Chicken Soup with Onions and Garlic for the Endless Winter

Name: Chicken Soup with Onions and Garlic for the Endless Winter
Ingredients: 1 small chicken or whatever chicken you have frozen for stock (if you use assorted parts, you will want a couple of pounds worth); 3 scallions, trimmed; 1 bunch cilantro, stalks and roots included (optional: do not scour the city for cilantro with the roots still on; feel free to make without any cilantro); 2 carrots, halved; 8 whole black peppercorns; 3 tablespoons fish sauce; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 8 small shallots, or 4 large shallots, peeled and halved; 1 head of garlic, peeled and halved; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 1/2 pound egg noodles (straight wheat noodles are fine, though); cilantro, chopped (optional)