Homemade Chicken Soup

Homemade chicken soup is great any time of the year.

1 (3 pound) whole chicken
4 carrots, halved
4 stalks celery, halved
1 large onion, halved
water to cover
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules (optional)

Put the chicken, carrots, celery and onion in a large soup pot and cover with cold water. Heat and then simmer, uncovered until the meat falls off of the bones (ocasionally, skim the foam off). Take everything out of the pot. Strain the broth. Pick the meat off of the bones and chop the carrots, celery and onion. Season the broth with salt, pepper and chicken bouillon to taste, if desired. Return chicken, carrots, celery and onion to the pot, stir together, and serve