Sweet Pear Soup

Another soup to relieve cough and clear phlegm.

Ingredients

2 Chinese pear, peeled cut in the centre with core removed
4 candy dates
1 tbsp wolfberries
8g chuan bei (was told crushed is more effective but can use them in seed form)
2 pieces of rock sugar (to taste)
10g white fungus, soaked in water for 2 hours and remove any hard bits ps.
4.5 cups of water


ps. Candy dates helps to strengthen the spleen, regulates gastric gas, strengthen the body and stops cough.

White fungus benefits the spleen, strengthens the stomach and expels dryness. It is also said to be effective in nourishing the lungs, healing dry cough and clearing heat in the lungs.

Wolfberry is suppose to improve eyesight, strengthen immune system, nourishes the liver and kidney, and activates blood circulation and delays aging.

Chuan bei (Fritillariae Cirrhosae) removes heat, moistens the lungs, clears phlegm and relieves cough. It is very effective against prolonged cough due to vacuity of the lungs.


Method:

1. Put everything into a pot and cover with lid (with small opening ajar) and bring to boil before lowering heat to simmer for about 2 hours.

2. Taste whether sweet enough. Serve warm with some white fungus.


Bench notes - Compared to the apple soup, this one taste yummier....maybe its because it taste a lot sweeter! :)

Spinach Anchovie Soup

Very healthy soup...packed with lots of iron and calcium!!

Ingredients

1 bunch of spinach or baby spinach, washed properly
250g cleaned ikan billis (aka anchovie)
6-8 red dates, pitted or alternatively 1 tbsp wolfberries
5-6 cups water
salt to taste


ps. Red dates has blood-nourishing properties and can be widely used with other ingredients to nourish the body.

Wolfberry is suppose to improve eyesight, strengthen immune system, nourishes the liver and kidney, and activates blood circulation and delays aging.

Method:

1. In a pot, fry the ikan billis with a little oil for about 5 min until fragrant. Add water and chinese herbs, bring to boil before lowering fire to a low simmer and cook soup for about 1 hour.

2. Remove cooked ikan billis. Add spinach to the soup in the last 10 min.

3. When ready, add salt to taste.


Bench notes - Alternatively, can cook spinach in chicken or pork soup. If using pork meat/bones, scald/blanch it in boiling water for 5 min first to remove scum before using it in the soup. For the purist, kampong or free-range chicken can be used instead!