Post-Holiday Recovery Soup

Ingredients 

• 2 cups water 
• 1 32-ounce box of organic, free-range chicken or vegetable broth 
• 2 - 3 boneless, skinless organic, pasture-raised chicken breasts, rinsed and patted dry* 
• 1 pound organic carrots, peeled and chopped into one-inch pieces
• 1 white onion, chopped into one to two-inch slices 
• 8 ounces raw baby organic spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-sized pieces 
• 1 organic jalapeño pepper, chopped fine 
• 2 cloves organic garlic, crushed and chopped fine 
• ½ tsp each: dried organic dill, rosemary, oregano (if using fresh herbs, add 1 tsp of each)
• 1 tsp ground cumin 
• 1 tsp smoked paprika 
• 1 tsp sea salt (add more or less to taste)
• 1 tsp ground black pepper (add more or less to taste)
• 2 organic avocados, cut into bite-sized chunks 
• If you have leftover turkey, you can shred or cut it into bite-size pieces and add it to the soup during the last 15-20 minutes of cooking time.

Directions 

1. In a large soup pot, pour in water and chicken broth.
2. Toss in all of the vegetables EXCEPT the avocado (carrots, onions, spinach, and jalapeño. You can also add other veggies you have on hand, such as mushrooms or zucchini).
3. Stir once and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.
4. Add chicken breasts (whole); if liquid does not cover chicken add more water or broth to just cover breasts.
5. Bring to a boil and boil for 5-10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover with tight-fitting lid, and simmer for two hours. Check after one hour to ensure broth is still covering chicken breasts.
6. At two hours, stir and check for tenderness of chicken – it should fall apart easily when pulled with a fork.
7. Add garlic and remaining spices; stir well and simmer 10-15 minutes more.
8. When done, use fork to tear chicken into bite-sized pieces. (Be careful as the chicken in the broth will be hot.)
9. To serve, scoop a serving-size of vegetables and chicken into a bowl; use a ladle to pour broth over vegetables and chicken.
10. Add 2 -3 chunks of avocado to each bowl and serve. This is a hearty, healthy, post-holiday meal for lunch or dinner!

Makes 6 - 8 servings