A chicken soup recipe might seem a little strange to write about since we’re in the middle of summer, but I’ve been keeping track of the number of visits to my Squidoo lens on home canning recipes and it seems that people are looking for all kinds of recipes to use as they get ready for harvesting the vegetables from their gardens.

I don’t have a large (or even small for that matter) garden this year, but I have in the past and I know it takes some creativity to preserve the abundant crops we all hope for at the end of the season.

One of the questions someone asked was, “Can you use barley or other grains in your soup recipes that you can?”

For the past ten years my husband and I have been canning turkey or chicken soup. We always add either rice or barley. In order to make sure we don’t have any problems during the canning process we thoroughly cook the barley or rice before the canning process begins. The other vegetables can be added closer to the time that the grain is done so you don’t end up with mushy vegetables.

Chicken Soup Recipe

1 whole chicken
2 onions (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
3-6 carrots (diced)
1 cup barley or rice
1 bunch of celery (diced)
2 cups fresh or frozen corn
2 cups fresh or frozen green beans
1 bay leaf
salt & pepper to taste
2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce (or to taste)

Cook the whole chicken, salt & pepper and bay leaf in enough water to create an appropriate amount of broth for the soup. When the chicken is done, remove it from the pot of broth and remove the bones, skin, etc. and cube the meat.

Add the onions and barley or rice to the broth and cook until almost done. Add the celery, carrots, green beans, corn, and the chicken. If you’re not planning on canning this soup you can go ahead and add the vegetables in with the rice or barley and it will all be done at the same time.

Serve with a salad and slices of homemade Ezekiel bread.

A friend sent me an email this morning with this popular Youtube video. Maybe you’ve already seen it or one similar . . . it shows two young people in a plaza holding signs that say, “Free Hugs”. At first people are reluctant to approach them, but soon you see folks stopping to get a hug and it almost looks like long lost friends reuniting.

I like to start my day with something that inspires me to be more open, loving and accepting of my fellow humans.  This did it for me this morning.

Here’s my hug to you. This should boost your immune system and put a smile on your face. Pass it on.

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Happy Mother’s Day to everyone.

My daughter, Jessie drove over from Bellingham a few days ago so we could spend some time together. It’s been several months and I was so pleased that we could attend a tea and fashion show together yesterday. It was coordinated by a woman in Spokane who finished treatment for breast cancer about six months ago. She wanted to do something for others following her successful treatment and recovery.

Going through such a difficult health crisis certainly makes it easy to be grateful for the everyday blessings.

I’m inspired by the love and energy of the people I meet who survive and thrive in spite of the dreadful side effects of chemo and radiation treatment.