I've had several requests for this one! :)

Ingredients:

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

1 large onion, chopped

2 medium cloves garlic, minced

2 medium sweet potatoes (1 to 1 1/4 lbs.), peeled (I keep the skin on) and diced

1 large red bell pepper, diced

14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes

1 small hot green chili pepper, or more to taste, minced

2 (16-oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1 ripe mango, pitted, peeled and diced

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 tsp. salt


Directions:

Stir in sweet potatoes, bell pepper, tomatoes (with liquid), chili and 1 1/2 cups water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until potatoes are tender but still firm, 10 to 15 minutes.

 Stir in beans and simmer gently, uncovered, until heated through, about 5 minutes.  Stir in mango and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.  Stir in cilantro and salt.  Serve hot.  Makes 6 servings.

I like to serve this with plain cheese quesadillas - my kids love dipping them into the soup! :)

So my husband is home with the flu.  Mandatory "quarters" for 72 hours.  Doesn't say a whole lot about me keeping my family healthy.  Interesting though that he was the one who got the flu shot!!! Anyway,  his being sick and pitiful inspired me to write this blog and share my easy chicken soup recipe.  Who doesn't love homemade chicken soup when your head is aching and your sinuses are all stuffed up?  My mom made this for me and now I know how much love was put into each batch.

                                                    Mom's Easy Homemade Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1 whole, fresh chicken - feel free to add the giblets! 

4 celery stalks, sliced - including leaves

4 carrots, sliced into half moons

1 onion, diced

salt and peper to taste

These are all approximate measures - have fun playing with adding more or less of something or add something different for your own flare!

Directions:

Put chicken in large pot, cover with enough water to add veggies and to have a decent amount of broth.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium until chicken is cooked through.  You'll know this when chicken is floating, skin breaks and there is no pink showing.  Make sure to skim the scum off the top of the water as it cooks.  Once chicken is cooked, carefully remove chicken with a large spoon and transfer to another dish.  After letting the chicken cool somewhat,  you will then de-bone the chicken with your hands (this is the fun and therapeutic part).  You then return the chicken meat to the broth and voila!

At this point,  you can eat as is,  put over noodles or make dumplings.  When I'm feeding this to a "sickie",  I prefer sticking with the basic chicken and broth.  The steam will clear up the sinuses, the liquid will replenish fluids and the chicken is the perfect type of protein to get your loved one back on their feet again.

With the smile my husband had on his face after eating this,  I'd say it seems to be working for mine! :)