My Grandmother's Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup always makes me feel better!1 Whole Chicken, cut up
2 Lbs Flanken style beef short ribs
1 large onion, sliced
1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 cup parsnips (about 5), peeled and sliced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 Tbs kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 cup dried lima beans
sachet filled with 1 Tbs Fresh dill, 1 Tbs fresh parsley, 1 tsp fresh sage, 1 tsp fresh thyme, 5 peppercorns, 5 whole cloves, 1 bay leaf)

Put all of the ingredients into a large Dutch oven.  Add just enough water to cover the chicken by 1/2 inch.  Bring to a simmer uncovered.  Skim the foam off the top of the soup.   Continue to simmer covered for about 1 1/2 hours until the lima beans are tender.  Taste and adjust salt and pepper.  Remove the satchel of herbs.  Serve with egg noodles and enjoy!

Recipe Notes: It's important not to add too much water.  This soup is even better the next day.  Refrigerate Soup--the fat will float to the top and solidify.  Once this happens, you can skim it off the top of the soup.  For more information see, "A Perfect Day For Chicken Soup."

Balsamic Glazed Grilled Chicken

2 whole chicken breasts split in half

 1/4 Cup Kosher Salt

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Mix Salt and Sugar in 2 quarts of water. and add the chicken breasts.  Allow the chickens to soak in the brine for at least two hours.  Remove the breasts, rinse off, and pat dry.  Prepare a grill and coat the breasts in the balsamic vinaigrette.  Place chicken on the hot grill and cook until grill marks appear, about 5 minutes.  Flip the chicken and brush a final coat of the glaze onto the chicken.  Cook until grill marks appear on the second side and the chicken is cooked through, about an additional 3 minutes.  Remove from the grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Recipe Notes:  This is a basic brine.  I brine all of my poultry.  It imparts a ton of flavor and leaves the meat very, very juicy.  If you don't use the vinagarette as a glaze, add additional spices to the brine, coat the chicken lightly with conola oil, grill and enjoy!