I have seen both Frozen Movies about 20 times each in the last two weeks. My 5 and 3 Year-Old have become what I like to call, Obsessed. Like everyday kind of obsession. Every day my children ask me, “Can we watch Frozen?? Can we watch Frozen 2?”And every day I try to convince them that there are other things to watch… but alas, I usually cave. I usually cave, because I’ve secretly become obsessed with it too. Elsa and Anna have become such a presence in our house that I’ve been listening to the music. THE MUSIC! Oh my goodness. Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell?! My daughter says to me in her princess dress and Elsa high heels, “Mommy I want to be Elsa.” And I’m like, "Me Too honey. Me too."
I’m not ashamed to admit that this weeks Blog will have some Frozen soundtrack to it. But first! The recipe!! It’s the New Year 2023 and like most people… fresh and healthy and easy are on their minds. Soups and all things warm too. Sickness has circled through our house a few times the last couple of months… so I’ve made this amazing version of Chicken Noodle Soup for my family. So thrilled to share with you what inspires me in the kitchen this winter!
CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
INGREDIENTS
· 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
· 2 tablespoons salted butter
· 2 shallots, sliced
· 4 cloves garlic, chopped
· 2 ribs celery, chopped
· 6 carrots, chopped
· 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
· 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
· 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
· 1 bay leaf
· 1/3 cup dry sherry
· 8 cup low sodium chicken broth
· 1 pound boneless chicken breasts or thighs
· 2-3 cups egg noodles
· 1/3 cup shaved parmesan cheese
· 1/4 cup chopped parsley
Instructions
1. Melt together the olive oil and butter In a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and cook another 3-5 minutes. Add the shallots, garlic, celery, carrots, thyme, sage, and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Cook another 5 minutes.
2. Pour in the sherry and broth, and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the chicken, bay leaf, and if you have one – a parmesan rind. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. At this point, the soup can also simmer on low for up to 4-6 hours.
3. Shred the chicken, remove the parmesan rind and bay leaf. Taste, and season with salt and pepper. Bring the soup back to a boil, then add the noodles and cook 6-8 minutes, until soft. Stir in the parmesan and parsley.
4. Serve the soup topped with additional parmesan, if desired.
CROCKPOT
1. In the bowl of your crockpot, combine the olive oil, butter, onions, shallots, garlic, celery, carrots, thyme, sage, and rosemary.
2. Pour in the sherry and broth. Stir in the chicken, bay leaf, and if you have one – a parmesan rind. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook 3-4 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low.
3. Crank the heat to high. Shred the chicken, remove the parmesan rind and bay leaf. Taste, and season with salt and pepper. Add the noodles and cook 10-15 minutes, until soft. Stir in the parmesan and parsley.
4. Serve the soup topped with additional parmesan, if desired.
I’ve always and forever been a big Disney fan as a child when the classic ones, like Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, came out. However, the music in these newer movies have absolutely blown me away. And I would give anything to watch my daughter spin in her Princess Dresses and sing along to Let It Go for the rest of her life if I could. For those of you who haven’t seen Frozen II, I suggest you watch it today… it has become the favorite in our house. The song I’m going to pair my wintery Chicken Noodle Soup is Show Yourself!! A duet between Idina Menzel and Even Rachel Wood…. Gets me every time.
Winter in the Pacific Northwest, I’m afraid, is far from over… and these rainy short lighted days have become hard to keep my kids entertained when we can’t go outside. As much as I don’t like sticking my kids in front of the TV, I have to convince myself that it’s just okay sometimes. We’ve been watching some Animal Planet and lots of Bluey. However, I think since New Years Day, we’ve managed to watch one of the Frozen movies at least once a day. It’s teaching them to use their imagination, the creative arts, and of course, Hollywood. They ask me questions all the time, “Mommy, is Elsa real?” “Mommy, how do the characters talk if they aren’t real??” And this gives me an opportunity to talk about movies. Making movies… which of course, is one of my favorite things in the world. I just hope they come out with a Frozen III so we can switch things up a bit in our house!!
Happy Soup Making and Happy Frozen watching. XO
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