My mom always made homemade chicken soup using a whole chicken when I was growing up. I've never made chicken soup using a store-bought chicken broth. Once you make soup this way, you'll never want to go back. The broth is just so fresh and delicious! If you would like to use a whole chicken for this soup instead of the two chicken breasts, simply double the ingredients for the broth and the soup and use an 8 or 12-quart pot instead. Be sure to add the rice noodles to each individual bowl if you plan to have leftovers. Adding them to the whole pot and then reheating the soup the next day can cause the noodles to get quite mushy. This soup also freezes very well, just don't add the noodles or the raw toppings to your freezable portions. Fresh Thai chilies and lemongrass can be found at places like Whole Foods or at your local Asian Market.
Ingredients
        
	
	        2          pounds      
        bone-in chicken breasts  
        (or bone-in chicken thighs)  
      
	
	        8          cups      
        water  
      
	
	        1          large      
        onions  
    
        chopped  
      
	
	        3      
        celery stalks  
    
        chopped  
      
	
	        1      
        carrots  
    
        chopped  
      
	
	        1          heads      
        garlic  
    
        cut in half crosswise  
      
	
	        ¼          cups      
        finely chopped  
    
        fresh ginger  
        (or more)  
      
	
	        2      
        thai chili peppers  
    
        chopped  
      
	
	        1          teaspoons      
        crushed red pepper flakes  
      
	
	        2          cups      
        chopped  
    
        shiitake mushrooms  
      
	
	        1      
        lemongrass stalks  
    
        chopped  
      
	
	        1          teaspoons      
        whole black peppercorns  
      
	
	        3          teaspoons      
        Herbamare  
      
	
	        1          bunches      
        cilantro  
        (use the stems for the broth)  
      
	
	        1          medium      
        onions  
    
        cut into crescent moons  
      
	
	        3      
        celery stalks  
    
        sliced into diagonals  
      
	
	        3      
        carrots  
    
        cut into matchsticks  
      
	
	        2          cups      
        sliced  
    
        shiitake mushrooms  
      
	
	     
        freshly ground  
    
        black pepper  
      
	
	     
        cooked  
    
        Thai rice noodles  
      
	
	     
        chopped  
    
        fresh basil  
      
	
	     
        chopped  
    
        napa cabbage  
      
	
	     
        chopped  
    
        cilantro  
      
	
	     
        chopped  
    
        thai chili peppers  
      
	
	        1          large      
        limes  
    
        cut into wedges