Recipe: Lazy Sunday Soup

This is a perfect Lazy Sunday. We've got good new books, lots of fresh coffee, fire in the fireplace, blankets and kitties for coziness. It's raining just hard enough to want to stay inside in PJs for the day. The ideal lunch? Lazy Sunday Soup. Here it is.

From the freezer, take 1 pound diced chicken breast. Throw in the microwave to thaw and have a cup of coffee.

In a medium-size pot (cast-iron is best), pour a good splash of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Heat on high.
When oil is hot, toss in your thawed chicken. Stir-fry a few minutes to coat and separate the pieces.

Add 1 pouch of Lipton Roasted Onion and Garlic dry soup mix, stir well to coat the chicken. Pour in a good healthy bit of Soya Sauce. Stir and stir - everything should be dark brown and smelling yummy. Add a handful of crushed chillies/dried red pepper flakes.

Pour in 4 cups of good Ottawa tap water. :D (or whatever water is handy). Add three or four handfuls of commercial dried soup mix (beans, peas, lentils, rice, etc.) Bring to a boil.

Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and cover with a lid. Simmer for a good hour whilst you read your book by the fire (with more coffee, or a nice glass of wine if you prefer). If feeling particularly energetic, you could start your homemade bread at the same time, it will finish its first rising just about the time the soup is ready.

Ladle soup into two soup mugs, being sure to evenly distribute chicken, beans, broth. No sneaking all the chicken for yourself! Serve in lazy-boy recliners, by the fire. There will be enough left over for two more bowls - once it cools a bit, divide into two freezer containers and freeze for lunch later in the week.

That's it. It's easy. It's good. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Go make soup.