Hello and Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog.

This is my very first one, so bear with me and enjoy reading about my adventures cooking all of the recipes from Nigella Lawson's new book 'Kitchen'.

From time-to-time I may post about things other than cooking, after all, Nigella does sell a lifestyle that most women would like have a slice of, so I would like to share a bit of mine - not quite as glamorous but fun none-the-less (may I add that most of my ideas and thoughts revolve around food anyway)!

Just to set the scene a little, I am based in Yorkshire, live with my husband and gorgeous toddler who is rapidly approaching his second year. I work in the events industry and love music, books, fashion, culture and of course... food.

Enjoy.

Goddess Mx (meant in the loosest possible sense, believe me)!

Monday 20 December 2010

Jewish Penicillin

Everyone knows that Chicken Soup does the trick when you are under the weather - I have fond memories of Heinz CS after doses of the flu, tummy bugs and other ailments, courtesy of my mum.

I used to pride myself on never really getting ill, but now with a toddler-in-tow, I seem to always have the cold. So, I thought I would give Nigella's chicken soup a whirl. According to the website Jewish Penicillin, Dr. Stephen Rennard, a specialist in pulmonary medicine, tested the theory and concluded that chicken soup "actually has a mild medicinal effect, inhibiting inflammation of the cells in the nasal passage, reducing the symptoms of a cold". Anything is worth a try.

To make the soup, I popped into a pot the following magic ingredients:
1 small chicken
1 carrot, peeled and halved
1 tbsp maldon salt
1 onion, halved with skin still on
1 cinnamon stick
3 litres of water
Juice of one orange


I then simmered for around 3 hours, longer than the 2 hours suggested, but I couldn't get all of the water in at once as I need a bigger pot (massive lilac Le Creuset to be precise)! I then strained the broth into another pot and chilled overnight. A day after I scooped the fat off the top of the liquid, heated up, and added a handful of beansprouts, some chopped spring onions, red chilli and coriander to the mix, and devoured. It was really simple and I did feel like it was doing something to my cold immediately (although could this be a kind-of placebo effect)? I have since drank the broth on its own from a mug, which is also nice. Perfect food this week when temperatures have reached -9.5c.

Would be interested to hear about what others eat when feeling below-par.

Goddess Mx

7 comments:

  1. Mmmmmm, I love chicken soup and swear it makes you feel better when under the weather. Hope you beat the cold before Saturday!!

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  2. I think it is beat! Don't know if it is the soup, a day off (alone) yesterday or sleeping well for the past few nights. Maybe a combo of all three!

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  3. Even the thought of that soup makes me feel a little better!

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  4. Other updates on foods for coughs:

    Honey - http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdFlu/story?id=3947988&page=1

    Chocolate - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-150247/Tickly-cough-Try-chocolate.html

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  5. Soup! Always makes me feel better. Ice cream, if I have a soar throat :)

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  6. Soup! Vietnames with noodles and chicken. And pizza. Pizza always helps :)

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  7. Nope, not a placebo :o)) I found the same effect in my recipe which I varied from the recipe on telly series: 'Grow your own drugs' - left the echinacea out... tasts ghastly. Works without as well.

    Love your blog!

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