Can Chicken Soup Be Improved,

 Ir';s as classic as toast and a staple of sick households. Chicken soup has been around forever, giving comfort and nutrition. However can the basic recipe be improved on> Surprisingly yes,

Regular contributor and  chef Ali Slagle says yes in her article on it in today's New York Times Wednesday's Food section. She gives  tips and tricks to make the soup even more tastier and more beloved.One of the most important is use broth  not water. Water tends to impart a bland flavor while broth contributes a richness and tastiness.Any store bought kind will do  some good brands are Lidl, Stop and Shop and Acme Signature lines).Ms. Slagle doesn't;t mention the low sodium kind but use it it there are dietary restrictions. Another important tip is use herbs and spices. Don't be afraid of them. Turmeric annatto seeds and paprika give it an earthy taste while dried oregano and rosemary along with red peppers give a more Italian or Green flavor.Switch up the veggies. Do use alliums  such as onion and garlic for a stronger, more robust taste, Dont; be afraid to add diced tomatoes and peppers along with lemongrass , radishes and squash . Bay leaf is an important addition,It gives a soft and much needed earthiness and greenness to the broth.

what about chicken?Cooking a whole chicken for soup (and even stock ) can take up precious hours simmering. Ms. Slagle recommends using store bought already cooked meat,Rotisserie chicken cooks up only three minutes in hot broth A pat of butter also helps too, bringing richness to the soup. Garnish with any kind of bright green herb you can find. She offers a variety of different chicken soup recipes  some subbing in store bought gnocchis for dumplings. There is also the Greek avologomo which has the tanginess of fresh lemons. 

This is chicken soup weather. Make a big pot of it during t his blizzard. Then enjoy it's rich goodness.

That First Lunchbox

Lunchboxes will always hold a special place in kids' hearts. Little ones facing a full school day need the comfort of a well stocked lunchbox. Unfortunately it sometimes has moms stumped, especially when their eldest is the first to being the full school day.

First, mothers shouldn't freak out. Pack what your kid likes, even if it is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. For these and any other sammies, think about cutting them  out with cookie cutters or buying sandwich cutters. Pottery Barn has such shapes as bunnies and cats along with airplanes and trains.They're not expensive being priced anywhere from $2,50 to $7.50 a cutter. One thing to remember is that create sandwiches with whole wheat and/or whole grained breads. Everyone , from Panera  to Pepperidge Farm have some excellent ones. If moms are good with baking, then think about baking loaves, filled with oats, honey and love.Many little ones love wraps.These are fun to make and fun to eat. Have the little scholars help create them. Again ones made from whole wheat would be preferable however if your little gourmet prefers tomato basil or spinach herb , then use them. Again be creative with fillings. Shredded mozzarella, sliced tomatoes and pepperoni  can make for a wonderful cold pizza. Or try egg salad with just a hint of curry for something different.

Another fun idea is subbing the lunch box with a Bento one. This Japanese import - which can easily be bought at Target - is gaining in schoolyard popularity.It has four sections that can easily hold the main dish, along with veggies,fruit and a snack. Think string cheese or peanut butter with apple slices for protein along with grapes and carrots for sweet and crunchy sides. Another idea is hummus with pita chips,Pair with apple slices and celery chunks.If the kindergartener or first grader still wants a lunchbox with inside verve ,consider some fun alternatives. Try stackers, which is a Ritz cracker with a cut out slice of meat and topped with cheese Again use cookie or sandwich ones to cut out such meats as low sodium ham and turkey and cheeses such as a mild cheddar or American. To make them fancy, add a little blob of mayo topped with a pitted olive.Ants on a raft will definitely insure the  little one's popularity. This wild bite is nothing more than peanut butter spread on Saltines and topped with raisins Edible emojis  are a great lunches. Take rice cakes, smear cream cheese on them and create faces , from sliced vegetable bits such as grape tomatoes, peppers, carrots and celery.

Fill your little one's first lunchbox with memories of fun and good foods.They'll love what you've made. It'll be the talk of the lunchroom.