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You are here: Home / Recipes / Cooking Therapy

Cooking Therapy

01/25/2017 By Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie 12 Comments

Cooking Therapy

It’s all around us, streaming on every social media channel, in the papers and magazines, on TV’s and radio, and blaring in restaurants and airports. The news. I’m finding that the more I stay away from seeking it out, the calmer I am.

Now

Today I engaged in cooking therapy and some baking therapy, too. I turned off the news and email, turned on the music, and made a big pot of chicken soup both for my soul and to take to a dear friend whose husband just had surgery. Then I made a loaf of bread from my friend Jane’s book, and capped it all off with some Madeleines just because I like them and they make me feel good. I’ll give the Madeleines away tomorrow. Tonight I’m feeling calmer and more centered than I have in weeks, maybe months.

Then

I feel like I did when I lived at the post and beam house my son’s dad and I built in the 1980’s. I taught music, gardened, sewed, knit, read, walked, watched VHS movies with my family, and made ice cream. Our social schedule consisted of play group, a 12 family food buying coop, and evenings with friends for dinner. We rarely listened to the news. The really important stuff always got to us. When the Loma Prieta Earthquake in Oakland struck in October of 1989 we cried because of people we knew who were there; when the Berlin Wall came down three weeks later we celebrated because it meant that our world was more open and free.

Tomorrow

Now everywhere I turn I see people wondering “what’s next?” I know that it is important to keep current, but it is also important to turn down the velocity and volume of all the rapidly changing current events before burning up with anxiety. 

Today

Today I baked. Today I cooked. Today I helped a friend. Today I took care of me. 

Print Recipe

Chicken Soup Therapy

This soup nourishes the soul.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time1 hr 30 mins
Total Time2 hrs
Course: Soup
Servings: 8
Author: Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie

Ingredients

  • 1 chicken cut into pieces
  • water
  • 3 carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1 stalk celery chopped
  • 4 small parsnips peeled and chopped
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 4-6 cloves garlic diced (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • In a big pot put about 12 cups of water and turn the heat to high.
  • While waiting for the water to boil chop the vegetables.
  • Add the chicken pieces and vegetables, optional garlic, salt and pepper.
  • Lower the heat and simmer covered for one hour. Lift the chicken pieces from the pot and remove the bones and discard. Cut the meat into bit size pieces and return to the pot. Simmer for one more hour if you like.
  • Taste the broth and add more salt to your own taste.

Notes

You can cool the soup overnight and skim off the fat before reheating the soup.

 

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: chicken soup, cooking therapy

12 Thoughts on Cooking Therapy
    Patricia Keeney
    25 Jan 2017
     9:05pm

    So true Kate! Today I baked your deep dish clam pie..improvised with Trader Joe’s canned clams. Quite satisfying . Especially the act of burying my hands in pastry . Thank you !

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      25 Jan 2017
       9:07pm

      My pleasure and good to know about using the canned clams. Thank you, Patricia!

      Reply
    Gill
    25 Jan 2017
     9:29pm

    Hi Kate…

    I’d love to have your recipe for Madeleines..

    Thanks!

    Gill

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      25 Jan 2017
       9:35pm

      Gill- I have using the GF one from Blackbird Bakery by Karen Morgan.

      Reply
    Jane, The Heritage Cook
    25 Jan 2017
     11:40pm

    I have been turning down the electronic input too to save my sanity. Glad you are creating a peaceful haven at Pie Cottage!

    Reply
      Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie
      25 Jan 2017
       11:58pm

      It’s my sanctuary.

      Reply
    Dalila G.
    26 Jan 2017
     5:17am

    I “unplug” more often since I find other activities to be much more fun, I’ve been doing it for years now. It’s way more relaxing in my opinion.
    I enjoy company of friends, reading my books, talking to my sisters and of course baking. 🙂
    I always find joy in my baking, plus, my friends and neighbors really like the goodies I give them. They even offer ideas on what I should bake next….LOL!
    Have a nice day Kate!

    Reply
    Cynthia
    26 Jan 2017
     5:18am

    In this ‘now’ world of alternative truths, baking does not surprise you with alternatives. It either works or it does not. I think I choose the absolutes. I don’t like the prospect of having to tip toe my way around the vast inadequacies of the news media to pull out the bits of truth.
    News should be like pie crust. It either turns out or it doesn’t.

    Reply
    Helen Montfort
    26 Jan 2017
     5:21am

    Kate, Thank you for your post. So true.
    On Sat., to honor The March, I had friends over who could not attend The March and
    made hand-pies with two little girls, 5 and 7. We shared Chili and corn bread and
    Coconut Cake. Later in the day, friends who had gone to The March arrived, cold and
    hungry and we shared the food and the news (and they watched on TV) that The March was going on around the world, not just in DC. They had no idea, as cellphones in DC
    had overloaded the system in DC.
    Gathering together and sharing food and pie. Amazing day.

    Reply
    Diana
    26 Jan 2017
     6:05am

    Thank you for this …
    Each day, so something kind for yourself. Do some thing kind for another person.
    That is how we keep the darkness from swallowing us .

    Reply
    Sandy Frankel
    26 Jan 2017
     7:01am

    So true-I have been on anxiety overload. My head will explode soon if I don’t tune out.
    I did march in CA-it was inspirational, peaceful, empowering and positive. But-I have to continue the involvement, somehow.
    But for today-I will shop to make meals for my elderly in laws, cook to my hearts content.
    I think I shall we begin with your chicken soup.
    With my corgi at my side, some good music blaring-and a sigh of relief.
    Cheers

    Reply
    Lydia Henry
    27 Jan 2017
     4:12pm

    This is a good reminder to turn down the noise and find comforting things to do. It also helps when I have to step back into the chaos…knowing there is a quiet place that I can go to and cook wonderful food, relax with music – makes the noise a little more tolerable. And me less brittle.

    Reply

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