Chicken Soup for the... Body

Everyone was talking about the new chips. No, I don't mean organic blue corn and tomato salsa kind of chips, but the Intel chips that the brand new Apple Imac Duos were sporting. L. and I made our annual pilgrimage to Macworld, at which our inner geeks emerged fully formed and eager to discuss GHz, mbits, and PCIe and debate the merits of various cases for the nano ipod which neither of us own. It was fun, but after a few hours I regretted ignoring that advice that mothers give about not skipping breakfast as I scouted the SF Moscone Center for some lunch. The convention food wasn't very appetizing and we only managed to scrounge a small pack of gumbys from the booths. (Giving out candies seems to have gone out of fashion. The big giveaway this year seems to be buttons. Tell me, who besides the people working the show would pierce their clothing with advertising for some company's products? I'd never wear one, well ok, maybe if it said Neal's Yard Dairy Colston Bassett Stilton.)

After a day and evening of high tech adventure, we were eager for a counterbalancing organic experience - and one that would keep us healthy in spite of all the Macworld in January coughs and sneezes we heard. The choice? Our favorite chicken soup.

This is another excellent creation by L. This tastes wonderful and I swear, it really does cure the common cold.

By all means, get organic ingredients, if possible. The list below is right off of my shopping list receipt.
2x cartons chicken broth 8 cups
1 bundle of Soba noodles
2x cups loose spinach .25 lbs
15-20 Crimini mushrooms (small) .25 lbs
1x jalapeno pepper large .07 lbs minced
1x yam or sweet potato 1.5 lbs peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces - we use garnet or jewel or Japanese yams
2x leeks 1.5 lbs
1x carrot .25 lbs peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
1x chicken breast bone-In
1x celery stalk with leaves chopped
2x garlic cloves minced
1 pinch cinnamon
1 pinch all spice
7x - 12x fresh cranberries (optional)
1 tblsp butter
Salt and Pepper to taste
2x tblsp olive oil

Recipe: Chicken soup
Microwave the carrot and sweet potato for 15 minutes. This jump starts the cooking process for the soup, but if you don't have or don't want to use a microwave, then just put them in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Cook Soba noodles in a separate pot according to package directions.

Meanwhile, clean and cut leek into 1/2 inch rings
Heat olive oil in large pot.
Add leek and saute until softened - about 6 minutes
Skin chicken breast, separate bone from meat, cut meat into 2 inch long thin stripes
Add chicken breast to leek
Add Jalapeno pepper, garlic , celery, and mushrooms and saute for an additional 6 minutes.

Add chicken broth, yam, carrot, spices, salt and pepper to taste and bring to boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Mix in the spinach and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Mix in the Soba noodles and enjoy. L. likes to add in the soba noodles in the individual bowls, but you can add them to the pot too. Let us know if you make this, how you like it or how you improved it!