This is how I do it:
Chunk 1 or 2 stalks of celery (leaves included)
Slice into 'silver dollars' 2 carrots
Heat dutch oven with a splash of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Toss in carrots & celery for a minute
Add Water (up to about an inch from the top of the pan)
Add Chicken (Whatever is in the freezer, today I used a bnlss/sknlss breast and a package that had 2 thighs and 2 wings). I put them in frozen.
Cook for several hours (or all day) on medium heat.
Add more water as it cooks down
About an hour before dinner:
Strain out chicken bones and skin, return meat to broth.
Add in noodles. (I like to use kluski noodles)
Add in a chicken bullion cube and a sprinkle of onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Cook for about 45 min, turn off.
Viola!
Why turn it off 15 min prior to eating? So you don't burn your tongue off, of course!
A few options:
*Add potatoes instead of noodles, use the "dumpling" recipe on the side of the Bisquick box for easy-peasy chicken and dumplings.
*Use only bnlss/sknlss breasts and then you don't have to pick out the bones/skin if that part grosses you out.
*Add 1 c. of uncooked rice instead of noodles or potatoes for chicken and rice soup.
*Add other veggies if you like them. I do not like them. That is why I leave the celery and carrot chunks big enough to pick out.
*Add peas, potatoes, and some roue (2 T. Flour in 1/4 water) to thicken, pour into prepared pastry and cover with a pastry to make pot pie.
*if you don't have all day at home to do it, put it in the crock pot on low for all day, add the dumplings or noodles when you get home from work, enjoy as soon as they are cooked.
Oh... the possibilities are endless. Let me know how easy YOU thought it was!
