15 April 2021

Chicken Noodle Soup - ThermoWorks Wand Review and Giveaway

Chicken Noodle Soup - ThermoWorks Wand Review and Giveaway / www.delightfulrepast.com

Chicken Noodle Soup is the favorite of one of my friends, so when she became ill last month that's what I made for her. It's my go-to soup to deliver to sick friends or to enjoy myself when perfectly well. You'll find the recipe below. 

But speaking of illness, let me tell you about my new thermometer. I love it so much I'm telling you about it and giving one away, which makes sense in the middle of all this this that's been going on for more than a year now.

At my very first inkling of the pandemic I began checking my first aid kit and making sure I had everything we would need to care for ourselves at home. The one item I was not happy with was my thermometer.

Over the years I've tried a number of digital oral thermometers. Without exception, they've made me wish I still had an old-fashioned mercury thermometer. My first complaint is the probe covers. They never work well. "Just insert the thermometer and peel back the strip." No! I always rip up a couple of them trying that then give up on peeling back the paper strip and just use it that way. Not pleasant.

If you have a child, you know how difficult it can be to place the thermometer correctly under the tongue and then get the little squirmer to keep his or her mouth closed for 30 seconds. I feel sorry for those having two sick kids at once and dealing with that and the pesky probe covers. No thanks.

Chicken Noodle Soup - ThermoWorks Wand Review and Giveaway / www.delightfulrepast.com
ThermoWorks Wand
non-contact digital forehead thermometer
Giveaway

So 13 months into the pandemic I decided it was time to upgrade to a non-contact digital forehead thermometer. I had been looking at various ones for several months, then I realized that ThermoWorks made one (actually, two—this one, Wand, and a Bluetooth version, Wand Blue, which you techie people can read about for yourselves). Knowing what quality products they make, I had to have their ThermoWorks Wand.

Love it! Turn it on, hold it about an inch from center of forehead, press and hold the Start button until you hear a beep, about 1 second, read the temperature, then turn it off or let it turn itself off in 60 seconds. I had fun playing with it, then took out the batteries for storage until such time as one of us gets sick. 

But back to the soup. I made it with ingredients on hand, which meant boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can also use bone-in skin-on chicken breasts or thighs. And, of course, you can increase the amount of ginger, crushed red pepper, and turmeric—all thought to have health benefits—to suit your own taste.

Tell me your favorite thing to eat when you're sick. Or well. And, if you (or a gift recipient) are in the US, enter the giveaway below. Stay safe and well.

Chicken Noodle Soup - ThermoWorks Wand Review and Giveaway / www.delightfulrepast.com

If you like it, please Pin it and share it! 


Chicken Noodle Soup


(Makes about 3 1/2 quarts)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 pound (16 ounces/454 grams) boneless skinless chicken breast
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, divided
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup (4.5 ounces/128 grams) peeled and diced carrots
1 cup (4.5 ounces/128 grams) diced celery
Some of the celery leaves, chopped
1 cup (4.5 ounces/128 grams) diced red bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
5 cups (40 fluid ounces/1.18 liters) water
4 cups (32 fluid ounces/946 milliliter) lower-sodium chicken broth
1 bay leaf
2 1/2 cups (8 ounces/227 grams) mini farfalle

1 In large pot (I use a 5.5-quart Dutch/French oven), heat 1 tablespoon of the oil and cook the chicken until done, salting and peppering* lightly. Remove to a plate to cool.

* I measure out the salt and pepper into two tiny prep bowls and use them throughout the recipe.

2 Add remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pot and cook the onion, carrots, celery, and red bell pepper, adding a bit of the salt and pepper, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the chopped celery leaves, thyme, marjoram, ginger, crushed red pepper, and turmeric.

3 Stir in chicken broth, water, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add chicken and remaining salt and pepper (or to taste), and continue simmering for about 10 minutes. Stir in mini farfalle, and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.


ThermoWorks Wand Review and Giveaway - Chicken Noodle Soup / www.delightfulrepast.com

ThermoWorks Wand Giveaway


This giveaway is open to readers in the US* who are 18 years of age or older. To enter, leave a comment below (one entry per person). Tell me why you want a Wand. Please include your email address in the body of your comment. If your name is drawn and I have no way to contact you, you will be disqualified. Must enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday April 28.

* If you are outside the US but would like to have this sent to someone you know in the US (you would have to send them a gift card separately on your own), go ahead and enter!

