Easy Chicken, Mushroom and Barley Soup

It all started with a sore throat…

Sounds like a 2020 dystopian novel, doesn’t it?

Rest assured, it’s not. There are no barren cityscapes or dust-filled horizons in this story. But there is sickness. There is fear. There is confusion. Because this is 2020 after all. What else would you expect?

Poor Connor. It’s always Connor. Have you noticed this yet? Stick around for a while. You will.

He had a routine appointment last week with his cleft team at the hospital. They happen every two years, just a time to meet with his doctors (all 10 of them), check his progress, and talk about his treatment plan. Is it weird to say that they’re fun? Because they are. We love his team. These doctors are amazing and know him and treat him like he’s a little rockstar. So they’re not as bad as you would expect. I mean, besides the fact that we’re there for hours and all.

But like it seems to always happen, a few days later he started complaining of a sore throat. Just a little at first but what starts as one small complaint and a “oh it’s not that bad,” escalates quickly to a 101-degree fever, body aches, and nausea on top of the sore throat. It happens every.single.time.

And it’s always strep. Always. We haven’t quite figured out the correlation, but somehow he always comes out of these visits with strep. We know this, have come to even accept it as inevitable. Except that it’s COVID time. And you can’t trust that strep is just strep and everything is about 300 times more complicated, involving multiple swabs, the absolute terror about another quarantine period when we’ve literally just had our first taste of freedom, and the excruciating wait to hear the results.

They were negative. Well, for COVID. Totally positive for strep.

So for 24 hours, he was pretty sick. Strep is no walk in the park, even though as moms we all kind of pray it’s strep because it’s so treatable, but it still sucks.  He felt awful. He looked awful. It was sad to watch. We all know our hearts break when we watch our kids suffer, even from a cold. It’s just the worst, there is no escaping it.

But his words, they’re what really leveled me. He was laying next to me, all glassy-eyed and smelly from his fever (you know fever has a smell, right?) and said, “Why me, momma? Why am I always the one?”

He didn’t need to finish this question, of course. Because it is always him. And I don’t know why.

I don’t know why he had to be born with a birth defect.

I don’t know why whenever there is an injury to be had, he’s going to have it.

I don’t know why he gets the flu every year but no one else in the family does.

Or why he has strep and ear infections so much the pharmacist knows him by name.

This question breaks my heart because I ask it too.

So I was honest with him. I told him I didn’t know. That I wonder the same thing. That I know it’s made him stronger than anyone else I know, but I also know that doesn’t make it feel better when he’s hurting. I told him to ask God. That’s what I always do. To just ask Him. Tell Him that he’s mad about it. That it stinks. To tell God he wants to know why. Why him?

And even though he is 11 and a kid and you’d think he would look at me and roll his eyes in an “oh there goes my crazy mom again” type of way, he didn’t. He asked. And, in his own way, he got an answer. But I’ll get to that in a second.

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? In a moment when you’re like “what the actual heck, God?” No one, and I mean no one, gets off this earth alive without going through some deep valleys where things feel dark and barren. We all will go through periods that rock us to our core, challenge our hearts and our souls and make us doubt God. Life is hard, excruciatingly so at times. We all know this.

And if you’re in one of those spots right now, looking up at God with shaking fists and some serious questions, I’m just going to tell you what I know. He’s not afraid of your doubts, your questions, or, yes, even your anger. Bring them all, all of the messy yucky feelings about your position, your situation, your life, bring them right to Him. Do it in the car when you’re driving alone and need to yell it out. Do it on a walk, in a workout, or alone in the bathroom. Whatever. Wherever. Just bring it to Him.

Don’t humanize God.

He isn’t offended that we don’t like His plan. He’s not indignant at our confusion. He expects it. Understands it. His heart breaks when ours do. Jesus wept. Remember that. So bring Him all the doubts. He’ll do something with them. Trust me.

And now this is the funny part of Connor’s story that I’m almost embarrassed to tell, mostly because it gives away a dirty Dawson family secret I can’t even with. But here we go anyway. Connor’s answer came via en episode of Dance Moms.

