Roasted Chicken, Broth, and Soup

This is a staple in my home.  I make it about every four days and use it on top of salads, sandwiches, stir fry and soups.  When I am done taking all the chicken off, I use the bones, skin and drippings to make a yummy broth {recipe below}.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

I buy organic whole chickens from Costco. 

Take out the innards and give to pets or throw out.

Place the chickens in a large baking pan. 

Rub olive oil all over them. 

Salt and pepper them liberally. 

Season with garlic powder and thyme or you can use any seasonings you like. 

Put in heated oven and cook 1 and 1/2 hours. 

Set on counter and cover with tin foil for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!  I eat the skin and all.  You can make mashed potatoes
and use the drippings to make great gravy.

Homemade Chicken Broth

Take off all the chicken and put all the bones, skin and drippings
in a large pan and cover with water. 

Bring to a simmer and simmer on low for 4 or so hours...
the longer the better, unless you have very bad digestion.
Then cook it for only a couple of hours.  

Let cool. 

Strain and put broth in the refrigerator overnight.   

Sometimes it will look like gelatin and is very good for your
bones, ligaments and tendons. 

Use this instead of water or to make soups. 

My sister has a great recipe for chicken broth also HERE.

Homemade Soup from the broth

In a large pan, saute an onion and garlic sauteed in butter and olive oil.

Add the broth and anything else you like:
brown rice, lentils, split peas, vegetables, pasta, etc. 

Season with salt, cumin, curry, pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, etc.

Cook for an hour.

Start tasting and keep adding seasonings until it tastes good.

Add in some of the chicken. 

Freeze extra portions for another day!