Chicken Noodle Soup w/ Homemade Egg Noodles

Need a little comfort for the soul? This soup is so comforting you will fall in love! This is my version of a very classic soup...The ingredients are kept simple yet the flavor is outstanding! The homemade egg noodles make this extra special! Must be made with lots of LOVE!! 

4-5 chicken breasts with skin & bone (so much flavor comes with the bone, don't skip it!)

6 good size carrots

4-5 stalks of celery (use the leafy part too, that is where all of the flavor is)

1 large yellow onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 bay leaves

1 tsp poultry seasoning, or 1 tsp sage

1 tsp thyme leaves (fresh is best, but dried will work)

3 tbsp chicken base, if you can't find this then chicken boullion cubes will work. (about 7 or 8)

Salt & pepper

LOVE

In a large soup pot , about 8 qt size, cover chicken with just enough water to cover. Add about 1 tbsp salt & 2 tsp pepper, onion, garlic, & bay leaves. Bring to a boil (remove any gray foam from that rises to the top, that is just some of the chicken impurities & you don't want that) then reduce heat to a simmer & cook about 2 hrs or until the chicken is tender & falling off the bone. Remove the chicken from pot, be sure to get any bones that have fallin off. Let cool before you shred it or cube it. While shredding chicken add carrots & celery. Taste soup for seasonings...does it need more chicken base/boullion or more salt or pepper? Adjust flavorings now. Let the vegetables cook on a medium boil for about 8 minutes. Add the shredded chicken & egg noodles & cook on a medium boil for another 8 minutes or until the vegetables & noodles are tender. I under cook the noodles a bit because they will continue to cook in hot liquid. I hope you add as much love into yours as I do...I think it's the real secret to this soup! 

Egg Noodles

4 eggs

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

Combine flour, salt, & baking powder; mix to combine. Add eggs and stir till you have a dough. Roll out very thin on a floured surface & cut into noodles. They can be whatever shape you like. It's homemade, it's rustic, they're not supposed to be perfect. Noodles can be made in the morning and left to dry on counter all day or can be made right before you need them as well.