The temperature here in Omaha has been several degrees below zero for what seems like the past month, with last week finally giving us a must needed reprieve with temperatures near the freezing mark. With all this cold weather I figured no time like the present to try to make this dish. After shoveling snow (and giving myself a fat lip with the shovel handle) I knew that homemade noodles with chicken would be the perfect meal to warm me up.

I am warning you that this isn’t an impulse dish. After the noodles are rolled and cut, they need to dry for two hours, so plan accordingly. I have made homemade egg noodles in the past, using my Great Grandma Dorothy’s recipe. When making the noodles this time I had forgot all about her recipe and used one from an old cookbook (which I will post about later since after googling it I learned it is worth more than the $4 I paid for it at the antique store).

My mother-in-law makes her homemade noodles with chicken using chicken broth to add moisture. I used boneless/skinless chicken breasts, which I thought were slightly dry. I thought the noodles and chicken needed something a little more substantial than broth to bring it together; so I mixed up a little chicken gravy and added it to the dish. It brought it together nicely. This dish was very warm and comforting on cold Nebraska night.

HOMEMADE NOODLES WITH CHICKEN
noodle recipe from Mary Margaret McBride’s Encyclopedia of Cooking

2 c sifted enriched flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 or 3 teaspoons cold water (I had to add a little more water)

Sift flour with salt into mixing bowl or onto a board (I mixed it together on my counter top). Make a “well” in the center.

Drop in eggs and combine with a fork, adding spoonfuls of water as necessary to form a ball of dough that is compact but not hard.

Knead dough until as smooth and elastic as possible, about 5 minutes.

Roll out on a lightly floured board (I just floured my counter top). Use the rolling pin from the outer edges toward the center, turning the board as necessary for easier rolling.

When the dough is rolled evenly thin, let stand 20 minutes in order to dry so that it will not stick together when rolled up.

Roll up lightly and use a very sharp knife to slice 1/8 inch thick, or 1/4 inch thick for broader noodles.

Toss the noddles lightly to separate them and spread on lightly floured surface. Let dry thoroughly at room temperature, about 2 hours, then store in covered jars. (I used  my noodles immediately)

TO COOK THE NOODLES:
Drop by handfuls into boiling soup or boiling, salted water (I used chicken stock) for 10 minutes. Strain, reserving 2 c chicken stock.

FOR THE CHICKEN:
I used three boneless/skinless chicken breasts which I poached* for about 10 minutes. Using two forks I shredded the chicken.

* Put chicken into pot, add enough water to cover chicken. Bring chicken up to boil. Once boiling put lid on pot, take off heat. Let sit 7-10 minutes before removing the chicken.

FOR THE GRAVY:
2 T butter
2 T flour
2 c chicken stock

Melt butter in pan over medium-high heat. Stir in flour and cook for a couple minutes. Slowly whisk in the chicken stock. Simmer until gravy thickens.

Combine shredded chicken and noodles. Pour a little gravy over and toss to combine. You want just enough gravy to coat the noodles and chicken.  Serve as is or with boiled potatoes. (I used boiled purple potatoes) Season with salt & pepper.

He didn’t have to tell me he was in pain, I could see it in his face, and read it in his body language. I wanted to do everything in my power to assure he was comfortable. I administered his pain medicine every four hours like clockwork, through all this he wasn’t eating much, and I was worried the pain meds were going to hurt his stomach. In my mind he HAD to get something in his stomach; so I made him my great grandma’s recipe for homemade noodles. He actually ate quite a bit (I knew he was hungry). He now is fully recovered and back to eating whatever he wants.

This is a nonrecipe-recipe; you know the kind. My great grandma has probably made this hundreds of times (at least), and she knows exactly how much of everything to use. To feel rustic, I put on my apron and made my noodles on the counter. I called my grandma for this recipe, this is how she gave it to me (recorded from my great grandma). I hope my grandma doesn’t get mad at me for posting this recipe… I believe that good food should be shared and enjoyed by all, not kept in as a “secret”.

HOMEMADE NOODLES

I started with 2 c flour and salt and made a well for my eggs. I did not have any cream or evaporated milk in my cupboards, so I added plain Greek yogurt (noodles turned out fine) to my well. Slowly I combined all the flour and rolled out into a thin sheet.

Using my pizza cutter, I sliced my skinny noodles.

I sprinkled my cut noodles with a little more flour before I broke them apart.

I would recommend spreading the noodles out and letting them dry for several hours before dropping them into your boiling liquid.

I dropped my noodles into 6 cups of boiling chicken stock.

The noodles boiled for almost 20 minutes before I added poached/shredded chicken and 1 packet of chicken gravy powder. It was delicious!

A co-worker of mine introduced me to this delicious sandwich. Her husband brought it for her to enjoy on break, and she was nice enough to give me a taste. One word. DELICIOSO! The next week Alex and I went to this little Mexican restaurant downtown and had one of our own. I wish we would have gotten enough for seconds. Tonight I attempted to make Torta on my own. It was pretty good, I think my co-worker would have enjoyed it. A torta, is basically a taco on a bun. Thanks for introducing me to something new, Martha!

EL TORTA de JAMIE

2 chicken breasts, poached and shredded (recipe follows)
1 lb chorizo
hamburger buns, or fresh rolls *FRESH BREAD IS A MUST*
lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, jalapeños

POACHED CHICKEN RECIPE
2 chicken breasts seasoned with salt, chili pepper, and cumin.
Put chicken into pot, add enough water to cover chicken. Bring chicken up to boil. Once boiling put lid on pot, take off heat. Let sit 7-10 minutes. Take chicken out, reserve 1 c of cooking liquid.

Once chicken is cool enough to handle, shredded it with two forks. Add cooking liquid, chicken, 1 T cumin, and 1 1/2 T chili powder, simmer for 5 minutes.

Take chorizo out of casing, brown in pot until done. Drain grease.

Butter buns and toast in frying pan until brown.

TO ASSEMBLE TORTA
Add meat, and desired toppings to the bun. Enjoy with your favorite Mexican beer!

HINT: Jalapeños are a must for this sandwich! Also it is not necessary to have cheese on the torta, the restaurant did not serve their tortas with cheese.

QUICK TIP: Don’t have time to poach your chicken? Pick up a precooked rotisserie chicken from your local market. Shred the chicken with two forks, add a little canned chicken stock or water and spices. Simmer for 5 minutes. The precooked chicken allows you to have this meal from stove to plate in less than 30 minutes.