I've been struggling with flu-like symptoms for three weeks. What started as sinus turned into full-blown bronchitis, but the tide is turning. My appetite is back, but I now have serious withdrawal symptoms. I've not had the energy to come here for my daily Hive fix!
House on the Market
What made things worse was having to prepare my house for strangers looking to buy property. Yes, I've taken it one step further, and it's out there on the market.
The thought of having strangers traipsing into my innermost private space makes me feel exposed, but the time has come!
I did the staging myself, and I must say, the photos taken by the agents turned out not too shabby!
Much-needed Sustenance
To make matters worse, I could not enjoy and spoil my 2 Hivean friends who visited me during this period for our own little Hive meetup, but more about that in my next post!
By Thursday, I needed sustenance, and managed to muster up the energy to make a friend's deliciously healing spicy Indian Chicken Soup.
Chicken Soup
Nothing like chicken soup to clear out the cobwebs.
When I was growing up, and anyone in the family came down with a cold or flu, the first thing to go on the stove was chicken soup, and it had to be chicken on the bone, not filleted.
My Ouma was a wise woman and somehow knew there also was goodness and healing power in the bones.
Of course, the soup I'm sharing with you today is a lot different from what my Ouma, and then my Mom, served back in the Sixties, but likely has been served in India for many moons.
With the addition of healing Cayenne chillies, Thyme, Turmeric, Garlic, Ginger, Onions, plus chicken on the bone and chunky vegetables, you have a delicious recipe to boost the immune system and steer you to good health!
My friend Kalai sent this soup once before when I wasn't well. It's unlike any other soup I've ever prepared, absolutely delicious!
This chunky soup in a clear, fragrant broth can be served with bread or rice.
I served it with quite a big helping of Basmati Rice, so it ended up looking like a saucy rice.
Delicious, filling, and very comforting, and it eased the stuffiness in my airwaves.
My friend Kalai's Spicy Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 8-10 chicken pieces - bone in (and some wings if you have)
- 1 heaped tsp turmeric
- Half tsp each of dhania & Jeera
- 1tsp chilli flakes
- 1 tsp chicken spice- Robertsons
- 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- Salt to taste.
- Peel and halve a whole house of garlic and stamp it roughly
- Half thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and crushed
- Oil for braising
- 2 dried chillies
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 Bay leaf
- 2 cloves
- 1 large onion or 2 medium- cut chunky
- 1 Leek, sliced (I used spring onions)
- 2 tomatoes chopped
- 2 carrots (cut as you prefer)
- You can add peas, green beans, and corn (or mixed veg - if you like)
I added baby peas - 4 Potatoes - halved
- Curry leaves
- Thyme
- Few green chillies (I used Cayenne chillies) -it depends how hot you want the soup to be.
(NB: The hotter, to help ease congestion.)
Cover chicken pieces with mixed dry spices, add crushed ginger and garlic.
Heat oil - add whole spices (from dry chillies to cloves).
Add chicken pieces and braise.
Add onions, leeks/spring onions, potatoes, and carrots.
Note to self - follow the order of adding veggies next time. I got a tad muddled here, but it still worked out in the end.
Mix, cover, and give it 10-15 minutes before adding the other vegetables and herbs.
Add 4 cups of water and continue cooking the soup until it reduces and thickens.
A little extra Turmeric to aid inflammation.
Optional - Add a good dollop of butter and mix in.
Add some chopped dhania.
Enjoy this delicious, comforting soup with rice or bread at any time, not just during times of illness!
BON APPETIT FRIENDS!
Thyme for Tea
A last tip: Please remember that all this is not medical advice; it is merely what I learned and what helped me.
One night, my chest went into an alarming bronchial spasm. Nebulizing, mucus thinners, and asthma inhalers did not do the trick. It was almost midnight, so I went online in search of herbs that thin mucus.
Thyme tea was just one of the herbs mentioned. Thyme is also one of my favourite herbs for cooking, so I try to keep some on hand. I've resorted to buying from the greengrocer, but I need to plant new ones in my herb garden.
I added garlic, lemon juice, and ginger, sipped it slowly, and for sure, not long afterwards, I could cough with very little effort and breathe easier. Perhaps a combination of everything, but I was able to get some sleep and woke up feeling very little tightness.
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