Homemade Chicken & Noodles

This is one of those recipes.  It's one my grandma always used to make and one I always asked for when I'd come visit during college and during my early, single years.  I still ask her to make it now because it's one dish I KNOW my kids will devour.  It's easy.  It's unhealthy.  And it's wonderful comfort food.

So, I made it tonight for my daughter's second birthday. 

Time flies.

Homemade Chicken & Noodles
Serves: Not enough

Ingredients:
2-3 lbs of bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
1 package (1 pound) of Amish style egg noodles (regular will do if you can't get the Amish of Kluski style)
About 1-2 T of salt
About 6 cups of water

See?  It's one of those recipes.

Directions:
Put chicken in a large soup style pot.  Add enough water till it's covered and a tiny bit more.  Add salt.  Cook, covered with the lid slightly askew (you know what I mean) over medium-low heat for about 3 hours.  Alternatively, you can dump it in your crock pot on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Remove the chicken carefully from the water (it will fall apart easily).  Let it cool while you strain the broth through a mesh strainer.  (This part wasn't something my grandma did but I do and like the result).  I'll also take a paper towel around the edge of the pan where there's usually just evaporation gunk to avoid it falling in my yummy dinner.
Turn the temp up to get the broth boiling and dump in the noodles.

Once the chicken is cool enough to touch (or you're willing to burn your fingers because your family is HUNGRY and it smells amazing), separate the meat out from the skin, bones and fat and put replace in the pot.

Serve alone or over mashed potatoes.  (Yes, double starches- heavenly!)  I'm sure you could add some carrots, celery, onions, etc to this but why?  We love it just as it is!  Also makes great leftover, if there is any left of course!

Enjoy!