Winner will be chosen by random drawing and be announced here in the comments before noon Eastern time on Thursday April 29. If I don't hear back from the winner of the random drawing by noon Eastern time Saturday May 1, a new winner will be selected from the original entrants (those who commented before the giveaway deadline).

Disclosure: ThermoWorks provided a Wand for review purposes and one for the giveaway. The views expressed here are entirely my own. I always tell my readers what I really think!

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites. We are a ThermoWorks affiliate, earning a small commission at no cost to you on purchases made through our links. This helps cover some of the costs of running the blog. Thank you for your support.

Jean

69 comments:

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

Chicken soup: good for everything but the chicken. My comfort nostrum is tomato soup – or tomato cheese on toast. And, yeah, a temporal thermometer is the way to go. Of course, Shakespearean brows have a long way to travel on the swipe and arm supports are recommended. Bwahaha!

Angie's Recipes said...

Such a comforting and flavoursome soup...perfect for our rainy weather!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Sully, for the travel tip! 😁 Love a good tomato soup, too. But my sick friend is allergic to tomatoes (and all sorts of fun stuff), so chicken noodle it was.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Angie. How I envy you your rainy weather, my favorite kind!

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Hi Jean,

Yum, your recipe looks delicious! You're very thoughtful to deliver food to folks who are sick -- one of the nicest things you can do, in my opinion. :) My favorite thing to eat when I'm sick is chicken soup. However, I've never had a good recipe, but I discovered that our neighborhood Italian restaurant has the BEST chicken soup. If I'm feeling poorly, my husband is usually kind enough to get some of the soup for me; I swear by its healing qualities. I'm pinning your recipe right now, so that I'll be able to make my own chicken soup. :D

Thank you for sharing, Jean, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Hugs,

Denise

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Denise, thank you so much. And you can even freeze soup in pint (for one person) or quart (for two) canning jars. Then just move one from freezer to refrigerator the day before you want it. But let's all stay well, okay?! 😘

Lynn and Precious said...

Chicken soup recipe, simple but delicious any time of the year.
And now with Spring being on again, and off again, it is great hot food
for the soul too.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Lynn, it looks like we were visiting each other at exactly the same time! "Great minds" and all that! Hadn't thought of it, but I think you're right about soup being great for the changeable weather of spring.

ellen b. said...

I enjoy making soup out of whatever we have on hand. Chicken noodle is a favorite.

Susan Broughton said...

I would like a wand because it is a lot easier than using the old thermometers. We do not have one and would love to have one! email sbroughton61@yahoo.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

I grew up on canned chicken noodle soup when I was sick. Can't stand that stuff now! Homemade, though, is a chicken of a different feather. :-) Love the stuff, and yours looks terrific. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Leslie:
For the last year, I have been taking my temperature several times a day. It would be nice to have something more speedy and easy to take with me. I would also like to use it with my not-so-patient grandchildren.

leslieannstevenson@yahoo.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Ellen, yes, soup IS one of those things you can make out of anything you have on hand!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Susan, you will love it. It is soooo much better in every way.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, John. I never liked that canned chicken noodle soup. The noodles were a slimy weird texture and the chicken was nonexistent. I remember liking the tomato soup when my mother "doctored" it up and made it not so syrupy sweet.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Yes, Leslie, it sounds like you definitely need one of these!

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

This particular soup to the rescue every time! I'm old school and being a nurse I prefer the old glass thermometers. When the pandemic came hubby wanted a digital similar to this one you got. He loves it. Thanks so much for linking up with me at the Unlimited Monthly Link Party 23. Pinned!

Laurie Lasala-Tuttle said...

Your recipe looks delicious Jean! I love chicken soup with rice when I'm not feeling well. But I do think the bow tie pasta is mighty cute!

Laurie Lasala-Tuttle said...

I forgot to include my email,
tuttlefamily@cox.net 😊

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks so much, Dee! And you're entitled to your opinion 🤣 but your husband is right about this! 😂 And thanks for Pinning!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Laura! Sometimes I use rice instead of farfalle. It's good, too! And thanks for adding your email address.

TONY said...

Great one Jean. Its funny how soup and being ill go together. Soup is comforting and a good soup ,like yours, provides all the nutrients of a good meal. It builds up your strength!!!
But, there is one thing I will take from this post, Jean, is the phrase,"little squirmer." Love it. Never heard it before. I'll use it in the future. Ha! Ha!
As for taking temperatures I always go by, if I feel hot and when looking in the mirror do I look flushed without making any exertion.

Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) said...

