Everyone needs a chicken soup.  This has been our standby.  Besides being very flavorful this soup just makes us feel healthy with lots of extra great ingredients.  

Ingredients:

Directions:

1.25  pound of chicken 
  ( breasts, thighs or combination
4 cups chicken broth
1 medium onion, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 medium size carrots, cut to bite-size pieces
2 parsnips, cut to bite-size piece
6 mushrooms, cut in half 
1/3 cup of split peas
1/3 cup quick cooking barley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill* 
  (*Optional garnish)

Place chicken in a soup pot and add the chicken broth.  Add water if needed to cover.  Bring to boil over high heat uncovered.  When liquid starts to boil, add all the other ingredients, except the dill.  When the soup returns to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook, partially covered for 45minutes to an hour or until the chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally, adding additional water as needed.
Remove the chicken from the pot. (if chicken had skin on discard skin and there will be extra fat which you can skim off.) Shred the meat and return to pot.  Make sure soup is hot and serve with dill.