Good morning!
So, it took me two weeks to stop testing positive for covid, and another one after that to start feeling more like myself. Exhaustion was the worst of it for me. After the cold symptoms subsided, it was day after day of having to decide who gets their dinner made with the lone morsel of energy left, me or the cat.
Of course, the kitty won 😂.
But in all seriousness, microwaved chicken soup out of a can was the Special of the Day for … [counts days on calendar] literally weeks.
Instead of being absolutely sick of chicken soup, which I have every right to be, I’m actually kind of obsessed with it now.
So between that, and the fact that this lovely tripledemic is running wild through the States, I thought it was time to give a shout-out to chicken soup. Oh, and with a few holiday nibbles thrown in for good measure.
The winter solstice is Wednesday, so from there onward we’ll be climbing our way back out of the long dark.
Wishing you health, light, and hot soup for 2023. ❤️
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with Pancetta
This version kicks classic chicken soup up a notch or two with a velvety texture and subtle hints of salty pork for a delicious, hearty meal. Perfect to fight those winter blahs!
With cold and flu season ramping up in a big way, it’s time to roll out the chicken soup collection, even though it’s not exactly a Christmasy topic.
But, with people gathering in large numbers for the next two weeks to share good cheer and microbials in equal parts, I wanted to make sure y’all are armed with the stuff.
Stock up on broth and hefty vegetables that store well, such as onions, carrots, and celery, plus garlic and ginger (get the paste tubes in the produce department; they’re easier) and chicken for the freezer. Anddd … let’s get to it!
Cold-fighting Couscous Chicken Soup
Not only is this the most popular soup I’ve ever created, but it’s also my most stolen-and-uncredited-by-other-bloggers 😂.
It’s partially because of the name, but mostly because it’s so damn good. Make a batch without the pearl couscous and freeze it, so you’re ready. Cook the pasta while reheating the soup.
Or, if you’re stuck reheating it for your own sniffly self, feel free to substitute the couscous with pre-cooked rice that you can heat up in the microwave.
This is one of my very favorite soups in the whole wide world. A British-born fusion of classic chicken soup and Indian-inspired spices, it’s probably one of the most flavorful soups I’ve ever had.
Yes, it’s creamy but made with coconut milk rather than dairy, which I think wreaks far less havoc on queasy tummies and sinuses. Definitely comfort food for colds and driveway shoveling recovery!
Thai Ramen Noodle Chicken Soup
There’s something about Asian flavorings and seasonings that I find so comforting and satisfying. Combine them with chicken soup, and you’ve got something extra special. Plus, this variation has healthy greens and mushrooms, for extra nutrition … and spirally fun ramen, just because.
» More Chicken Soup
When it comes to holiday gatherings, I’m a total sucker for finger food. So much so that our Christmas dinner has gradually morphed over the years into one big buffet of appetizers and snacks.
Forget charcuterie board. It’s charcuterie table. 😂
Even if the buffet is not your tradition, there’s almost always some kind of call for finger foods during the holidays.
I’ve gathered my eclectic collection of appetizers and beverages, with a few sweets tossed in, that are meant to inspire. The most popular on the blog are shown below; browse the full list here.
Christmas Wreath Appetizers - So easy to make and based on the popular crescent roll veggie pizza, it’s a crowd favorite.
Holiday Party Punch - The most delicious punch I’ve ever had, it’s universally appealing for the whole family (but spikable with something sparkly, if that’s your jam).
Prosciutto-wrapped Breadsticks - The perfect crunchy-salty nibble. Easy, too!
Triple Guacamole Party Dip - Christmas colors, and loads of flavor, built right in.
Chocolate Whoopie Pies - Santa would not be disappointed.
Figs Prosciutto - Fresh figs, ham, and briny cheese. Yes, please.
» More Christmas & New Years Treats
With the holiday hoopla wrapping up, I’ll be returning to an every-other-Monday schedule for the Digest, while I continue publishing new posts on the blog more or less each week.
I have one more new post before the end of the year, going live the day or two after Christmas: 12 Ways to Liven Up Leftover Soup (which I’ll be sure to link to in the Digest’s first issue of 2023).
I go through a lot of leftover soup, and I enjoy tweaking them so that the same soup for lunch three days running is never boring. My tips also apply to canned soup, which can always use a little help in the flavor department.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I’ll see you in 2023, and may it be … different. Lol.
Until next year, friend, enjoy your time together 🫂, love on each other and your furfriends 💖, be kind to strangers because you never know what they’re going through 😌, and remember the holidays are hard for so many ❤️🩹 — make extra soup to share.
But if you’re approaching the edge yourself, please step back and reach out. Dial 988 in the U.S. to contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You matter in every way 🫶🏻
Karen, you are extraordinary, in case no one has said that recently. Your recipes are so good (and doable!), your care for your community heart warming. Thank you for showing us all the deliciousness we can make or create.
Wishing you wonderful things always.
BTW, I have my eye on those moon pies now.