Jean, this is a great post. Why haven't I put chicken noodle soup in my repertoire of food items to take friends under the weather? So perfect. I usually go into casserole mode. And I agree about having a good thermometer. We had the old mercury variety for years, and like you, ordered a digital read when the pandemic started to gain momentum. They're wonderful to have. So, with all that said, don't enter me in the contest ... we're already believers and have a good thermometer. It's snowing here today, so I think I'll make a big bowl of chicken noodle soup. :)

Rusthawk said...

Your soup nudged me. Time for a pot! I'd like one of these wands for the ease of use and quickness of results. rusthawk@gmail.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Tony. I'm glad you liked my "little squirmer." I don't know that anyone besides me says it, but now there will be at least two of us saying it! 😁 When I'm ill, I always think of me mother coming in and putting her hand on my forehead and saying, "You might be a little warm."

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Lea Ann, thank you. And I hope you enjoy your snowy day, perfect for soup. I'm sure, like me, you are perfectly happy to have all the things you bought when the pandemic started sitting idle in the cupboard!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Rusthawk. I'm really sold on this thermometer and will never have any other kind.

Jeanie said...

The chicken soup sounds fabulous and so does the thermometer. So count me in for both! It got cold again here -- well, spring cold, so not winter cold. But it is good soup weather once more!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jeanie, thanks so much. I love soup weather--the "spring cold" kind!

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up with me at the Unlimited Link Party 24. Pinned again!

Marilyn Miller said...

Yummm! Chicken soup!
I would love the ThermoWand because I don't have an accurate thermometer and this wounds like it would easily do the trick. marilyn tea at gmail dot come

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Dee. Much appreciated!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Marilyn. Yes, you will love the ThermoWorks Wand!

Cocoa and Lavender said...

I am afraid I have never bee a "thermometer kind of guy!" If I have a fever, I just need to guess how bad it is... silly, eh? However, I AM a chicken noodle soup kind of guy, and yours looks amazing. And I love that you used mini farfalle... that alone would make me feel better!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Too funny, David! I'm one of those people who doesn't panic, but assesses a situation and prepares for all possible eventualities! 😁 So at the beginning of the pandemic, I wanted to be prepared to care for ourselves at home and to determine if or when we needed to go to a doctor or hospital, so ... thermometer, oximeter, blood pressure monitor ... May we never need any of it!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

And, David, say 'farfalle' with an Italian accent, and you'll feel even better! 😂

April Harris said...

It's so important to have a digital thermometer these days. I wish we had them when my son was little! Your chicken noodle soup looks so delicious. It's definitely my favourite thing to eat when I'm feeling under the weather. Love the addition of the turmeric - what a great idea! Take care, Jean, and have a lovely Sunday.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

April, thank you. The turmeric adds color as well as flavor and healing properties, so I like to add it to soups whenever it makes sense. I am really loving this thermometer! Happy Spring!

Life as a LEO Wife said...

Your soup looks exactly like the one my Granny makes for me. I have a severe phagocytic neutrophil disorder, which means I catch anything and everything, and has caused me to lose five organs. Thank the good Lord for modern medical feats! I've got a little wiggle worm too. I have to hold his arm down when the thermometer is under his arm pit! My first child did all of that well, the baby- oh man. Maybe it's because he is the baby lol. I need to check into these thermometers. They may be able to keep me distanced and also not leave any viral, fungal, or bacterial particles on the thermometer for the next person to use it! I'm going to be trying your chicken noodle soup! Delish!! Visiting from wwww.LifeasaLEOWife.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you so much, LEO Wife! Hope you enjoy the soup as much as we do. And, yes, this thermometer sounds like something you need to get for your little wiggle worm AND to keep you distanced. Goodness, you have a lot to deal with! Take good care of yourself.

gfe--gluten free easily said...

I just made a delicious chicken noodle soup recipe from a gf blogger friend last week. Your recipe looks even more flavorful and would be easy to make GF. I'll definitely give it a try next time we're in the mood for chicken noodle soup! Thanks, Jean. :-) Oh, and how wonderful that you made your soup for an ill friend. I am sure she so greatly appreciated that!

I'd love to win the thermometer. I've never heard of that particular kind and we need a new thermometer here. My email address is glutenfreeeasily@gmail.com.

Thanks!
Shirley

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Shirley, thank you! Yes, it would be easy to make GF. They have lots of yummy GF pastas now, though I can't say I've seen GF farfalle. You would love this thermometer, I'm sure.

gfe--gluten free easily said...

