Immune Boosting Soup by Rowena

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Merry Meet all - I found this great recipe for an immune boosting soup

Immune Boosting Soup

 

Large handful greens (dandelion, Kale, chard)
• 2 quarts water
• 1 stick astragalus root, broken in half 2-inch piece gingerroot, peeled and grated or chopped fine (about 2½ tablespoons)
• 1 small dried cayenne chile pepper,stemmed and seeded, diced fine
• 1 whole garlic bulb, peeled and thinly sliced
• About 1/2 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, broken or chopped coarsely (about ½ cup chopped)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 large sweet potato, diced into small cubes (between 3 and 4 cups)
• 1 tablespoon packed dried calendula florets, minced
• 2 generous teaspoons dried thyme leaves, minced
• 1 cup diced red or yellow bell pepper
• Couple pinches cinnamon
• 1 bunch spinach, cleaned (about  2 cups packed leaves, coarsely chopped)
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

If you prefer less heat, use just a pinch or two of cayenne instead of the chiles. Feel free to add other ingredients you have on hand or use whatever you like best.

 

I am not familiar with Astragalus root - does anyone know what it does?  I know peppers, curry and tumeric are very good for the system, also garlic. I did not know you could add calendula to soups, but why not?  I have been living on soup most of the winter so far and drinking sage, lemon balm and veronica or vervaine herbal teas. So far so good - I have fought off one cold for sure with this combination....

What do you all do for colds?

 

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/immunity-boosting-winter-soup....