I know, y’all. I’m covering my head in shame. And I can’t believe I am even saying this. But Dance Moms is a regular in our house. I blame COVID, by the way, but whatever, it is always on. In the morning–Dance Moms. In the evening–Dance Moms. Jesus help us all. This is not ok.

Anyway, somehow, through all of the yelling and bad adult behavior and big hair and skimpy costumes, in one little part of one little episode that just happened to be on that day, they played a song about BELIEVING. I could not pick this song out of a lineup if I heard it again, folks, but I can tell you that my son, who was previously beaten down by his hard circumstances, crawled over to me on the couch and said:

“I think God is answering my questions. I just need to BELIEVE.”

Cue the waterworks, friends. This kid slays me daily with his wisdom and insight and his simple belief and faith.

But more than that, this is just another example of how God works. It’s so incredibly personal. It’s so incredibly relational. Sure, you can be a doubter and think “no way on earth God would ever talk to a kid through Dance Moms,” and honestly, maybe you’re right. But God (there’s always a But God, you know) doesn’t work the way we think He will, ever. It is chill bumps in songs. It’s a verse you’ve read 1 million times hitting you differently, just this once, just when you need it. It’s soul whispers when you’re praying or a friend dropping by at just the right time, unexpectedly but so very welcomed. However it is, you just know, deep in your soul that this is for you. From Him.

When God speaks, it’s to you, and FOR you. And you know, when you know, when you know. Never forget that.

So, yeah, sure, Dance Moms is a weird vehicle. But I’m here for it. My son walked away with faith times 100 because God told him to just believe. And that’s all that matters to me.

God is good, all the time, dear friends. Yes, even in COVID. Yes, even in hard times. Yes, God is good. This much I know is true.

Easy Chicken, Mushroom, and Barley Soup

What a fitting post to share this Easy Chicken Mushroom and Barely soup, don’t you think? Mostly because whenever someone in my house is sick, some sort of chicken soup is requested. It’s often my momma’s Chicken Noodle Soup. This is true. But just as much, I will break out this easier and adapted version of it to fill sick bellies with the same goodness. The original for this one had the same base as the chicken noodle, using whole chicken breasts and building the stock from scratch. But, most of the time I’m way too tired and, truthfully, ain’t nobody got time for that.

Friends, there is no shame in boxed stock. Let’s say that again for those in the cheap seats: THERE IS NO SHAME IN BOXED STOCK.

All of the flavor, none of the labor. That’s what boxed stock brings to this soup. I swapped out hours of stove time for two boxes of stock and cut the cooking time to 30 minutes. You can thank me later.

I love the chew of barely in this soup. It’s such a hearty grain that doesn’t lose shape or bite even if you basically cook it to death. But, if your kids (or you) are texture prohibitive, noodles will work in this quick soup too. Just omit the steps including barely and cook the noodles separately, adding to each bowl before ladling the soup on top. Never make the noodles in the soup. First of all, you won’t be able to freeze leftovers if you do and secondly, you run the risk of super mushy noodles if you accidentally overcook the soup. No Bueno.

Either way, this Easy Chicken Mushroom and Barley Soup is comfort in a bowl. Serve it warm with some crusty bread and butter and make sure to hold on to leftovers, it gets better as it sits.

Peace, love, and Dance Moms,
Meg

Easy Chicken Mushroom and Barley Soup

September 11, 2020

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By: Meaghan Dawson

Ingredients

• 3 large carrots, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 3 pieces celery, thinly sliced (if large, halved lengthwise)
• 2 1/2 cup cooked chicken, diced
• 2 quarts chicken broth or stock
• 3/4 cup pearled barley
• 1 pint sliced mushrooms

Directions

• Step 1 Heat a few turns of olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat
• Step 2 Add carrots and celery, season with salt and pepper. Cook 3-5 minutes or until softened
• Step 3 Push to the side of the pan and add about 1 teaspoon oil to the open space. Add barley and cook, stirring continuously, 3-4 minutes or until toasted
• Step 4 Add broth, chicken and mushrooms, seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Step 5 Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
• Step 6 Cook 20-25 minutes or until the barley is softened and the flavors have melded together.
• Step 7 Taste, seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
• Step 8 ENJOY!

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