Countrified Hicks: October 2022

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Homemade Easy & Delicious Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

We love soup at our house. We eat soup about once a week all year long. No one has to be sick and it doesn't have to be cold to enjoy a lovely, aromatic soup. One of our favorites is this easy chicken noodle soup soup. One of our favorites is this easy chicken noodle soup. Simple ingredients that just speak to your soul!

This is nothing like the canned version you buy at the store. This is made from ingredients you can pronounce and tastes soooo much better. You can make it on the stove top or the crock pot. (I have included a how-to for both.)

8 c. homemade chicken broth
3 c. uncooked wide egg noodles
1 lb. shredded chicken (I use breasts or thighs)
3 carrots, cut into small rounds
2 ribs of celery, chopped into small pieces
1 bay leaf
1 T. olive oil
1 T. dehydrated onions
1 T. + 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. minced garlic

Stove top directions:

In a large pot, heat up your olive oil and then saute the onions, carrots and celery for about 5 minutes or until the carrots are tender. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, except for the noodles. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes. Turn the heat to high and stir in the noodles. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the noodles are tender, being sure to stir occasionally. Once the noodles are tender, remove the bay leaf and serve.

Crock pot directions:

Put all of the ingredients, except the chicken, noodles and the oil (oil not needed for this method) into the crock pot. Stir well. Turn on the crock pot to high and cook for 4 hours. After 4 hours, remove the bay leaf and add in the chicken and noodles. Allow to cook for another 30 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Serve and enjoy.

If you prefer a real creamy chicken noodle soup, you can add in 4 tablespoons of heavy cream.

Some of our other favorite homemade soup recipes include: our Ultimate Potato Soup recipe, our No Soak 15 bean soup recipe, and our Southern Ham & Beans recipe. All are so good. Which is your favorite? Be sure to let us know in the comment section below.

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Sunday, October 23, 2022

Crock Pot Pumpkin Flavored Coffee

As soon as fall is in the air, my mind wanders to all things pumpkin related. One of the things that my hubby looks forward to the most is pumpkin coffee. Instead of going out to an expensive coffee shop and buying a cup, why not try to make it at home? It’s really easy to make and has all the wonderful smells and tastes of pumpkin pie in your coffee.

· 10-12 c. brewed coffee (one pot of coffee)

· 3 c. milk

· 2 c. pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)

· 1 T. vanilla

· 1 T. cinnamon

· 1 tsp. cloves

· Sweetener of your choice (optional)

· Whippedcream (optional, for garnish)

Turn your crock pot onto high. Pour in the milk and coffee and give it a quick stir. In a small bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and any sweetener you want to add. I generally just add sweetener, sugar, or honey to my coffee cup and add in the heated pumpkin coffee then but it is your choice.

After the pumpkin mixture is whisked together, pour into the crock pot, replace the lid to your crock pot and let it heat for 1 ½-2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours. Sometimes I even throw in a cinnamon stick or two.

When ready to serve, just whisk it again and enjoy. Serve in a coffee cup or mug and top it with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or just drink as is.