Chicken Noodle Soup (Without the Chicken, of Course)
In the most shocking turn of events since it snowed in Pittsburgh in January, a whole bunch of you mentioned "Chicken Noodle Soup" as your go-to meal when treating the sickies in your house.
I was hoping you'd say that!
Did you ever stop to think what vegetarians eat when they're sick?
Well, just pretend you have because I have and I have the answer.
Chicken Noodle Soup.
Without the chicken.
No, seriously. A good soup recipe is a good soup recipe. I can substitute out the bird and end up with a really fantastic soup that happens to have significantly less fat and fewer calories than the original. It doesn't necessarily taste like Chicken Noodle Soup exactly, but I'd say it's better. The focus is on getting the herbs right, which means the hearty vegetables end up taking center stage. It has all the warmth and coziness you want when you're sick, but it's lighter. Friendlier. Less birdy.
It's just plain yummy.
Vegetarian Chicken (-Less) Noodle Soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 small onions, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
4 carrots, sliced
3 bay leaves
4 teaspoons thyme (about 8 sprigs if using fresh)
1 package extra firm tofu, chopped and drained
2 32-oz boxes vegetable broth (not tomato-based -- look for one that is primarily root vegetables)
1 12-oz bag of dried extra wide egg noodles
1 tablespoon dried chopped parsley (about 3 tablespoons fresh)
salt and pepper to taste
1. Prep the tofu. Start by chopping it into little squares and draining the liquid. Then take four paper towels and fold them in half on top of a plate. Put the tofu on top of the paper towels. Place a few more paper towels on top of the tofu and then put a plate on top of the whole thing. Press firmly for a minute or two. The process gets some of the liquid out and helps the tofu cook better.
2. Place the olive oil, onions, celery, carrots, bay leaves, and thyme in a large skillet and sauté over medium heat until softened. The goal is to cook the vegetables, not brown them, so make sure you stir as needed.
3. Place the noodles and broth in a large saucepan. Cook on medium high heat for about five minutes. I know they're not done. They will be by the time we add the vegetables and tofu, though. Let's avoid mushy noodles, mmkay?
4. Dump the vegetables into the broth and keep cooking those noodles.
5. Place the tofu in your skillet (it should still have olive oil from the veggies) and sauté it lightly for one or two minutes. Again, you don't want to brown it, just make sure it is cooked.
6. Put the tofu in with the noodles. By now your noodles should be perfectly cooked. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Add your parsley.
Alexis seriously loves this soup. Of course, she loves vegetables and she loves tofu and she loves egg noodles, so it makes sense that she's a happy camper when I make it. She might even try to fake sick once in a while so she can try to convince me to conjure up a little Vegetarian Chicken Noodle Soup.
I'm working with Mucinex and BlogHer on a series of posts about dealing with the sick, so now would probably a good time to mention that there is another giveaway at the end of this post. First, though, a little something about Mucinex.
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Got it? Got it!
Now for your chance to win a id="mce_marker"00 CVS gift card. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what you're willing to fake sick to get. Alexis will do it for this soup, but maybe you dare to dream bigger? A day at the beach? To stand in line for a movie opening? Whatever it is, leave your comment.
The rules!
No duplicate comments.
You may receive 1 total entry by leaving a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/6/2013 – 3/31/2013
Be sure to visit the Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Recipe
Reader Comments (115)
When i was pregnant i faked being sick a lot so i could sleep in all day lol.
I fake sick to get a day off work.
I would fake sick to spend the day doing anything with my husband. It seems to be all about the kids right now.
I'm looking forward to faking it on the next warm day and taking my kiddo to the sculpture park. We'll walk/explore ourselves silly and then stop for lunch out - a rare treat. I'm smiling just thing about it! :)
A day at home alone with napping, catching up on photos and eating snacks without sharing.
I would totally fake sick to get out of going to a wedding or baby shower.
I'd fake it for 24 hours of sleep and someone bringing me meals in bed. I know I'm crazy, but I actually liked the hospital time after having my second two kids. All those sweet nurses taking care of me and asking how I'm feeling. And all I had to do was take care of one tiny sleepy baby. No dishes, cleaning, working or meals to fix. Heaven. Lol
I've faked sick to go to a horse show. Back in the day.
I fake sick to get my husband to make the kids' bottles and lunches for the next day. It's one of my designated jobs that makes me want to go "Moooooommmmmm, do I hhhhaaaavvvvveee to?!"
I would, and have, fake sick for a day of total peace and quiet!
I won't lie...I've faked sick on a day when I just COULD NOT STAND the thought of going to work again. And, yeah, I'd do it again ;)
I would fake sick to try a new lunch place that's only open during the week. I'm easy like that.
I fake sick the day before a mental health day. The day before I pre-plan at work by being all sniffly snorty coughy whoa is me to get my day off. I want to make it believable :)
I would fake sick for a day outside in nice sunny weather, doesnt matter what Im doing but beats sitting in an office all day
a backrub
I'm willing to fake sick just to get a day off work and a chance to clean the house un-interrupted. But, I should aim higher and say a beach vacation.
I would fake sick just to stay in bed under the covers and get some extra sleep!
Sleep. I'm willing to fake sick for sleep. For realz.
I would say chocolate if it worked. But when my throat is sore, I tend to eat ice cream, so I guess if I really wanted some and was feeling guilty about wanting it, I could probably fake a sore throat for that.
I actually faked sick last week for an afternoon to just totally veg out on the couch. No big deal as I am a stay at home mom with kids at school, but it helped keep the guilt at bay that I should be cleaning.
fake sick to get homemade mac and cheese
vmkids3 at msn dot com
I;ll fake sick to go to the beach.
I'd fake a sick day to watch a whole day of guilty reality shows, without the guilt! ;)
I'm willing to fake sick for a day of cuddling with Jody Picolt's latest novel
I am paranoid to fake sick! I would end up being 10x sicker that whatever I claimed to be fake sick with. I would love to have a fake sick day to just lay in bed and read all day!
i'd fake to get things done around the house, paint a room, fix the deck, build a shelf
I don't ever fake sick
movie and ice cream
do I do not fake sick.. somtimes my body just shuts down
I faked sick once when my sweetie refused to let me get out of bed. WooHoo!
I'm willing to fake sick to have a day off for a road trip. I love traveling! :-)
Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com
a day off work
I have faked sick to get out of work so I would have more time for my school work.
snugggling up in a warm blanket with a favorite stuffed animal
I would fake being sick to get a day of rest in bed with a good book. My husband can watch the boys :D
Thanks
I do it when I am mentaly tired and need a brake.
to end a date that is going bad
An extra day of cuddling with my dogs
trippyjanet at gmail dot com
I'd fake sick to get my father's famous meatballs with some pasta!
I faked sick to take my son to the midnight showing of Twilight lol
I would fake sick for just one day free from cleaning my house ! :)
I would fake sick just to have a day off from work.
I don't fake sick. I can't imagine a reason to. Perhaps for a $100 Gift Card cough sniffle
I'M WILLING TO FAKE SICK FOR MUCH NEEDED SLEEP! THANKS FOR THE CHANCE!
I am willing to fake sick to get my hubby to rub my feet
I do it to go to opening day of baseball season!
I am willing to fake sick to get attention from hubby
I will fake sick to catch up on tv shows I'm behind on!
I might fake sick to attend a matinee of touring show.
Thanks for the contest.
I have faked sickness to get out of going to things my husband wants to see.
, such as car shows. Boat shows golf ectect