When you've had a long day or are fighting a nasty cold, there just isn't anything better than a good cup of soup. There's just something about a bowl of that warm liquid that makes you feel better no matter what happened. Let's take a look at what makes soup the perfect comfort food, and of course share a recipe for the soup of all soups. You'll have to keep reading to find out what it is.



But first, what makes soup the perfect comfort food? A big part of it is the fact that mom made a good cup of soup for us whenever we were sick, not feeling well, or came in from a long day of playing in the cold. There just wasn't anything better than a cup of homemade soup ? made with love by mom ? to make us feel better. Add to that the fact that the hot liquid and the steam that comes up from the bowl of soup help with any cold, and it's no wonder we associate soup with something that makes us feel warm and comfortable.

Now that you know why soup makes you feel so good, why not try one of my favorite comfort soup recipes. It's a pretty basic chicken noodle soup recipe, but don't let the short ingredient list fool you. The resulting cup of soup is full of the right blend of seasoning and just plain yummy. It's the perfect food to curl up with on the couch while you read a good book or watch a favorite movie. And of course it's just what the doctor ordered when you're having a bad day or are fighting a nasty cold.

Chicken Noodle Soup

?2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil

?2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

?2 medium green onions, chopped (2 tablespoons)

?1 medium carrot, sliced (1/2 cup)

?2 cups cubed cooked chicken

?1 cup 2-inch pieces uncooked spaghetti or 4 ounces uncooked egg noodles

?1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

?1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

?1/4 teaspoon pepper

?1 bay leaf

?3 (14 1/2-ounce) cans chicken broth

1. Heat oil in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook garlic, onions and carrot in oil about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrot is crisp-tender.

2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until spaghetti is tender.

3. Remove bay leaf, pour a cup or two into a bowl and serve.

Give it a try and see it this doesn't become your new favorite comfort food.