I used to be an over-the-counter cold medicine junkie (only when I got sick). A couple years ago I developed an allergy to something in the OTC stuff. This and the Shystee Cold Remedy have taken care of me since.

You will need:

- 1 whole chicken (required)
- 3-4 large carrots
- 4-5 celery stalks
- 2 large onions (or a bunch of tiny baby onions)
- 8-10 small boiling potatoes
- 3 cloves of garlic
- pinch of thyme (if you have it around)

Cut carrots and celery widthwise every 3 inches. Cut ends off onions and peel. (bonus family trick: take 5 whole cloves and stick into onions) Peel garlic. Place all vegibles except potatoes in large stock pot. Add potatoes when there's .5 hours of cooking time left.

Rinse chicken with cold water. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Place chicken in stock pot and add enough cold water to cover it.

Bring to a boil then lower heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1.5 hours.

Cool down and place pot in the frigidaire over night. The next day, skim off fat solids with a spoon.

Remove chicken to a plate. Remove skin, rip off bite size chunks of chicken meat and add back to stock pot.

Re-heat soup and enjoy it for 4-5 days (if you're single).