Nanny Bubby’s Chicken Soup

If you are using the 4 lbs. of legs and thighs when purchasing, ask the butcher to split or crush the bones of the meat before packaging. This allows the broth to become richer with collagen and create more of a rich healthy bone broth that creates a jellied consistency when cold. A true sign of lots of collagen for good health.

Place the chicken, onions, carrots, celery, rutabaga, turnip, parsley, thyme, dill, rosemary, garlic and seasonings in a 16 quart stock pot. Cover with water to about ¾ of the pot. Bring to a boil. Remove the whole chicken and let cool. Remove the breast meat and cover and setting it aside until soup is ready for serving. Return the remaining carcass’ to the pot and continue simmering, uncovered for 3 more hours.

Strain the entire contents of the pot through a fine sieve. Let it cool and then chill. I always find making this a day ahead is a good way to go. Sometimes it can take hours to cool down. You do not want to put it in the fridge to chill if it is still hot because it will sour. Also, most of the dark meat will disintegrate over the 3 hours. I throw everything away.