A Little Nostalgia And A Little Chicken Soup
By the time Mama removed the meat loaf and baked potatoes from the oven, my Daddy, two sisters and myself were sitting at the table, ready for supper. That is what we called it back then. “Dinner” was usually reserved for Sunday noon after church, but the evening meal was always called supper and everyone sat down together. Yes, we were sitting at our usual chair places at the table with hands washed and anticipation on our faces. We all knew better than to be late for supper; there were no excuses such as ball games, homework, or just plain idleness because Daddy got home at 5:30 and dinner was at six o’clock sharp. Mama had one rule. Be there on time to eat with the whole family (and we ate whatever Mama made) or you would have to wait til morning. Simple as that.
We had our usual chores before and after the meal…it was a rotation. Monday was my night to set and clear the table and sweep under it while my middle sister washed the dishes and my little sister dryed them….and no, we did not have a dishwasher. We three girls were the dish department. Tuesday was my middle sister’s turn to do the table work and sweeping while I washed the dishes and little sister dryed again. Wednesday, I’d dry, while little sister did the tablework and my middle sister washed. We didn’t forget who did what because Mama wrote it out on a paper taped to the icebox, (that is what we called it back then) and it stayed there until the corners of the list curled and the ink faded.
Unless it was the dead of winter, the doors and windows of our farm home were always open. I can remember my parents sitting on opposite heads of the dining table while I sat to the left and right of my parents (because I was the oldest) while my two sisters sat across from me. I sat with my back nearest the double kitchen windows and I loved the various smells of the wheat, milo and corn fields that the seasonal breezes carried into our home. And there was always a prayer before we ate. My Father was raised a Catholic, my Mother, a Presbyterian and the prayer was always the same.
“Come Lord Jesus, Be Our Guest, The food Thou has given us, May it be Blessed, In Jesus Name Amen”
Speaking of food, it also was on a rotation. Mondays were Mama’s home made dinner rolls with Ham and Beans. That was because all Monday’s were wash day (no exceptions) and the white Maytag wringer washer machine and two galvanized rinsing tubs had to sit in the middle of the kitchen floor with the dining table pushed back. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays were Mama’s choice. Fridays were fish of some kind (sometimes salmon patties) along with fried potatoes with onions and green peas, Saturdays were hamburgers, potato chips and pork and beans, Sundays were either pot roast, carrots and potatoes along with a garden salad OR it was fried chicken, mashed potatoes and cream gravy, creamed corn and garden salad. And because it was Sunday, there was always a cake for dessert,… usually red devils food (Mama’s favorite) or chocolate fudge or pineapple upside down cake.
And the food? It wasn’t fancy, but it was enough. Pork chops, Goulash or Chicken Fried Steak, along with jiggly jello (with fruit cocktail), green beans, hominy or corn and various other veggies. One of my favorites was ham salad sandwiches…. but there was no ham in it. It was made with baloney, pickle relish and mayo.
We had special food for when we were sick. In the mornings, if I told Mama I wasn’t feeling well, she would feel my forehead with her semi rough/soft hand to determine if she had to get the thermometer. If she determined I was indeed sick, she would fix me a place on the sofa (or couch as we called it) snuggling me up with a warm blanket. Then she would bring me a slice of cinnamon toast and a cup of hot tea and honey. Oh how I loved to be pampered by Mama. Lunch would be her delicious old fashioned chicken soup. The steaming bowl would have carrots, onions and celery and usually a bit of pasta of some kind… but generally it was rice.
This week the Captain came down with a cold and scratchy throat so I did what my Mama did. I pampered him with hot tea and honey and a bowl of Mama’s chicken soup. It didn’t take long before he was feeling himself again. Mama’s recipe worked yet again. My children grew up with this home remedy and so I have this recipe below if you would like to try it. You can adjust the ingredients to fit your family’s taste but I do suggest using the ginger and lemon as it brightens the recipe and if I make this soup without those ingredients…it just doesn’t taste the same any more. You can also use left over pre-cooked rice…and eliminate the additional cooking if you are in a hurry to “cure” a loved one. 🥰
Mama's Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 2-3 bone in/skin on chicken thighs (can use breasts but thighs are more flavorful)
- 2 tbsp oil
- 3 chunk sliced carrots
- 2 stalks celery sliced
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Heat a large stock pot or brazier to med high heat.
