The cold and flu season has been running unusually late this year, which gets in the way of our desire to enjoy the springtime weather. When spring arrives, we all want to feel our best so we can shake that cabin fever and get outside once again and enjoy the sun and warm temperatures.
Through the ages, the most common remedy for cold-weather ailments has been Grandma’s chicken soup. Whether there really are cold-fighting ingredients in that soup is debatable, but there definitely is something about a big, hot bowl of it when you’re feeling lousy that makes you feel at least a little bit better.
Sometimes, however, it’s difficult to convince youngsters that soup may make them feel better, but I’ve found a solution. Most kids like ravioli, so they’re likely to try this Ravioli Chicken Soup. Not only will they like the taste, but also it might just clear their stuffy noses!
RAVIOLI CHICKEN SOUP
12-ounces chicken breast, cut into ½-inch cubes (OR, if you prefer dark meat, 3 chicken thighs)
6 cups water
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 chicken bouillon cubes
Black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 cup sliced baby carrots
1 stalk celery chopped
1 (9-ounce) package frozen ravioli of your choice (meat or cheese), thawed
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup fresh or frozen baby spinach leaves (thawed), chopped
Cook chicken in 6-8 cups water with onion, garlic powder, pepper, poultry seasoning, bouillon cubes, celery and baby carrots until chicken is done and vegetables are soft.
Remove chicken and cut chicken breasts into 1/2-inch cubes. Or, if you use chicken thighs, remove chicken from broth and take meat from bones and cut into 1-inch pieces.
Reserve 6 cups of broth and bring to a boil, adding ravioli and butter and then turn heat down to a simmer. Stir occasionally to keep ravioli from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
After ravioli is done, about 10 to 12 minutes, add the chicken and spinach and continue to cook for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot. Makes 4 servings.
Brotherton offers website readers one stellar recipe a week in the “My Leader Yummy” feature.
Looking for a recipe you can’t find? Email me at kbrotherton42@gmail.com and I’ll see if I have it.
