Mastering the Art of Making Traditional Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds), cut into pieces
• 8 cups chicken broth (or water)
• 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 stalks of celery, sliced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried ginseng
• 1 teaspoon dried Astragalus root
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: chopped fresh cilantro for garnish