Chicken Noodle Soup

This is a staple in our house all year round. Lamb family comfort food at its best. This is my own recipe, adapted from my mom's, and I usually just add ingredients to taste, but I will try to give measurable amounts as close as possible. So feel free to add more or less to your own tastes. I also use homemade noodles (recipe follows). The tradition at our house is to put a big dollup of mashed potatoes in the bottom of your bowl and then pile the soup on top. It may sound weird, but it makes the soup creamy and delicious. Give it a try!

Chicken Noodle Soup

1 small whole chicken
1 onion
3-4 stalks celery
4 whole carrots, peeled
1 bay leaf
1 clove garlic
salt
pepper
garlic salt
poultry seasoning
celery salt
thyme
water to cover
Put all above ingredients in a large saucepan, cover and bring to a boil. No need to chop veggies as this is just to cook the chicken and make the broth. Cook for 20-25 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate and let cool. Strain out veggies and discard. SAVE BROTH. When chicken is cool enough, remove all the meat from the bones and discard bones and skin. Bring reserved broth to a boil and add:
1 onion, chopped
10-15 baby carrots, chopped into bite-size pieces
3-4 celery stalks, chopped
1 bay leaf
thyme to taste
salt and pepper to taste
shredded reserved chicken pieces
Bring to a boil and cook until veggies are cooked through, skimming off the fat as it cooks (the frothy stuff that collects at the top of the pan). If you are adding homemade noodles add them during the last 5-7 minutes. (If not you can add premade bowtie or macaroni noodles at this point).

Noodles:
3-4 eggs
about 2 cups milk
pinch salt
wisk together and add enough flour to make into a dough (1-2 cups i think). dough shouldn't be overly sticky. Roll out onto a floured surface, and cut into thin, long noodles. I usually make the noodles before I start the soup, because they need to sit on the counter and dry out for a little while.
Add to soup during the last 5 minutes of cooking time.
Scoop a big dollup of mashed potatoes in the bottom of the bowl and cover with soup. ENJOY.
***Try the potatoes, you will never eat chicken noodle soup without them again****