Immune Boosting Recipes

Last week my immune system was struggling. The combination of an unrelenting schedule and indecisive weather (Mother Nature - summer or fall? Please pick one!) left me battling the onset of a cold. My fatigue was at an all time high and I needed energy.

I turned to my Secrets of Self Healing Book by Maoshing Ni which bases its advice and remedies on eastern medicine. What I resonate with is preventing ailments before needing western medicine intervention. So I found two recipes in the Low Immune Function section that I was willing to try.

Some of the ingredients aren't mainstream (ahem..goji berries and seaweed I'm talking to you) but between Sue's Produce and Whole Foods, I was able to find everything.

In my experience, both the trail mix and the soup boosted my energy, stopped the runny nose, and cleared my congestion. I plan on making a few batches of the soup and freezing for the coming months so it's easily accessible when I feel a cold approaching. Or even for the days (or weeks) I'm feeling sluggish.

Immunity-Boosting Trail Mix

Combine dried blueberries, goji berries, Brazil nuts, and pine nuts.

I added about 4-8 oz of each ingredient however, the ratio is flexible so create your own balance. I kept the trail mix in the fridge to keep it away from the humidity and the leftover nuts in the freezer to keep them from going stale.

Please Note: Some people may experience a bitter taste in the mouth after consuming certain brands of pine nuts. You might want to do some research before selecting your brand.

Immune Soup

10 shiitake mushrooms (soaked first if using dried)

1/2 C seaweed (any kind)

1 head of cabbage

2 squash (any type)

2 carrots

10 slices of ginger

3 sprigs of oregano

1 onion

6 C chicken stock

Soak mushrooms if using dried. Slice the mushrooms, chop the cabbage, and dice the squash, carrots, and onion. Combine all ingredients in a deep stock pot and bring to a boil. Continue to boil uncovered for 30 minutes. Eat at least 1 large bowl every day.

Note: Try not to get caught up in the exact measurements and sizes (how long of a sprig of oregano?) but incorporate what you have.

All recipes taken from Secrets of Self-Healing by Maoshing Ni

recipe: jalapeño cornbread

I want to share a really good cornbread recipe I made the other week with you guys.

After a bit of a disastrous cornbread experience (sorry again Katie, we owe you cornbread), where tablespoons of baking powder were substituted for teaspoons, I was left with a big cornbread craving.

I don't often take much notice of the recipes on the back of bags, but we got this new cornmeal from Whole Foods (Arrowhead Mills Organic Yellow Corn Meal) and fresh jalapenos from my Mom's garden and some cheddar that needed using up, so it was perfect!

It turned out so good, moist, a bit fiery but not too much, and just made us want to keep going back for more.  I tried to get a good photo of it, but by the time I realized I should get an image, we just had a line of cornbread left.

Jalapeño Cornbread

1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp. oil or butter
1 cup white flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
3 tbsp. butter or oil (I used olive oil)
1 1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2-4 jalapeño peppers, finely chopped

(tsp =  teaspoon, tbsp = tablespoon, don't mix them up!)

Preheat oven to 400F.  Prepare an 8" square pan using 1 tbsp. oil or butter (I used butter).

Sauté the chopped onion in the oil until just limp, about five minutes.  Combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl, blending well.  Separately beat together the eggs, milk and 3 tbsp. oil or butter (I used extra virgin olive oil).

Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients beating until just moistened.  Stir in the onions, 1 cup of the cheese and the jalapeños.  Pour into the prepared pan and top with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until crusty brown on the top.

Try not to eat it in one day.

Maybe.

P.S. Are there any good recipes you have tried recently???

P.P.S. I'm going to Wilmington First Friday tonight and then the free Philadelphia Orchestra Concert (and hopefully the Hawthorn Yoga event) on Sunday.  Anyone else coming?