Jewish Penicillin - Chicken Soup & Wholemeal Bread - Thursday 7th June 2012

Poor Bob. Feeling rather rough, with a temperature of 102 and an odd rash on his head and chest. A virus of some kind, and I am keeping a careful eye on him in case it gets any worse. He says he just feels not right rather than downright ill. So he is being fed antihistamines and paracetamol with lots of water. (Update.... it's chicken pox... :(   )

And he asked for chicken soup for dinner. His Jewish step-grandfather used to make it for him when he was ill as a youngster,  and although I can't match that at short notice for intensity of flavour (no good boiling fowls around here, I want to go to an area with Kosher shops) I can still make a very pleasing chicken soup with a freerange chicken from the supermarket..

Simple to make in a pressure cooker, the thighs, drumsticks, wings and back of a good freerange chicken (keep the breasts for another day), with a couple of pints of water, a little salt, peppercorns, 3 carrots, 3 sticks of celery, a couple of shallots, a good handful of parsley , a few bay leaves and a good sprig of thyme. All cooked at full pressure for about an hour, then the chicken stripped from the bones and skin, and served shredded with the broth and vegetables and a good sprinkling of finely chopped parsley..

Get well soon.