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Got H1N1? I hope not! Apparently, 99% of the flu that is going around is H1N1 and although the vaccine seems to be reasonably effective, it is not yet clear when or how much of it will be available. Pregnant and newly post-partum women will be on the top of the priority list to receive it.
Chinese herbal medicine has some great options for treating viruses, including influenza and H1N1. Gan Mao Ling formula is a must have for your medicine cabinet to treat the initial onset of any cold or flu. 3-4 tablets can be taken every 2-4 hours within the first 48 hours of symptoms. There are other formulas that are useful for more severe colds and flues and still others for boosting the immune system. I am stocking up on these formulas, so please don’t hesitate to email or call me if you would like to pick some up for your medicine cabinet.
Here’s something we can all do: daily gargling and nasal rinsing with salt water which can prevent the virus from replicating in our bodies.
I love my new slow cooker. I just bought the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6 quart Slowcooker for $50 at Kohl’s. It’s programmable and everything! It’s great to have breakfast ready when I get up and a warm dinner waiting when we get home after work, especially since there isn’t time to cook but my whole family is hungry.
Here’s a couple of my favorite slow-cooked meals.
Overnight Steel Cut Oats
Before you go to bed, put 3/4 cups steel cut oats, 3 cups water and a pinch of salt in a pyrex, ceramic or metal bowl and put it in the slow cooker. Put enough water in the bottom of the slow cooker to cover the water line in the bowl. If you have a programmable slow cooker like mine, set it on low for 7-8 hours and it will go to warm after that (which makes getting the bowl of oats out of the hot water easier). Otherwise cook it on low overnight.
In the morning you can top with whatever you like: the traditional raisons, maple syrup, milk and cinnamon or try it straight up with a fried egg.
Now that you have had breakfast and your slow cooker is till clean, make dinner. Prep the veg the night before so you can throw this together in the morn.
Slow Cooked Chicken Coconut Curry
Toss the together into the slow cooker and cook 6-8 hours on low:
- 6 shallots (or 2 onions), 1 sweet potato, 2-3 potatoes, 1 red bell pepper – all peeled and chopped into big chunks
- 4-6 bone-in chicken thighs (the marrow in the bone makes a tasty broth and is chock full of nutrients)
- 2 stalks lemongrass – smash with handle of a knife and then chop into 1 inch pieces
- 1 T ginger – peeled and minced
- 1 T curry paste
(or if only some people in your family like spicy food put 1 t curry + 1 T hot broth into each bowl, stir to combine, then add the rest of the soup)
- 1 t salt
cover with water
After it has cooked and you are almost ready to eat, add ½ cup coconut milk, chopped spinach or chard, fish sauce, juice from 1 lime, and cilantro.
Omit anything you don’t have and add whatever you have. |
