Sniffles and Truffles?

Knifethrower · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 218 Location: Heaven, actually.

Its day four of the household flu outbreak, and self-medicating with Asian food seems to be the agreed therapy.

This makes me wonder...

When you are down with the chills, aches, and all the other loveliness that accompanies a good old fashioned cold, what is it that you crave to eat?

Me? Thai glass noodle soup, extra veggies with a healthy splash of hot sauce.

You???
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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.

Judy · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject:

i have been fortunate to have only had The Flu once in my life and that was almost one time too many. I get the occasional cold, but considering I work with sick people, that's not surprising.

When I was able to drag myself out of the house, I went shopping and bought almost every variety of chicken soup I could find in the supermarket. Those Jewish mamas know their comfort food!

And something I make at home is similar ...

A chicken breast marinated for a short time in garlic, ginger, mirin and soy sauce. Steam some rice and put the chicken on a plate covered with foil over the rice and steam it too. Serve with asian greens and spring onions.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Jen.
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Knifethrower · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 218 Location: Heaven, actually.

Judy, you must be clairvoyant! I just finished a batch of Jewish Penicillin! I am doing up some noodles to serve with it, and we are gonna hunker down over a nice warm laptop and DVD pretty soon!

Your steamed chicken sounds marvelous!!!

Thanks for the good wishes!
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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.

emilyj · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 184 Location: London, UK

I never feel like cooking anything when I'm sick and as I live alone, no-one else cooks for me either... so I usually order a Tom Yum soup from the Thai place down the road- the chilli clears the sinuses and the soup is warming and comforting.

I wonder what it is about soup that makes you feel better when you're sick- it seems to be a universal phenomenon.

Erin · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:39 am Post subject:

I can't get it anymore because this particular item was chef specific. It was Hot and Sour soup made extra hot by Kwan at The Imperial Palace in my hometown. He used to try and push the limits of how spicy he could make my soup, and was always astonished when I wished him better luch next time. Whenever I had a cold I would send Phil in for a tankard of this soup, nothing makes me feel better like Kwan's soup.
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"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

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Barbara · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:15 am Post subject:

I think most cultures have a version of Jewish chicken soup. I crave Pho soup when I'm feeling poorly but it is really hard to find in my 'hood. Here's an intersting piece on the history of Pho. It seems in Hanoi it was only eaten on Sundays or when you were sick.

http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/features/pho-corlou.htm
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Barbara

emilyj · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 184 Location: London, UK

Knifethrower · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 218 Location: Heaven, actually.

Emily, Erin and Barbara, we are all definitely birds of a feather!

My initial instinct was the Tom Yum soup, but hardly at Daredevilish B.T.U. heat, as the local joint tries to kill me on a regular basis with their version. I opted for the Yiddishe Version, bland, soft on the offended palate, and boosted with Bubbie's incantation, "Eaaaaaat.", it did alright for the two of us. Brian, bless his tongue, added Chipotle Tabasco and horseradish. I admire his spunk.

Leftover broth I am saving for that ginger-rice porridge! My Filipina nurses used to bring this into the lunchroom at work and I just went nuts over it. I coincidentally happen to have all the ingredients sitting in the icebox... WHOOPEE!!

(I might be milking this flu thing a little, but when it comes to soul food, it beats a pharmaceutical any day!)

May none of you become afflicted without the benefit of delivery Thai food!
Thanks for all your well wishes!

Very Happy

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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.

Erin · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject:

Knifethrower,

I have been suffering that particular affliction for two and a half years now. Pizza joints don't even deliver out here.
_________________
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

Vicky · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Paris, France

Actually....my family doctor (who is of German extraction) strongly recommends spicy food when you have the sniffles. He claims that ginger tea is a traditional German remedy for colds, but suggests spicy food of any sort is effective at getting all the mucous flowing. Seems to work.

Chicago Bear · Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 240 Location: Chicago

I've thought about this issue carefully. Unfortunately for my response, I'm not sick right now and I've had to think myself into that state and say, what would help the most? It's beer. You might ask yourself, what does beer offer that chicken soup does not? Or, how can anyone drink beer to make themselves well if pho is available? You won't get an answer to either of those questions from me. Beer works because it soothes the throat, the bubbles calm my stomach, the alcohol makes my head feel better, and there's just enough nutritional value (150 calories per bottle). There's also solid statistical evidence that it works. Every time I've had a cold or flu and have medicated myself with beer, I've recovered.
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Judy · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:42 pm Post subject:

Can't argue with that logic, CB.

Isn't that how a lot of 'tonics' were marketed?
_________________
Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness

www.cupcakerecipebook.com.au

Knifethrower · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 218 Location: Heaven, actually.

CB,

Thank you for your well though reply...tee-hee!

I can honestly say that your approach is way cool with me! You're getting hydrated, caloried and relaxed as well as a good NyQuil or cough syrup shooter (hey, any medicine that comes with its own shotglass gets my vote!). You're just having more fun than the rest of us!

Please, do share which brew you prefer, you know, for medicinal purposes!
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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.

Erin · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject:

I think I will try medicating with champagne next time I'm sick!
_________________
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

Knifethrower · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 218 Location: Heaven, actually.

I keep getting flashbacks of Vitameatavegemin on I Love Lucy... Laughing

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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.