Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 quarts water
• 1/2 Tbsp crushed rosemary
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 medium peeled potatoes, cubed (about 3 Cups)
• 6 medium peeled carrots, chopped (about 3 Cups)
• 1 large onion, diced (about 2 1/2 Cups)
• 3 medium peeled potatoes, cubed (about 2 1/2 Cups)
• 3 stalks of celery, chopped (about 3 1/2 Cups)
• 1/2 Tbsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 3 large raw chicken breasts, cubed
• 5-6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp onion powder

Instructions:

• Boil the water in a 5 quart pot
• Put crushed rosemary in a sieve and set inside the pot (far enough in for the rosemary to boil but not to escape the sieve)
• Let rosemary boil for 15 min. and then pull it out with the sieve
• Add the 1/2 tsp salt to the water with the 4 medium potatoes, cubed
• Let boil until the potatoes get mushy, stirring occasionally (These potatoes will be used to thicken the soup.)
• If you haven’t already washed and chopped/diced the other ingredients, you can do so while you wait for the potatoes to cook
• When the potatoes are mushy, add the carrots, the onion, the other 3 potatoes, the celery, salt, and black pepper
• Cook on a medium boil, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened but still slightly crunchy
• Add the chicken and cook on a medium boil until the chicken is thoroughly done and the vegetables are soft
• Turn heat to low
• Add the garlic and onion powder
• Stir and taste (add any extra seasonings if desired)
• Turn heat off, and serve

Commentary:  

One time I was really sick and all I wanted was chicken noodle soup.  I couldn't go to the store and buy it though, so I decided to make if myself. I had never done this before, though, so I had no idea what I was doing. I ended up cooking the potatoes too long and they turned to mush. This turned out to be the greatest idea though.  The potatoes ended up becoming a great thickener.  Plus, they tasted delicious.  

If you would like this to be chicken noodle soup, cook rice noodles separately and add them at the end. You might also want to reduce the amount of potatoes you use if you do this.