David's Favorite Recipes

  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake
Menu
  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake

The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup

SERVES 6 TO 8

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, thyme, and bay leaves. Cover and cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until the vegetables have softened, 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove the bay leaves and thyme and pour in the chicken stock. Raise the heat slightly and bring the stock to a boil; then, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste; it may need 2 to 3 teaspoons of kosher salt, but take care to adjust the seasoning to your own taste.

In a separate pot of boiling water, cook the noodles following the package instructions until they are al dente, tender but still slightly chewy. Ladle out and save ½ cup of the cooking water and drain the noodles; return the noodles to the pot you cooked them in and stir in the reserved cooking water to keep them from drying out or sticking.

To serve, ladle the soup and vegetables into individual heated serving bowls. Evenly divide the chicken and noodles among the bowls. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Chicken noodle soup is as American as apple pie, and I’ve tried many, many versions while working in the food business and on my own. This recipe is, in my opinion, the ultimate version. The secrets are to start with delicious homemade chicken stock (see page 26); butter poach the chicken breasts (see my daughter Heather’s recipe on page 130); and cook the noodles al dente, adding them separately just before serving. The result will cheer you up on any cold winter day.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
4 carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch coins
2 celery stalks, cut into ½-inch pieces
3 or 4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
6 cups The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock (page 26), or good-quality canned chicken stock or broth
6 ounces dried extra-wide egg noodles
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butter poached (page 130), cut into ¾-inch pieces, and kept warm
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh Italian parsley, for garnish