My Zaycon Foods Order – What to do with 80 lbs of Chicken?

If someone asked you what you would be doing for your birthday would you say “spending the morning in a freezer truck”? It wasn’t what I planned to do originally but I knew I’d be going to pick up the chicken I had ordered from Zaycon Foods. Earlier this summer I posted about Zaycon Foods and their great prices on meat and how you can buy in bulk to save more.

I had my Zaycon Foods meat pick up scheduled for 8 am, but I was asked to help out if I could. Why not? It wouldn’t be that much more work to get there early and help out!

I had my orders in my hand, my first 40 lbs was for working with Zaycon on the post in June, but the second 40 lbs we ordered to split between my house and my extended family. So off to the events I went, bundled up because it was early morning. What type of weather can you expect at 7 am in Mid-October? 40 degrees of course!

As a volunteer for a Zaycon Foods event gives you a different perspective of the event. I actually was asked to help move the boxes of chicken to the back of the truck for easy loading. Yes, 89 boxes, each weighing 40 lbs and full of chicken – in a freezer truck in 40 degree weather. But it really wasn’t as bad as you would think! The event only lasted an hour, and it was fast passed. We quickly moved the orders out and I was even sweating in the freezer truck.

When you order from Zaycon Foods you choose an event near you. All you have to do is show up with your order and they will load the meat in your car! You can drive up and leave with your meat within a matter of a few minutes! From 40 lbs or 400 lbs – whatever your meat need is, you can get it from Zaycon Foods.

You can check to see where a Zaycon Foods Event is near you here. You can order Chicken, beef, bacon or even your holiday Ham!

After the event I went home with 80 lbs of fresh, hormone free chicken. What would you do with it? My plans? I’m going to can it – and then I decided I needed to make gluten free chicken noodle soup! Check out the recipe below!

Homemade Gluten Free Chicken Noodle Soup! 

Ingredients:

• 1-2 lbs of Boneless Chicken Breast
• 64 oz of Chicken stock
• 3 Carrots
• 1 Parsnip
• 3 stalks of Celery
• 1 medium Onion
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 12 oz package Thai rice sticks
• salt & Pepper

 

Directions:

1. In a large stock pot add in your chicken stock and chicken breast and cook over medium high heat.
2. Peel and slice your parsnip and carrots and add them to the pot. Slice your celery, and chop your onion and also add to the pot.
3. Add in your bay leaf and some salt and pepper and boil everything together until your chicken is fully cooked. This will take about 30 minutes.
4. Remove your chicken from the pot and chop it into small pieces once it is fully cooked.
5. In a medium sauce pot cook your Thai rice according to their package instructions! *Tip* They are long noodles, break them in half before boiling so they are easier to get on a spoon later. After they have boiled for about 7 minutes, drain them and add them to the pot with the broth and vegetables.
6. Add in your chopped chicken and cook everything together for about 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Why do I use Thai Rice Sticks? They are as close in texture to egg noodles (which are NOT gluten free) when they are in the soup. When you cook them by themselves you may notice a slight smell – that does not come over in the soup or change the flavor at all! You can really use any gluten free noodle you want, but the Thai rice sticks don’t leach out any extra starch that would gum up your soup or thicken it.

It’s great for these cold days or when you’re feeling down!