How do I make a simple chicken soup?

[AhoyMcCoy]

I've got almost a whole left over roast chicken. I usually commit the MN sin of binning the leftovers of a chicken and use it for one meal only but there is just so much meat left on this one, so thought I'd give soup a try!

I'm not a great cook so something idiot-proof would be much appreciated!!!

Have you got a massive pan?

Stick the whole thing (take out the parsons nose IMO) in a pan, cover with water simmer for a few hours. keep topping up with water, wine or cider.

you can chuck some bay leaves in, some garlic and a couple of peeled onions, herbs, anything lying about.

when it has been simmered to bits totally , strain it into another pan, don't throw anything away,

Pick off the meat add to the strained juice, add any veg you like simmer, add herbs, add fine cut celery rather than salt, add noodles at the end.

Perfect! I've got all that! Excepttt- what bit is the parsons nose?! Never heard of that before!

Go to the large cavity, the sticky out little lumpy bit on the end of its tail, it has a bitter taste (it may be a gland, not sure), and taints the food, better stock/soup without it.

When you do the final bit any veg goes, experiment.

when I am doing the first simmer before you strain it, I add any veg left over from the meal in, sometimes a few cloves of garlic.

the better the chicken the better the stock,

before you add veg, after straining it, you can freeze it in portions to be used, either to soups, or sauces.

I always find stock/soup making an excellent excuse to open a bottle of wine.

I take the big bits of leftovers off first for a risotto or curry.

With the carcass - cover with water, season and simmer for about an hour.

Fry some onion/garlic/carrots/celery etc

Once you've simmered the carcass, strain the stock and strip the carcass of any bits of meat (and fat/fatty bits).

Pour stock over the veg, simmer again, add all the rescued chicken meat - can also add potato, sweetcorn etc.

Perfect!! Chicken is simmering now- I'm so excited!! Will let you know it how turns out- thanks!

mmmm, chicken soup. I may need to make some this weekend, I love it!

Chicken soup was a huge success- thanks all!! DH and my sister had about four helpings each, they were very impressed! And I'm absolutely thrilled to find a meal I can make with leftovers- another feather in my MN hat now!

As a variation we like chicken noodle soup made with the stock and leftover chicken - I add sliced ginger, garlic, soy sauce and star anise to the stock and simmer it a bit then chuck in noodles and sliced mushrooms to cook, adding cooked chicken, tinned sweetcorn and a handful or two of spinach for the last minute or so.