“A first-rate soup is more creative than a second-rate painting.” — Abraham Maslow
Maslow wrote “A Theory of Human Motivation.” An interesting, important and classic, psychological theory that examines the hierarchy of human need. The paper is so important, we keep a copy readily available here at 3mph. Food is at the top of the physiological needs list. And I’ll go out on a limb and put Chicken Noodle Soup at the top of the food / soup hierarchy.
Is there anything more beautiful, artistic and creative than a finely-crafted, chicken noodle soup? The deep, rich, liquid, gold broth; the tender, tasty noodles and the flavor enhancing Mirepoix. When you’re sick and you ache all the way to the bone or you’re just feeling a little blue. Chicken Noodle Soup has the healing power to set you right again; it’s art, medicine and soul food all in a single bowl.
The best soup is made with bone broth. A whole chicken folks, not a pack of breasts or thighs. I like to cook the chicken for an hour or so in a deep stock pot with the Mirepoix and a few herbs, then I remove all the meat and chunk the carcass and the bones back in the pot to stew for another few hours. I even break some of the bones in half to get access to the marrow. Numerous wisdom teachings praise the healing power of bone broth.
To get as much goodness as possible, some folks stew the carcass, low and slow for up to 12 hours, others do it with high pressure, in an Insta-Pot or pressure cooker. I kind of follow the 80/20 rule. I reckon I get 80 percent of the nutrients in the first 20% of the time, so a few hours is just about right.
My favorite thing about Chicken Noodle Soup is actually the noodles. I was trying to remember any fond memories of homemade noodles from my childhood and I can’t recollect one. I remember Mom and Grandma making homemade noodles occasionally but when I was young, chicken noodle soup usually came out of a little red Campbell’s can. Vickie turned me on to the joys of noodle making. Once I learned how easy it is to make them and how they magically transform soup into art, I was hooked. Then I discovered sourdough noodles and our Chicken Noodle Soup took on Legendary Status; a magical soul food that has the power to cure any ailment known to man.
Food my be the perfect artistic endevour – the ultimate canvas to paint your masterpiece. I suppose that’s why there are so many cookbooks and cooking shows.