Day 14: I am Thankful for Soup

With the weather changing, all I've been in the mood for is soup. I have had a cold now for a week and half and that hot soup just feels so good on my throat. Five out of the seven days last week we had a different soup. I think everyone's favorite was my homemade chicken noodle. I made my own stock and noodles. I learned a trick from a chef to making the most flavorful stock: roast the bones and vegetable you are going to use before boiling them for hours. I took most of the meat off a rotissere chicken and then roasted it in the oven @450 F for about an hour with carrots, celery and onions. I then put the bones and vegetables in a pot and covered with water and added some spices and simmered for four hours. It was the most delicious broth and it made the best soup especially with my homemade noodles. A little time consuming but so worth it and nothing's better for a cold. I'll admit the kids are a little sick of soup but I'm only beginning. This week we're going to have it 3 times. You know what, it's so good for the food budget. Last week I only spent about $25 on food for the week because I used mainly vegetables and beans and things I already had. I just had to buy milk, bread and eggs. This week I spent about $50. Here's to soup.