petit dollop of dijon mustard on the side or on top... Bon App !
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