My Magic Chicken Soup for the Soul [original recipe]

Whenever someone in our familiy becomes a slight cold, it's time for the

Magic Chicken Soup for the Soul

After eating a few spoons of this, you feel much more energetic.
You are powered up with lots of healthy vitamins and the cold often goes away very fast.

And this is what you need, to make it:

Ingredients

1. A young cock

Some people prefer to use a boiling hen, but it takes much longer to get the meat done.
I also prefer to buy organic meat whenever I can.

2. Some greens and vegetables

For this soup I took 3 carrots, 1/2 celery, 4 potatoes, 2 pieces of leeks and a small piece of cauliflower.
Later I added 1 red sweet pepper, cause I had one at hand, but this is optional.

3. Spices for the chicken fond

You'll need an onion, 3 bay leaves, 6 pimento grains, 1 tablespoon of salt.
Also optional but recommend is to add 1 tablespoon of instant vegetable broth.
Sometimes I add it to the chicken fond, sometimes to the vegetables stock.
As I pour both together in the end, it doesn't really matter, where you add it.
It makes the soup even more tasty.

4. Rice or soup noodles

Most of the time I take Basmati rice, because it has a nice flavor.
But you can also add some soup noodles, if you prefer.

5. Add some seasoning

I often use Parsley, but you can also add other herbs you like in the end.

Step by Step Guide

1. Clean the cock under running water

(If you bought a deep frozen one, be sure that it is fully defrosted first.)
Also be sure to wash your hands and all dishes, that had been in contact with the raw meat, very carefully. (Because of possible salmonellae.)

2. Put the bird into a pot

I mostly choose a pasta pot, cause it has a built in colander.
This way I can easily separate the font from the other ingredients after the cock is done.

3. Prepare the onion

Cut the onion in half and simmer the halves in a non-stick pan (without fat and oil)
until the cut side is slightly getting brown.
You should leave the shell where it is, as it will give the chicken font a nice brownish color.

4. Now add the other ingredients

Put onion, bay leaves, pimento grains, salt and brooth in the chicken-pot and fill it up with water until the cock is fully covered.
Now boil it for about 1 hour.

5. Prepare the vegetables

While the cock is cooking, you can prepare the vegetables.

Before you cut everything in small pieces, you should fill another pot with water and add a dash of salt.
(The pot should be big enough to contain the pultry font and the cock meat later on.)
Let the water boil, while you cut the vegetables.

6. Put everything into a saucepan

Put the vegetables in the boiling water and let it cook for about 20 minutes.

7. Prepare the rice

While the vegetables are cooking, you can prepare the rice.
Just put about 1-2 cups of rice into a third pot and fill it up with the double amount water.
Add a dash of salt and let the water boil. After it has boiled, you can let the rice simmer at small temperature until it's done.
This should just take about 10-15 minutes. When finished you can put the rice into the pot with the vegetables.