Monday, December 17, 2012

Soup for What Ails You

Last week was a week of sickness in my house.  A horrible stomach virus made the rounds, beginning with my husband, who ended up with a brief stint in the emergency room getting rehydrated.  All the kids that got it (four of them!) faired slightly better and got well at home, but while it lasted it was miserable.  The patients were left feeling weak for several days.

Only two of us, my just-turned-18-year-old son and I, escaped unscathed.  And we are still somewhat surprised because, despite all the Lysol and Clorox, there is no way we were not exposed.  I am just very thankful, I prayed that I would not get sick until everyone else was done (all moms understand that prayer!).  I have ended up with a cold, but that is very minor in comparison.

This put a little damper on Christmas festivities around here.  The tree and some indoor decorations are up, but no outside lights:(  No goodies have been baked so far, either.  Not much cooking went on last week at all.

However, even sick people with little appetite need nourishment, so soup it was.  First I made this soup.




I'm sorry, I don't know where I got the recipe.   It's been copied on a card for YEARS and I never actually made it til last week.  I have to say I really liked it, a great soup for when you are feeling under the weather.  It's easy to make and the lemon flavor is refreshing.  (Caveat:  if you don't like lemon, this is not the soup for you.)  Here's the recipe:

Avgolemeno (Greek Lemon Soup)

Bring 6 cups of chicken broth to a simmer.  Add 1/2 cup uncooked rice.  Cover and simmer just until rice is done (about 15 minutes white rice, 30-40 minutes brown rice).  Whisk 3 egg yolks with 3 Tablespoons lemon juice.  Whisk a ladle of hot soup into egg mixture, then add back to pot.  Garnish with fresh parsley and black pepper.  Great with warm pitas and hummus.  Makes 8 cups.

Then I made good old chicken noodle soup.  I used this recipe.  I know there are many ways to make this soup, but this is a quick and easy one when your energy resources are low.  The only thing I would do different next time is to saute some celery in with the onion.  DO NOT double this recipe.  I almost did and am so thankful I didn't.  This makes a huge pot of soup, so be warned:)

Hope you are staying well this holiday season, but if not, you might want to try one of these soups:)

5 comments:

  1. Oh the lemon soup sounds wonderful and who can beat good old-fashioned chicken soup...nourishing for mind and body.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So sorry to hear of your illness-ridden week last week - these things can go round like wildfire. Glad you and one other have managed to escape the stomach bug but sorry about the cold - i have one too if it's any consolation. Just what we both don't need in the run up to Christmas! Anyway here's hoping all germs will have fled by this time next week! Your avgolemono soup looks absolutely delicious and i'd happily settle for a bowl of it in front of the fire this evening to cheer, as Vee says, mind and body. Chicken noodle soup is also very good and just what a slightly frail stomach can face after one of these bouts. Your family are so lucky to have you making such lovely food to get better with! E x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh no, sorry for the sickness in your house. Your soup looks so yummy, thanks for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh Angela...so sorry that The Plague came to your house. I can sooo relate to that prayer not to get sick before you've finished caring for the others. When all the caretakers are down at once, it's a bad thing.

    Good, warm, nourishing soup is so restorative. At the first sign of a sniffle, I am usually starting a big pot of chicken soup...

    ReplyDelete
  5. OH Angela, I am so sorry your family got sick, and oh! I do remember praying that prayer many times!
    Soup plus TLC always makes everything so much better.
    I just know your Christmas was wonderful,and may your new year be filled with many blessings.
    Hugs,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you! Thanks for leaving a comment :) I've turned off anonymous comments due to spam. If you would like to leave a comment and can't, send me an email.