Studies show that your grandmother was right…chicken noodle soup really does help when you have a cold! The days are getting shorter and there’s a chill in the air, there’s no denying that the seasons are changing. Fall and winter mean soups, stews, and savory meals simmering in the oven all day…and also cold and flu season. Nothing is cozier than a bowl of savory homemade chicken noodle soup, especially when you’re feeling a bit under the weather! Making your own chicken noodle soup from scratch ensures that you get all the health benefits that chicken noodle soup is famous for, without any of the excess sodium, additives, preservatives, BPA and other less-than-wholesome things you find in soup from a can. This recipe even includes homemade noodles, so you can make yours gluten or grain free if you’d like! What is it about chicken noodle soup that helps when you’re sick? When you are sick, certain types of white blood cells are released into your system to fight the infection. This process can cause inflammation and the release of mucus, which is what causes your miserable stuffy nose. The theory is, compounds found in chicken soup inhibit the chemicals that cause the inflammation…which makes you feel better! Start your pot of soup early in the day, and let it simmer. The nutrients from the chicken, vegetables, and herbs will infuse into the broth for a rich, savory taste that can’t be beat. I used my pasta maker for the noodles here, but you can easily roll them out with a rolling pin and cut them (a pastry cutter works great for this). My kids enjoy making the noodles by hand and cutting out different shapes using small fondant cutters…it’s not unusual to find stars, hearts, and little snowflakes in your soup at our house! If you’re using a pasta maker for the first time, you’ll find that after a little bit of practice it’s easy to make great noodles at home, with the all-natural, organic flour of your choice and a couple of organic, free range eggs. Just mix up the dough… Run it through the roller a few times… and then through the pasta cutter. There you have it! Natural, healthy noodles in a flash. Do you find that chicken noodle soup makes you feel better when you’re sick?
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