I think I was about 14 when I first saw Tampopo, a Japanese “noodle Western” about a “cowboy” (truck driver) who helps a woman turn around her formerly unsuccessful noodle shop. The truly remarkable thing about this movie is it actually says a lot about the importance of food in Japanese culture. I [...]

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I’ve been sick for a couple days. I wanted some chicken soup to warm me up, but I definitely didn’t want plain old chicken soup. I looked at what I had in my pantry (one of the beauties of making soup is using what’s on hand) and decided on a fresh and light [...]

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Chicken Soup with Homemade Ravioli and Fresh Herbs

Served 2.
Leftover Potential: Reheats very well and will keep for several days, making it a good soup for the sick to heat up for themselves until they feel better.

Ravioli
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
pinch salt
4 eggs
4 Tbsp water, or as needed

1 container soft cheese ***
4 sausages, cooked and diced ****

water, as needed for sealing

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flours and salt. Create a well in the center of the bowl, add the eggs. Use a fork or your hands to mix it all together. It should look like a shaggy mass.
2. Slowly add the water and continue to mic until the dough is smooth.
3. Divide the dough into three pieces, and roll one piece out very thin (about 1/8″). Cut the dough into desired size circles using a cookie cutter or the bottom of a glass.
4. Place a spoonful of cheese on 1/2 of the circles and top with diced sausage.
5. Dip your finger in the water and run it around the edge of the cheese and sausage topped ravioli. Top with another circle of dough and seal shut using the cookie cutter or crimping with a fork.
6. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and carefully drop the ravioli in. Let cook until al dente, about 4-5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
*** I used Boursin, but ricotta or any other soft cheese will work very well.
**** I used sun dried tomato chicken sausages because they were on sale. Any sausages will work, just make sure to adjust the seasonings and flavors accordingly.

Soup
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 qt. chicken broth (good quality)
3 Tbsp assorted fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage), finely minced
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

finished ravioli

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat and cook the onions until translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
2. Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
3. Season with the fresh herbs, salt and pepper.
4. Carefully add the ravioli and allow the whole soup to heat through. Serve in hot bowls or store in the refrigerator until needed.

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Soup is a quick and easy thing to prepare at the last minute. Unfortunately, the idea equated with soup is generally a huge vat with tons and tons of leftovers. With this soup, I’ve tried to create just the right amount, using my pre-made ground meat mixture .
I used store bought beef broth for my [...]

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As the weather gets colder, I get an ache in my bones for soup. One of the best things about this meal is it is ideal for The Apartment Kitchen. One big pot is all you need to be able to make any soup or stew. And not much sounds more warm [...]

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