Love Soup

Last night's dinner was a simple chicken roast, potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, stuffing and broccoli.  With all my kidderoos at home for the first time in a while, most of the meal was devoured by our family.  What was left ended in a soup pot, as it always does.  The kids know that if there's roast chicken for dinner, the following day's meal will be Love Soup.  The name of the soups that have passed across our table has always been the same, even if it was a beef stew.

Love Soup came about when the kids would ask what kind of soup I was making, and me, just using my on-hand supplies, never knew exactly what kind of we'd end up with.  When my older girls were away at college, the disappointment they felt when they knew what was being served and they couldn't partake prompted me to make it a point to have Love Soup every time they came home.  Now, with one still at college, the tradition continues.  She is home and Love Soup is happily being served.

Tonight's Love Soup (as I mentioned, it changes)

The leftover chicken *ahem carcass, goes into a pot, bones and all.  Cover with cold water.   Bring to a boil then lower heat to a simmer, allowing the flavors of the chicken to turn your water to broth.  I had mine simmering for about two hours (add water if you need to).  Turn the heat off and allow the chicken and broth to cool.  Strain the broth, saving the chicken.  Carefully separate the meat from the bones and set aside the meat.  To your broth add salt to taste, a small bag of carrots, four stalks of chopped celery, a medium diced onion.  I add one or two peeled, diced potatoes to thicken up the broth.  I also used 1/2 cup of quinoa in this batch.  (Quinoa is a high nutrient grain; you can find it in health food stores and some groceries...I use it in many meals).  Bring to a boil, then lower your heat, allowing the veggies to become tender.  When the veggies are ready, put the chicken meat back into the pot.  If you have broccoli, add it at the end so it's tender, but with a little crisp.Serve with toasted bread.