No, we don’t have any colds or flu, but I usually make up several quarts of my “Flu Soup” just to keep on hand. It’s worked so good for years to relieve any type of sinus/cold/flu or congestion etc. Be sure to add your honey and lemon. This recipe usually makes 4 1/2 quarts, and I add more water to the cooked veggies, add more ginger & cinnamon and boil it down again for 2 or 3 more quarts. The 2nd batch isn’t as strong, but still useful.
You Will Need
- 1 large head of cabbage, coarsely chopped
- 5-6 large carrots, coarsely chopped
- 4 or 5 cloves of garlic, whole
- 8-10 cinnamon sticks
- 1 small container of ginger root (I buy from Mennonite store) or you can slice a whole root.
- 2 Tablespoons of course black pepper
- 5-6 stalks of celery, coarsely chopped
- 3 or 4 small onions, coarsely chopped
Directions
- Add enough hot tap water to cover all the “stuff”.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 3 or 4 hours.
- Stain into another smaller stock pot
- Pour into your canning jars, quarts are my preference. I use “self-seal” lids, but you can process them with your canner according to carrots etc.
You can also just jar it up & keep it in your fridge. I keep a jar or two in there.
Do we have the flu? Nope…but it’s there for colds, sniffles, sinus problems, whatever you want to use it for.
Seems like if you would chop the garlic, this would make a great stew. Are you saying it has to simmer a few hours to make it therapeutic?
You won’t like the taste I can assure you, so making it a stew probably won’t work :-) That’s why you must add the honey and lemon if you plan to get it down…unless you have iron taste buds! LOL And yes, you need to let it simmer so all the good stuff filters into the broth.
I like it :) Definitely going to try adding the cinnamon and more ginger :)
I’d probably toss in a big bunch of fresh thyme (“thymol” – thyme essential oil -is a big ingredient in most cough drops) and, maybe some sage (fever-reducer and good for stomach/intestinal issues) . Strong flavor, though.
I can’t find the quote, but some late-Roman-era herbalist wrote “How could a person ever die, who has sage growing in the garden?” ) :)
Probably adding these wouldn’t hurt a thing, but I’m one of those who “if it’s not broke don’t try to fix it” people…wink-wink! Also, you know how recipes go…somebody tweeks it a little and then it’s “theirs” :-)
Thank you. Even though I have my Vinegar of the 4 Thieves for flu, along with my poultry stock ready, this will make an extra backup plan. :) Making mine next week in between Christmas prepping. :)