Homemade Chicken Soup

Ingredients

·         1 (3 pound) whole chicken

·         9 cups cold water

·         4 carrots, sliced

·         4 stalks celery, sliced

·         3 medium red potatoes

·         1 large onion, cut in wedges

·         2 whole bay leaves

·         2 cloves garlic, slightly smashed

·         1 teaspoon sweet basil (dried, chopped)

·         salt and pepper to taste

·         2 whole bay leaves

·         1 carton chicken broth (32 oz)

Directions

Put the chicken in a large soup pot and cover with water. Heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chicken meat falls off of the bones (skim off foam every so often).

Take chicken out of the pot. Strain the broth. Pick the meat off of the bones and return to the pot.  Add carrots, celery, potatoes and onion. Season the broth with garlic, basil, salt, and pepper; add bay leaves and broth.  Bring to a full rolling boil; then simmer covered until vegetables are done.