Cook | Quick & Comforting Chicken Noodle Soup

And What Awaits Us at Home

For me, a return home is almost always a soft landing. This time, though, we are greeted not only by quiet rooms waiting patiently but also by the aftermath of winter’s grand arrival. With just one fluffy bout of flurries under our belt this season, Old Man Winter rather notably made his mark while we were away soaking up the southern sun.

You probably heard, a massive snow and ice storm has blanketed Kansas City, closing schools and shuttering businesses for several days, mine included. The streets are frozen and still, which while beautiful, I wasn’t sure we’d make it back for two reasons.

For starters, the ice. A tricky combination of ice and snow can make travel this time of year unpredictable and terrifying. The second? Our family just stepped in line behind countless others dealing with the gut-wrenching Norovirus mere days before stepping on an airplane.

I am writing this sandwiched between one child who violently threw up just days ago and another who hasn’t yet—which essentially means everything with her is on high alert, given the others’ projectile episodes that arrived without any notice whatsoever. Happy New Year! The boys in the row behind us gals are, most gratefully, on the mend. But I don’t want to think about that anymore. I want to focus on home and what awaits us there.

Up the icy drive, Christmas begrudgingly lingers behind frozen window panes—our crispy tree still proudly displaying droopy ornaments, red velvet bows hung on sconces (do I just leave them through Valentine’s Day?), and pine garlands on mantles, all reminders of a grand celebration that feels months away now. We had no energy to wrap it all up before our departure, so it sat for our return, waiting to be tucked away for eleven more months in the boxes I swear we just dug out.

Upon return from anywhere for more than three days—especially trips abroad with more cultural differences—home always feels like a stranger we must reacquaint ourselves with, one that demands tending before offering any comfort.

I cling to the promise of a crackling fire soon to warm our toes, which Alfie has gleefully volunteered to build, his new axe perfect for making kindling. While he builds and the other littles dump piles of sandy clothes in the mudroom, I will be on supper duty. And because no one’s stomach is really itself, something simple but healing sounds ideal.

Isn’t coming home one of the beauties of travel? To leave, to gain new perspective, and to return to a place where time has mostly stood still. Except, of course, for my geraniums, which I’m sure hope have now succumbed to the cold. (Update: they live!)

Although comforting, there is a strangeness to being back—a mix of longing and slight disorientation—but also an invitation: how do we pick up where we left off? For starters, we’ll need to eat. And something warm and healing is absolutely what is needed next.

So, what’s for dinner?

It’s a question that has tethered parents to the rhythm of daily life since the dawn of time. It’s asked in faraway places and in our kitchen, unchanged through the centuries—a simple, urgent inquiry that means everything.

Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

For a night like this, with everyone still recovering, something simple yet healing feels right. Rotisserie chicken noodle soup is a dish that comforts, nourishes, and asks little of me—a perfect choice to usher us back into the rhythm of home.

Ingredients:

• Rotisserie chicken: 1 whole, meat shredded, bones reserved.

Cook’s Note: I have made it a point to always have one de-boned rotisserie chicken in the freezer for nights just like this one. All it takes is a little preparation and foresight to make this miracle in the dead of winter when there is no venturing out!

1. Buy a juicy pre-made rotisserie chicken.

2. Take all the meat off the bone and freeze it in a gallon freezer bag.

3. Take the bones and freeze them, too.

4. Your future self will thank you.

• Olive oil: a few glugs will do

• Butter: a large knob (3 tablespoons or so)

• Onion: 1, diced

• Carrots: 3, peeled and sliced

• Celery: 3 stalks, sliced

• Garlic: 2 cloves, minced

• Chicken broth: 8 cups (see below)

• Bay leaf: 1

• Fresh thyme: 2-3 sprigs (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)

• Egg noodles: 8 ounces

• Salt and pepper: To taste

• Fresh dill: Chopped, for garnish (this we happened to have on hand from the holidays, and fortunate for us, it was still vibrant and green.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the chicken stock (optional):

• Place the reserved rotisserie chicken bones in a large pot with 4-6 cups of water. Simmer for 30 minutes, then strain to create a flavorful broth. Set aside.

2. Sauté the aromatics:

• In a large soup pot while the broth is heating up and being made, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute.

3. Build the soup base:

• Add the chicken broth to the pot. Toss in the bay leaf and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.

4. Add the chicken:

• Stir in the shredded rotisserie chicken and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes to meld the flavors.

5. Cook the noodles:

• Add the egg noodles and cook according to package instructions, usually 6-8 minutes, until tender.

6. Season and serve:

• Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh dill and heaps of parmesan before serving.

This soup feels like the answer to winter itself—a warm, steaming bowl that melts the frost and soothes the weariness. It’s a simple dish, humble yet restorative, no need for a grocery run, reminding us that coming home—no matter how messy—is always worth it.

xx Amanda