Chicken Noodle Soup…

with real, homemade noodles.

Dude…

The problem with this soup is that no matter how big your pan is—you can never quite make enough. I swear I could eat a big bowl of this soup every autumn day of my life–and deep into winter. Hmmmm…so simple and perfect. No creepy ingredients to scare the kids. Just good ol’ grama’s kitchen-type stuff–like the farm hands eat.

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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

2 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts, cut up

1 qt. water

4 carrots, cut into 1/2 inch slices

1 Tbsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2/3 cup rice (uncooked)

3 chicken bouillon cubes

2 chicken gravy packets

1 cup milk

2 c. uncooked noodles

Heat chicken, water, rice, spices and bouillon to boiling  in a 4 quart pan; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 30-45 minutes–or until carrots and rice are tender. If your liquid boils down too much, just add more a cup or so at a time. Mix the gravy packets and milk together in a measuring cup until smooth. While stirring, add gravy to soup mixture, slowly. Bring to gentle boil again. Drop uncooked noodles into soup and boil about 4-5 minutes or until the noodles float to the top. Cool a bit before serving.  Serves 8…

unless you invite…

me over.

Homemade Egg Noodles

2 c. all-purpose flour
3 egg yolks
1 egg
2 tsp. salt
1/4 to 1/2 c. water

Measure flour into bowl; make a well in center and add egg yolks, whole egg and salt. With hands thoroughly mix egg into flour. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. (Add only enough water to form dough into a ball.)

Turn dough onto well floured cloth covered board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Cover. Let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Roll dough one part at a time. Cut dough crosswise into 1/8 inch strips with a pizza cutter. Use fresh or allow to dry.

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Chicken Noodle Soup...
 
Ingredients
  • 2½ lbs. boneless chicken breasts, cut up
  • 1 qt. water
  • 4 carrots, cut into ½ inch slices
  • 1 Tbsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. pepper
  • ⅔ cup rice (uncooked)
  • 3 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 2 chicken gravy packets
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 c. uncooked noodles
  • Heat chicken, water, rice, spices and bouillon to boiling in a 4 quart pan; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 30-45 minutes--or until carrots and rice are tender. If your liquid boils down too much, just add more a cup or so at a time. Mix the gravy packets and milk together in a measuring cup until smooth. While stirring, add gravy to soup mixture, slowly. Bring to gentle boil again. Drop uncooked noodles into soup and boil about 4-5 minutes or until the noodles float to the top. Cool a bit before serving. Serves 8...
Instructions
  1. Homemade Egg Noodles
  2. c. all-purpose flour
  3. egg yolks
  4. egg
  5. tsp. salt
  6. /4 to ½ c. water
  7. Measure flour into bowl; make a well in center and add egg yolks, whole egg and salt. With hands thoroughly mix egg into flour. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. (Add only enough water to form dough into a ball.)
  8. Turn dough onto well floured cloth covered board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Cover. Let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Roll dough one part at a time. Cut dough crosswise into ⅛ inch strips with a pizza cutter. Use fresh or allow to dry.

 

Super Bowl Dreams

Oh, we were ready, all right.

We had the food…

the colors…

the decorations…

the cheer leaders…

and my lucky purple socks.

Then the unthinkable happened.

 

We.

 

Lost.

Gracious Rain sadly declares a national day of mourning…

I’ll be back when I have the strength…

to go on.

A Viking Baby

A Viking 019

What we’ve discovered is that Baby Chompy really loves…purple.

A Viking 022

It’s a rather specific purple…with a dash of yellow.

A Viking 014

We’re certain she has had this particular preference from birth. It’s quite a natural wonder.

A Viking 016

It’s apparently in her DNA.

Heh, heh, heh.

Sausage Cheese Balls

My daughter Lyndi found this recipe in a magazine ad for Jimmy Dean Sausage. It was so quick and easy. You can make them ahead and refrigerate or freeze them. We enjoyed them plain–but I bet they’d be fabulous with marinara or alfredo sauce.

Sausage Cheese Balls

Ingredients:

2 pkgs. (16 oz. each) Regular Flavor Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage

1-1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix

16 oz. (4 cups) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

2 teaspoons black pepper

2 teaspoons minced garlic (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl; stir well. Form into 1” balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet; bake 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven; cool 5 minutes before removing from pan. Serve with cocktail forks or toothpicks.

 

Sausage Cheese Balls
 
Ingredients
  • 2 pkgs. (16 oz. each) Regular Flavor Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix
  • 16 oz. (4 cups) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • ½ cup finely chopped celery
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl; stir well.
  3. Form into 1” balls.
  4. Place on ungreased baking sheet; bake 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
  5. Remove from oven; cool 5 minutes before removing from pan.
  6. Serve with cocktail forks or toothpicks.