The Multitasking Chicken

So that's what happens when you take a picture over a boiling pot of soup.

I just love chicken. Being one of the only meats I can digest (I ate beef and pork for so very long, and ignored many a stomachache because of it) it's kind of a staple around my house. I like to buy a whole chicken, and make a soup out of it, and then a lot of the meat then becomes chicken salad or some other fun thing. Today I will share 3 chicken recipes, all from one whole chicken. The one I bought the other day cost about $7.50 and it will last all week in various forms.

First, I cook the chicken and start making the stock. For the broth, you will need:

a whole chicken

a couple of carrots

a couple stalks of celery

half an onion

a bay leaf or two

your choice of spices

black pepper

Later, you will need: whatever veggies you like in your soup- I suggest a bag of frozen mixed veggies, celery, carrots, onion, potatoes...

brown rice or pasta

wild rice is also nice in this soup

Put the chicken in a stock pot and fill it with water. Add the ingredients from list #1. Cook this for a while until the meat on the chicken is cooked all the way through- a half hour to 45 minutes (or so). Take off the meat that you can get to easily, like the breast meat and some from the legs. Put that in the fridge. Cook the carcass for a couple of hours, until you feel like going on to the next step. Add water as needed.

Cook your rice or pasta while you strain the bones and veggies from the broth, and find the chicken that is still left on the bones. Put the broth back on the stove. Add the vegetables that you want in your soup, and cook for a short time, until they feel ready. When the vegetables are done, add the rice or pasta and salt.

Chicken Salad Ok, remember that chicken you put in the fridge? It will make great chicken salad. Once it's cooled, cut into small chunks. Divide the chicken to make both of the following recipes.

You will need:

Mayonnaise (corn syrup free)

1/2 -3/4 cup chopped onions

1/2-3/4 cup chopped celery

freshly ground salt and pepper

Mix together. Yum!

Fake Pulled Pork Sandwich

My husband likes pulled BBQ pork sandwiches, but he hasn't had one for years. This was a welcome surprise. You will need:

barbecue sauce

onions

freshly ground pepper

lettuce & tomato

whole grain bread

Mix the barbecue sauce, onions, and chicken. Make a sandwich. Yum!