Jean--There are actually at least two gluten-free brands that make farfalle that I know of. One is brown rice based and one is made of corn. I have not tried either yet but now you've given me a reason to do so. ;-)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Good to know, Shirley! Some of my friends are GF, so ...

Phil in the Kitchen said...

Lovely soup and perfect for a cold spring day. Soup is so comforting when I'm feeling cold or sad but if I'm ill then my thoughts always seem to turn to very simple, plain things that, I suppose, remind me of being a kid again. I'll be drinking tea with a supply of plain biscuits or toast or, if I'm feeling a little better, an iced bun.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Phil. Yes, tea and toast (or maybe a digestive biscuit) is first, at the worst, then maybe add a poached egg when a little better, but very brothy soup for respiratory illnesses, upping the proportion of solid ingredients as the cold or flu improves.

Sherry's Pickings said...

chicken noodle soup is so comforting isn't it? our mum used to make it for us when we were ill. brings back memories...

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks for sharing your memory, Sherry. My best childhood memories are mostly about food!

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

I’m with you, Jean, and chicken soup is good for me when I’m sick or well. I’m sure that your sick friend was delighted with your gift of soup. Bow tie pasta is one of my favorites. A hot cup of tea always warms the soul, too.

Conniecrafter said...

we did the same thing when the pandemic started, the new thermometers are so much easier now and great when you have a whole family you need to be taking temperatures from.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Kitty, thank you. I would love to sit down with you and have a nice cup of tea and a chat!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Connie, I hope your home medical equipment has been getting lonely on the shelf throughout the year. Stay safe and well.

Ann said...

Hi Jean - Thanks for stopping by Our New Vista yesterday, and for the giveaway you are posting. Never heard of that thermometer...still using the old under the tongue digital, but the battery is dying so ready for a new one! Thanks for sharing your chicken soup recipe. I love to make chicken soup for us, and often give it to friends who are under the weather. My dear college friend LOVED it when she was battling cancer and I would fill up her freezer. I make mine with the Costco chicken carcass after we have used most of the white meat. I just can't throw it out...I can hear my thrifty mom whispering in my ear " there is still good meat on there"! Thanks for your recipe...I use most of the same ingredients, but not ginger. I know how good that is for you and I am going to add it the next time I make the soup! Glad to have found your blog - have a great weekend! agyjay@gmail.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Ann, thank you so much! I'm not a Costco member, but someone brought me one of their roasted chickens last winter, and it was so good I almost signed up (it's too far away for me!). It was gigantic, not like the rotisserie chickens at my local stores, and I made soup too; heard my thrifty grandmother whispering in my ear! :D

Elise Ho said...

Your recipe sounds delicious. I look forward to trying t.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Elise! Hope you like it as much as we do!

Kathleen said...

Jean, our ELISE has chosen your post to be featured on the next Blogger's Pit Stop.
All the best,
Kathleen

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Kathleen, thank you so much. AND Elise!

Lowcarb team member said...

Yum! The soup looks good!

All the best Jan

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Jan! Happy Spring!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

My brother-in-law dearly loved chicken noodle soup and yours looks great!

Red Rose Alley said...

Jean, your chicken noodle soup looks delicious. I like how you used the bowtie noodles. I was just telling my son today that I love chicken noodle soup and want to get some from the store. Your homemade sounds so much better. I just recently moved to the mountains, and it's been pretty cold here, and that would be a good meal to warm up. Thank you for your comment on my post today. I hope you have happy Spring days.

~Sheri

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Carol, and for sharing your chicken noodle soup memory!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sheri, thank you. It would be a nice meal to warm you up on a cold mountain day!

Bree Dixon said...

Love chicken soup. funny I made a huge pot yesterday with loads of vegetables chicken and rice noodles...food for the soul #sensal

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Yes, Bree, food for the soul! Rice noodles are good, too! Thanks.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jean,

Your soup recipe sounds and looks delicious. I love soup!
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Take care, enjoy your day!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Eileen, thank you. And thank you for sharing all your beautiful nature photos!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

*Giveaway Winner Announced* - The winner of the ThermoWorks Wand giveaway, by random drawing, is Ann agyjay. Ann, as soon as you send me, delightfulrepast at aol dot com, your name and shipping information, the company can ship the package. Congratulations!

If I don't hear from the winner of the random drawing by noon Eastern time Saturday May 1, another drawing will be held and new winner selected from among the original entrants (those who commented before the giveaway deadline).

This was fun! Watch for more giveaways here at Delightful Repast! In the meantime, follow me on Google, Pinterest (@delightfulrepas) and Twitter (@delightfulrepas).