Day Three: Chicken Noodle Soup

We were coasting today, thanks to all that yummy roasted chicken already in the fridge.  Without having to worry about a trip to the grocery store, Jack and I could relax and play all day.  Poor Mike had to go back to work.  Jack wanted to sit in his booster seat first thing this morning and do some work.

During Jack's nap I spent about 30 minutes watching last night's Nightly News (that's the only way we can watch the news around here) and chopping up the ingredients for the soup.  By the time Brian was signing off, I was finished.

Mike loves chicken noodle soup.  It's his all-time favorite.  He likes it so much he orders it at places where everyone knows you are not supposed to order soup (i.e. Steak 'n' Shake).  I prefer to not touch silverware at Steak 'n' Shake. 

Since Mike avoids vegetables at all costs, I try my best to sneak more into the soup.  I usually double the celery and carrot in the recipe. 

When it was time for dinner, making the soup was super easy.  I just simmered the broth, added the chopped veggies, then the noodles, and finally the chicken.  Mike hovered during this last step, urging me to add "just a little more chicken." 

Isn't that a pretty pot?   To round out the meal I just had to pop some crescent rolls in the oven, slice an apple, and Bob's your uncle (as my Dad would say).

Do you think Jack ate the soup?  No!  Of course not!  He did come really close at one point.  Mike and I both got so excited we stopped breating for a little bit.  He took a noodle, looked at it carefully, and put it in his mouth.  He spit it out, looked at it again, and put it back in his mouth.  We were sure this meant he was accepting our food offering.  But, no.  Once more the noodle reappeared, not to be touched again.  He did enjoy the apples and the crescent rolls, however.

Good news: there are enough leftovers to feed a small army.  I've heard lots of stories about how you can't freeze the noodles in chicken noodle soup.  I am not going through and picking those out, so this soup must head to the fridge.

Do you think my trick hiding the vegetables in Mike's soup worked?  No!  Of course not!  Look what was left in the bowl when he was finished... these boys, I swear!

Cleaning up from dinner was ultra quick and easy, since most of the work was done beforehand.  Mike didn't even try to fight me when I insisted it had to be done immediately and not after he ran an errand.  I've heard that line before... not working, mister.

We had plenty of time left in our night to run to Sam's and Harter House.  As soon as we asked Jack if he wanted to go to Sam's, he replied "Walk?!"  Walk really isn't the appropriate word, since he tears through the aisles at top speed, sending shopping carts careening out of his way.  It makes him happy and tired, so we're cool with it.

I get the next couple of nights off, as Mike takes over in the kitchen.  He has been studiously reading all his favorite cookbooks.  He has marked what appear to be about 50 recipes he wants to try.  And the dreamer dreams...