Chicken Soup for the Generations

The aroma of the kitchen will always be felt around the house.  Each meal was made with the loving hands of both my grandma and mom. I try to cook my best, but never as delicious as them. The food was just as tasty but brought so much comfort.   It was always a unifying time. Years of many meals, from the simplistic ones to the complicated ones. Each was a product of her sacrifice for our family.  However, I had my favorites, and that list was great. One of the best was my grandma's homemade chicken noodle soup. This recipe passed down from each generation, is not just a dish but a symbol of our family's love and unity. Each sip was made to taste great and be a healthier option than the ones loaded with preservatives. It was passed down to my mother, who held the recipe.  My grandma was always making all her meals from scratch, and this was one of them. All her cooking was excellent, and I never lost weight on every visit.  

Never a small batch of it was ever made.  The feast of such a soup was to be celebrated and bring a hearty meal to all the hungry mouths.  It was a family affair as the large pot was brought. It was the time to be fed and save for later.  Every year, my mom will do the same thing.  As a vertically challenged person who is only five feet on a good hair day, my mom would have to use a chair for such an event.  Gather all the ingredients and place them in a large pot.  We put my nephew in it one year for a picture opt off the stove.  He looked up curiously cute, as no soup was present then.  That night was always a delight as all could smell the dinner throughout the house. It still is a special time for memories.   Even grandma, during her time, would try different ingredients, but somehow, it would always turn out great. The process of making the soup, from chopping the vegetables to simmering the broth, was a labor of love that filled the house with a comforting aroma.

She added split pea soup to the chicken noodle soup one year, but that one was not my favorite. The greenish color and smell did give it away. My brother, who hates peas passionately, started to wonder about the new stew.  His only question was if it was chicken noodle soup.  Her response was that it was in it, and he took some.  As sensitive as he was, he did not hate it and had a second bowl.  Just staring at his delight was amusing, and I only told him later in life.  It is one of my cherished memories. The joy and laughter that filled the room as we all enjoyed the soup together are memories I will always cherish. 

My mom makes the soup now but just follows the recipe left behind by my grandma. The meal is popular and even brings out my sister, who hardly comes over anymore.  The soup is first eaten and then, after dinner, placed in bags to be frozen.  It does make a mess, but that is now a tradition.  It is one of my favorite meals.  Throughout the year, a frozen bag will be brought out to be thawed and then enjoyed after a few potatoes and noodles are added to the mix.  It is both a sad and happy experience remembering my grandma.  My mom's siblings have also pursued a desire to continue the grand tradition. All want the incredible recipes of my grandma and her cooking masterpieces.  Each year, I feel lucky that I will have this for myself and my siblings.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Sicilian Immigrants, my grandma, Rose (Mammino) Najmy, was born in The Great Depression and grew up in poverty but with upright morals.  She was a worker, and her house was always clean.  Cooking was part of that culture.  It is always a feast to eat with Italians.  She never had much as a kid, but her marriage to my grandfather brought a better life as a wife to an engineer. The table was never empty but full of food for all who came, and all were welcome.  All holidays and celebrations had so much food, but some leftovers always existed. The table was full of food, including several types of meat and vegetables.  Another favorite was stuffed grape leaves, which never lasted long. All were so full by the end of the celebration.   She cooked for years, perfecting her art of not using a recipe.   It was never a complete recipe, but it was always good.   She raised her six children on hearty meals and cooked for the local Catholic priests.

Nothing was ever too much, including catering to our graduation parties from high school.  Some of the classmates showed up just for the food. She was willing to give of herself and is sincerely missed.  She could never cook a small amount, and even when my friends visited Washington D.C., she made so much that we could not finish it, which almost offended her.  Near the end, she did slow down on the cooking, and eventually, the cancer resurged.  It was indeed a loss in the world to lose her. No one would ever cook like her again; my mom is not as good.

As an okay cook, I have always strived to be better like her.  Even if my meals are not the greatest and must follow a recipe, I have not forgotten the memories.  Food was the center of the family, and there was plenty to go around.  I tend to make too much food for the setting, leaving more leftovers.  It does not mean cooking as often, either.   My grandma's influence has been on our lives, and continuing to do my best in the kitchen is one of them.  Living by example is the best way to pass on precious traditions to future generations.  The cooking time can be chaotic with finding the right taste and amounts.  The old recipes hold dear to our hearts as our loved ones were willing to give nutrients to our lives.  I can still place my grandma with her apron in my mind working in the oven.  Even visiting the old house brought back so many memories, and it was sad to see the kitchen change.  The large table still sits in the dining area but with new owners. As it was in the past, this will never happen again, and to pass on the recipe is what we have left of her.  The chicken noodle soup recipe is a special time to enjoy a good meal and remember those who have passed.

This essential recipe has never been given outside of the family.  To give my grandma the legend of one of the most excellent cooks.  I must offer this to you.  Please treat it with care and respect.  It is even possible from my great grandma. I hope you enjoy this recipe and have a good time with your families.  It is for a pot of any size determined by the size of the chicken or even a turkey. And can be reduced to smaller amounts.   I give this with loving care to all who read.  Cooking was important to my grandma; her recipes can live on in many households.  Please enjoy and share with others. 

Here is Grandma's Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Wash chicken generously with salt and water.

Fill the pot with a little more than half of it with water.

While the water comes to a boil, clean the chicken.

Place chicken in boiling water.

Let the water return to boiling.

Prepare but do not add Carrots, one small can of potatoes, 3-4 celery sticks, one 1 large or small onion

When water comes to a boil. Then cook for 20 minutes; take away brown goop.

Add salt, pepper, garlic chips, and parsley.

Reduce heat

Let cook covered for 3 hours, keep seasoning to taste; when finished, remove chicken.

Cook noodles in soup; you can also add potatoes at this time.

Extra touch: Five minutes before noodles are done, beat two eggs, add salt and pepper, grated parmesan cheese, and parsley, pour into boiling cooked noodles, and stir, stirring until eggs are cooked.