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Helpful
Tips And Recipes
From The Staff of THE MESSAGE
TREE
WOW!
Hasn't it been cool these past few
mornings and yep we sure found a quilt or
two as well to snuggle down under.
Although Fall is here it never fails, it
seems with every change of the seasons
still bring colds and flu. Maybe, it's
because we all run around thinking we
don't need a jacket. I sure know I am very
guilty of this.
So
fittingly I've decided to include a yummy
homemade chickensoup recipe this month
that is good for warming the tummy and
always soothes the soul. You can also add
some noodles or small pasta shells at the
end and then cook until tender. Nothing
beats it for great comfort food.
ENJOY! And
stay warm this Fall and Winter
season.
RECIPE:
HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP
INGREDIENTS:
1
tablespoons olive oil
1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
1 whole chicken, breasts removed and
reserved
1 celery stalk, sliced
2 onions, diced ½ teaspoon dried
thyme
2 quarts boiling water 1/4 cup minced
fresh parsley leaves
Salt Ground pepper
2 bay leaves
DIRECTIONS:
Heat the
oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot and
saute the
breasts until they are light brown, about
5 minutes. Remove the breasts and set
aside. Add the onions and saute until
translucent, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove and set aside. Cut up the remaining
parts of the chicken (not the breasts)
into small pieces to allow them to release
their juices in the shortest time possible
with a chefs knife.
Add the
pieces to the pot, and cook for 8 to 10
minutes until no longer pink. Return the
onion to the pot, reduce the heat to low,
cover, and simmer until the chicken
releases its juices, about 20 minutes. Add
boiling water, reserved chicken breasts, 2
teaspoons of salt, and bay leaves.
Cover and
simmer until chicken breasts are cooked,
about 20 minutes. Increase the heat if
necessary. Remove chicken breasts and set
aside. Strain and reserve broth. Skim fat
from the broth, reserving 2 tablespoons to
be used to cook the vegetables. Add the
reserved fat to the soup pot and saute the
remaining onions along with the carrot and
celery for about 5 minutes. When the
chicken breasts are cool enough to handle,
remove and discard the skin and bones.
Shred the breast meat into bite sized
pieces and add to the pot. Add thyme and
reserved broth; simmer until the
vegetables are tender. Season with salt
and pepper, add parsley and serve.
Handy
tips:
SOME WAYS
TO FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THE
WEATHER:
Drink
plenty of fluids, vitamin-rich fruit
drinks, water ,as well as hot
liquids.
Try some
honey (a natural antiseptic) and lemon (a
natural source of vitamin C) dissolved in
hotwater or herbal and fruit teas as an
alternative to normal tea.
Try to
avoid caffeine containing drinks ,such as
coffee, cola and other fizzy drinks as
these are diuretics, which could cause
further dehydration. Eat plenty fruits and
vegetables. I'm told Chicken soup is
believed to be a good food for colds and
I'm told is known as 'the Jewish
penicillin" because Jewish mothers have
long believed that it relieves infections
of the upper respiratory tract. And of
course be sure to wrap up!, keeping the
room temperature comfortably warm, but not
hot . Open a window a little so fresh air
can circulate. Humidity might help to ease
a cough and congestion. You might even use
a vaporizer to bring some relief or place
a bowl of water near the radiator .And as
you Mother always told you get plenty of
rest . AN HOPEFULLY YOU"LL FEEL BETTER IN
THE MORNING!
MMMMM.......FRIED
APPLES! Since it has turned a little
chilly we can now fire up the ole cook
stoves and bring on some wonderful smells
from the kitchen, and put some smiles on
the faces of family and friends alike,
especially those who Love Fried
Apples.
RECIPE
For: Fried Apples
MAKES 6
servings
6 ea Lg
Unpared, Cored, Red Apples
3 T Butter
1/2 c Cooking Wine
1/2 c Water
1 c Sugar
1 T Lemon Juice
1 ea 6quot; Cinnamon Stick
Saute apples in butter for 6-8 minutes in
non-stick skillet.
Boil wine,
sugar, cinnamon stick, and lemon juice for
5 minutes.
Pour over
apples. Cook, uncovered, until apples are
tender.
Pour into
serving dish. Serve warm or cold.
MMMMM....Enjoy
NOTE:
For a
simple supper You might, serve with bacon
or browned sausage patties or links.
For an
elegant touch serve with a Pork Roast.
Humor from the internet
Mr.
Schwartz was the oldest of 7 children, so
he had to quit school and work to help
support his younger brothers and sisters.
He never learned to read, so when he
married and started a checking account, he
signed his checks simply "XX".
Eventually
he started his own business, which
immediately prospered.
He
soon was a very rich man. One day, he got
a call from his bank. "Mr. Schwartz," said
the banker, "I need to ask you about this
check. We weren't sure you had really
signed it.
All these
years you've been signing your checks
'XX', but we just got one that was signed
with three XXX's..."
Mr.
Schwartz answered, "No problem, my friend.
It's just that since I've become so
wealthy, my wife thought I ought to have a
middle name."
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