- Add oil and brown the thighs adding a bit of salt and pepper to both sides. Sear until lightly browned about 2 minutes per side.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside and add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic to the pan and sauté them. Sauté until onions are translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and chicken to the pot, reducing the heat to a simmer and cover the pot with the lid.
- Simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked.
- Remove the chicken from the pot, and debone the chicken and also remove the skin.
- Add the chopped chicken, rice, and water to the pot, allowing the rice to cook.
- Stir in the lemon zest and ginger and simmer for about 5-6 more minutes. Taste for flavor adding more salt and pepper if needed.
Blessings Always
But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.
Oh my! Who doesn’t love a good chicken soup! Yum. And I’ve been trying to leave comments on a couple other posts but getting “Nonce verification failed.” I don’t have email for you, so if you get this, know I tried!
Sweet memories Kari! It is amazing how food can bring back memories and old family traditions…
Jenna
What a lovely post. Thank you so much for sharing your memories and recipe.
Hope The Captain is feeling better!
He is doing great Nancy…thank you for wishing him well. hugs
I love chicken soup. My Mom made it everytime the family came back home for a visit. I continue the tradition as well here at the Homestead. In fact, all of the family is coming this weekend and there will be a kettle of homemade chicken soup on the stove. I serve noodles and dumplings on the side.
I enjoyed hearing your childhood stories. Thank you for sharing!
Nancy don’t ya just love chicken soup? I never tire of making it as it makes the whole house smell good and it doesn’t hurt that the flavor of the soup is so good too. Have fun with your family…enjoy them and your chicken soup. Blessings always
🥰🥰
What wonderful memories you have growing up, thank you so much for sharing with us. I’m looking forward to trying your Mama’s Soup!
thanks Sue for putting Mama’s soup on your “maybe list”. if you make it I am sure you will love it. Have a great week….hugs 🥰🍁🌻
Dear Kari,
So much I could relate to except for your chicken soup. lol My grandmother and mother made homemade noodles for our chicken noodle soup. Great to reminisce with you. We went to grandma’s house every Sunday for dinner and it was always fried chicken, mash potatoes, green bean casserole, creme corn, and homemade rolls. Our dessert could be pie or cake. German chocolate was a favorite, but my personal favorite was angel food cake and cherry pie. In season strawberry shortcake was a favorite. House cleaning and washing was always done on Monday. Boy, oh boy what memories. Thanks for your memories because it brought so many of mine back too. We always said grace before anyone took a bite.
Hugs,
Sandy
You know Sandy, Mama sometimes added noodles to her chicken soup too…it was whatever she had on hand. I always liked watching her roll out the big rounds of dough, cutting into strips and then leaving all on the counter to “dry” a bit before she dropped the noodles in the broth. My Grandmother always called that chicken and noodles or beef and noodles but Mama just made more chicken soup. LOL Thanks for stopping by and love to both you and Ron. ❤️🙏🏻❤️
Kari, I also loved reading your nostalgic memories of childhood. I was reliving my own as you described yours! Our family was so big with 9 kids (and apparently the house on the smaller side but we didnt know any better), that we had two kitchens for dining. Both kitchens had counters with barstools and a dinette table with four chairs each. One kitchen was cooked in, the other had a second fridge (also icebox) and upright freezer.
The chicken soup sounds wonderful, amd hopefully the Captain is well and good now.
Rita what a wonderful childhood you had with so many siblings…My grandmother had 9 children and my mother was the youngest. I especially loved our family reunions because of all the growing-up stories that were told. Now, our families live all over the country and it is difficult to get them all together for a reunion….and there is the need for two income homes which makes scheduling almost impossible. thanks my friend for stopping by. (Sorry about the Mountaineers loss to the Jayhawks…but notice we turned around the next week and lost to Cincinnati.)🥹🥲
Kari, I loved reading about your childhood! Life was simple, there was love and discipline in the home and home-cooked meals with everyone around the table for supper!
The chicken soup sounds delicious and perfect comfort food when you are feeling under the weather.
Thank you for sharing, my friend!
Blessings,
Pa
Thanks Pam for your sweet comments. I loved those days although at the time it was not special as everyone of my friends did the same things. It was a simple way of life but there was love all around us and we were grateful. Many families these days go their separate ways at meal times. What a shame and they don’t know what they are missing. Hugs and Blessings my friend.