COCK A LEEKIE

This tradional soup recipe can be traced back to 1598,it originally included beef as well as chicken . In the ‘good old , olden days’ the soup would have been made from an old cock bird , hence the name. Make a fresh bouquet of Garni with sprigs of thyme , parsley and a bay leaf ,tying them together with cooking twine . Place the bouquet of Garni in a large soup pot along with 2 chicken Maryland’s ( I preordered mine from the Chicken shop in Manny’s Market, Morwell........with the feet on , this is an important detail for the success of my soup . ) Pour in 5 cups of water . Bring this to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes . For the next step you will need 4 medium sized leeks . Cut the hire parts of the leeks into 1 inch slices and finely slice A LITTLE of the green part of the leek. A the white slices of the leek and 12 pitted medjool prunes to the pot , continue to simmer for 20 minutes , then add the green slices of the leek to the pot nd continue to cook for a further 5 minutes . Now remove the bouquet of Garni from the pot and discard . Remove the chicken from the pot , and the skin and bones from the chicken , chop the flesh and return it to the pot . Season the soup with salt and cracked pepper . Heat the soup through gently. Ladle into warm bowls and serve hot with crusty sour dough bread .