Foodie Friday: Chicken and Stars Soup

This weekend is my favorite weekend. This weekend, we celebrate my favorite human bean. My little bean will turn fifteen on Sunday. Celebrating her and her birthday holds so much meaning. Not only is it the day we celebrate her entrance into this world, but we celebrate becoming a family and the gift she is to us. Her birthday is my absolute favorite day. Being a mom and wife are the best roles and gifts I could imagine. For a very long time, I didn’t think either would happen to me. I love being The Bean’s mom.

If I’m being transparent, the teen years are hard. It’s hard to see her grow up and, little by little, gain her independence. Don’t get me wrong; I love having a front-row seat in her life, who she is becoming, and all the amazing accomplishments that make her confident and proud. However, I miss my little buddy who would curl up on my lap, hold my hand in her little chubby, sticky one, and that little, tiny voice that would tell me she loves me and I am her best. Sigh. She’s an amazing young woman, and she makes me proud every single day, but I miss her being little.

As is the norm for her birthday, we anticipate a winter storm. The weather never cooperates for The Bean’s birthday. On January 7, 2009, she was born during an ice storm. Eric and I vividly remember the white-knuckle drive from Brookville to DuBois Hospital the morning her birth mother went into labor. We made it in time to be with her birth mother for most of her labor, and we were present when my baby took her first breath. It was an amazing gift we are forever grateful for. 

Since we will likely be home for The Bean’s birthday, I plan to make all her favorite meals this weekend. I will make my bright, little star Chicken and Stars soup tonight. The Bean agrees it is a good weekend for soup with the impending winter weather. She chose stelline pasta on one of our trips to the grocery store and has been looking forward to chicken and stars soup. Today, I will share with you her favorite recipe for kid-friendly chicken and star soup. There is just something fun and exciting about little, tiny heart-shaped noodles. Yes, it is basically chicken noodle soup, but the tiny stars make it extra special. I used to make this soup for her when she was little and not feeling well.

Chicken and Stars Soup

Ingredients:

3 Tbls. Butter

1 Sweet Onion, Diced

3 Carrots, Peeled and Diced

2 Celery Sticks, Diced

3 Garlic Cloves, Minced

Salt and Pepper To Taste

½ tsp. Poultry Seasoning

2 Cups Cooked Chicken, Shredded

8 Cups Chicken Stock

1 Parmesan Cheese Rind

1 Cup Uncooked Stelline Pasta

1 Tbls. Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

3 Tbls. Fresh Parsley

Parmesan Cheese For Topping

Instructions:

Heat the butter in a large stock pot over low heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften. Stir in the poultry seasoning and the shredded chicken.

Add the chicken broth and the parmesan rind. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer. Stir in the star pasta. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, following pasta cooking directions on the box.

Add the lemon juice and fresh parsley. If the parmesan rind did not melt completely, remove it at this time.

Serve the soup immediately. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

I will serve this for dinner tonight with a tossed salad and garlic bread. I will also make my favorite girl cupcakes. On her birthday, we will have gob cake, but we celebrate the whole month of January. After all, it’s the best day ever and the best kid ever. She deserves at least a month of celebration.  

On this chilly January day with an impending winter storm, stay safe, be smart, celebrate those you love, enjoy warm, comforting food, and keep washing your hands.