It’s that time of year again! School has started, Target is selling sweaters and everything is coming up pumpkin spice. Despite the hype, we’re in the South and it was still 90 degrees outside today, but at least it dropped dramatically when the sun went down. Soon, it will be chilly after dark and we’ll get to wear all of our adorable flannels and boots without looking naively optimistic.

When colder weather comes, we’re going to need chicken soup. Nothing warms the heart, soul and body like chicken soup. As prevalent as it is in our kitchens, there are a million variations of this simple recipe.

Amber Hamilton has been a friend of mine for a decade or more and has recently moved to Mount Juliet. She is the first person who suggested we add family recipes to our issues, so when I asked her to contribute something autumnal, she sent in her mama’s chicken soup.

“Growing up, anytime that fall came around or we were sick, we knew we could come home to a good bowl of mama’s chicken noodle soup. One of my favorite things is making this for my family now. It’s like a big old hug in a bowl. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do,” added Amber.

Incidentally, chicken noodle soup was the first meal my mother ever left me in charge of when she first started attending college. I came home from middle school to a chicken in the crockpot, a detailed recipe and a noodle roller and cutter on the counter. My noodles were uneven and I apparently wasted a lot of chicken in the separation process. The kitchen was a mess, but the soup was delicious. For those of y’all who Keto with me, I entered my current favorite noodle-free chicken soup. Enjoy!