Fast Clean Eating Chicken and Kale Soup ♥

I normally roast my own chicken but today I thought I would pick up a chicken at my favorite store Sendick's their roast chickens are amazing! 

And of course my favorite Kale! Kale is so good for you just read all the awesome benefits! ♥

Ingredients ♥
serves 8 

1 2-lb rotisserie chicken cooked
15 black peppercorns
4 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
1 medium yellow onion, rinsed and halved, skin on
4 large celery stalks, sliced (divided)
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced (divided)
1 handful fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped dill
Salt to taste

Directions ♥
Carve the rotisserie chicken, pulling the meat in pieces from the bones. Reserve the meat. Place the chicken carcass, skin and fat into a 6-quart pot. Cover with 4 quarts (16 cups) of water. Bring to a boil, skimming any foam that rises to the top. Add the peppercorns, cloves, bay leaves, onion, 2 sliced celery stalks (feel free to include celery leaves), 1 sliced carrot, parsley and 2 tsp salt to the pot.  Reduce to a low simmer (do not boil after this point, only simmer on low). Let the stock cook for 90 minutes. While stock is cooking, slice the reserved chicken into bite-sized pieces. Cover in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. When the stock is fully cooked, strain it through a mesh strainer into another clean large pot. Discard the carcass and vegetables from the stock. At this point, if you'd like, you can skim some of the fat off of the top of the strained stock. I prefer to leave the fat, it makes the soup taste better and richer. Add the reserved bite-sized chicken pieces to the strained stock along with the remaining fresh sliced carrot, celery stalks, and dill. Bring back to a low simmer (not a full boil). Add additional salt and black pepper to taste, if desired.  Simmer the mixture for about 30 minutes longer or until the rice is cooked and the vegetables are tender. Serve hot and enjoy! It's good for the body, good for the soul.♥
Detoxification and Weight loss
The fiber (5 grams in one cup) and sulfur in kale aid with digestion and liver health. The Vitamin C it contains hydrates your body and increases your metabolism, leading to weight loss and healthy blood sugar levels. The fiber in kale also lowers cholesterol.

Strengthen Your Immune System
Kale’s impressive concentration of nutrients strengthens the immune system and fights viruses and bacteria. Kale has more iron than beef, making it a great source of this valuable mineral for vegans and vegetarians. It helps more oxygen get to your blood and greatly helps those who are anemic.

Healthier Hair, Skin & Nails
The healthy balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids keep your body strong, healthy and beautiful from the inside out. Kale’s concentration of major nutrients gives your skin’s health and appearance a boost.

Curly green kaleSee Clearly and Stand Strong
Kale’s Vitamin A content helps keep the eyes from optical disorders that come with age. It also helps store vitamins in the retina. The calcium and vitamin K and D keep your bones strong.

Anti-inflammatory
The omega-3 fatty acids in kale help fight and alleviate arthritis, autoimmune disorders and asthma. The vitamin C content helps relieve stiff joints.

Fighting Disease
Kale, like other dark green veggies, may be helpful in preventing various cancers such as colon, prostate and ovarian. Its abundant vitamin K content is important for bone health, forestalling the effects of osteoporosis. And the folic acid and B6 provide cardiovascular support and prevent heart disease.