Chick-less noodle soup

I do love a good chicken noodle soup. My husband on the other hand, won't eat it. No chicken whatsoever. Which is okay with me. As long as it tastes amazing, who cares if there are chunks of meat in there? This is what my chick-less noodle generally looks like. Glorious chunks of carrot, onion, celery and potato peek through a savory broth. It holds up pretty well for a meal with a couple of pieces of homemade bread. It's heavy on the garlic and onion, loaded with herbs and spices, and very satisfying. I made a big pot and have been slowly eating it this last week. It's a great way to regain my strength and keep my sassy attitude. Plus all those culinary herbs are also great for the body. Who knew?

Look at all the chunky vegetables.

My Chick-less Noodle Soup

Yield 1 gallon

2 tsp basil infused olive oil (or regular vegetable oil works)

2 cups chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped carrot

1 cup diced red potato

5 cloves minced garlic (I said it was heavy on garlic)

8 cups chicken or vegetable stock

2tsp curry paste

1 bay leaf

1tsp each: thyme, oregano, rosemary, ground fennel seed.

pinch of saffron

pinch of culinary lavender (ground)

black pepper and salt to taste

9 oz. fresh fettuccine pasta (in the deli case of most grocery stores, or make your own, or use 6 oz. dry fettuccine noodles--which aren't as good, but will work in a pinch)

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish, but also adds a lot of flavor)

In a large 6 quart stock pot heat oil over medium heat, add the onion, celery, carrot, potato and saute 4-5 minutes until onion is clear looking. Add the garlic. Saute 2 more minutes. Add stock, herbs and spices. Bring to a boil. Cook 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add the noodles and cook just until done (for fresh this is usually 5-6 minutes.) Add parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with bread or crackers.

This is also good for a sick budget! Homemade soup is so inexpensive, usually less than 5$ a gallon. What do you usually pay for a can of flavorless mushy noodles anyway? Hmm... I'm looking smarter everyday.