On Being Thankful for Roasted Chicken Leftovers

Dear Friends,

A couple of family emergencies have deterred my blogging lately.But they haven't deterred my cooking.

In times of trouble I look for comfort in familiar things...... especially the most familiar tasks, like roasting a chicken and making chicken broth from the carcass.

But what really lifts my spirit in tough times is having leftovers in the fridge.

I love having leftovers! Even the most weary of souls can transform leftovers from one meal into a totally new and unique meal. And from recent experience I have to say that a roasted chicken makes for some of the most inspiring of leftovers of all.

This particular roasted chicken (stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted with potatoes, onions, carrot, and garlic) was first transformed into sandwiches. Then it became the filling for an omelet. Then it became a hasty (and exceptionally tasty) hash served with fried eggs. And in a moment of desperation I stood there with the refrigerator door open and ate some of it right out of the storage container, cold.

But tonight this roast chicken made it's last transformation when it became one of the best chicken soups I've ever eaten in my life.

I regret that I don't have a recipe to share, I just chopped up the chicken and vegetables, simmered them briefly with the broth, added noodles and salt, and it turned out particularly delicious.

But I do have some words of encouragement...... when life hands you trouble, roast a chicken. The chicken, the broth, and all of its incarnations will help you get through some of the hardest of times.

Thank you for checking on me. I'll be blogging again soon...

love, homegrown countrygirl