It's Been a Chicken Soup Kind of Week for Me, so What Do You Eat When You're Sick?
by Kalyn Denny

For more than a week now I've been sick, sick, sick. Not only did I take three days off from school and beg off writing a post for BlogHer last week, but most of the week I didn't feel much like cooking either. When I get sick like this, chicken soup is one of the few things that can really help me feel better.

Definitely I wouldn't feel like cooking a new soup recipe while I was sick, but it was fun to try using the new BlogHer Food Blog Widget and searching for chicken soup ideas. If you make one of these nutritious soups now, and you'll have it in the freezer the next time you're feeling sick, so here are five soups that sound healing.

Probably one of the most traditional soups people make or eat when they're sick is a version of Chicken Soup with Rice, and the one at Dinner with Julie looks good.

Korean Gingseng Chicken Soup

Korean Cuisine has a soup that definitely sounds like it might have restorative powers! Pictured above is Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup or Sam Gye Tang.

Chicken, Leek, and Barley Soup sounds good at Ambrosia and Nectar, and don't forget barley is a whole grain!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

If you need something with a bit more spice, how about Chicken Tortilla Soup (pictured above) from The Skinny Gourmet? Erin says she's been making this so long she's perfected the recipe.

For people with the sniffles who don't eat meat, Notes From the Vegan Feast Kitchen has Vegan Pennsylvania Dutch-Style "Chicken" Corn Soup.

Finally if chicken soup isn't your idea of sick-day comfort food, Cheap Healthy Good has a list of 10 Easy Nutritious Foods for When You've Contracted the Plague. I have to admit, a few things on their list sound pretty appealing. How about you? What's your most comforting thing to eat when you're sick? And if you have a good chicken soup recipe, please leave the link for us in the comments!

Kalyn Denny writes about food and at BlogHer.com and shares her passion for cooking at Kalyn's Kitchen.

Submitted by Kalyn Denny (view blog) on Sun, 11/09/2008 - 3:41pm

Comments

 

Here's my recipe

for Chicken Soup.

Hope it makes you feel better!

Michelle

 

Submitted by Michellesamom on Sun, 11/09/2008 - 17:38
 

I could have used it!

Love your tip for freezing half the herbs to use next time.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 11/09/2008 - 18:08
 

Food I make when ill

SOUPS: Some of my go-to-when-sick-soups start with Super Stock -- I boil a chicken with lots of onion, carrots and celery and any fresh green herbs I have (parsely/dill are my favorites)and salt and pepper. But the key is that I add a finger-length peeled piece of fresh ginger to the stock. You can't taste the ginger distinctly, but it upholds the taste of the chicken. I cook every ounce of flavor out of the contents for hours on low, replenishing water as I go. Then I strain the stock and freeze it. That leaves me with a starting point for :

1. Chicken noodle soup...Super Stock/some veggies and broad flat noodles.

2. Carrot soup..Super Stock, newly boiled carrots, fat free half and half to taste, more dill..blend and serve. (also good cold when feeling well.)

3. Leek Soup ..Super Stock, thinly sliced leek rounds...boil leeks in stock until done. garnish with chopped chives.

Or, I like a hearty soup when feeling sniffly and chilled. This is a stick to the ribs soup.

4. Potato cheese soup. Boil and then mash/blend peeled potatoes with enough of their cooking water to give you a basis for a hearty soup. Add salt and pepper and chopped parsley to taste. In soup bowl place a mound of grated cheddar cheese (as cheesy as you wish). Cover with the smooth potato base. On top of soup (VERY IMPORTANT - do not skip this) add finely chopped raw onions and a couple of shakes of red wine vinegar.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

Submitted by Mata H on Sun, 11/09/2008 - 18:48
 

Can I come over?

I should be there in 5-6 hours! Sounds wonderful

I'm religious about making chicken stock too, but haven't tried the ginger in it, Love that idea.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sun, 11/09/2008 - 19:36
 

When I'm sick, I eat pho ga,

When I'm sick, I eat pho ga, which is, um, chicken soup. Hee. Last year I made it with myThanksgiving turkey leftovers, and it was tasty but I still like having it out better.

I had the flu last month and I had an uncanny craving for Toaster Strudels. I think that was more hurting than helping, though.

 

SJ

Blogher Pop Culture Editor | I, Asshole

Submitted by Super Jive on Sun, 11/09/2008 - 22:39
 

Take Out Soup!

Now that's an idea I hadn't thought of.

I confess that for a few days when I was sick last week I ate nothing but pizza! Also probably not helping me, but it did provide comfort.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 05:19
 

Ooooh Pho!

I'm right there with you on having Pho when feeling sick--but I'll eat any variety.  Chicken, beef, etc... it's all so soothing to me!  I tried making pho before, but I much prefer take-out when I'm sick.

Amanda
Mrs.W's Kitchen

Submitted by MrsWsKitchen on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 06:07
 

Feel better soon!

I've been in the same boat these past few days.   I've read that garlic and onions have many antiviral properties, so if you make soup add lots of those!  

One thing thats helped me feel better is mint tea, although that may be placebo :)

 Hopefully healthy days will soon arrive for both of us!

 Heidi

 

Savory Tv

Submitted by SavoryTv on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 00:12
 

Thanks Heidi

I'm still feeling rather crummy, but this week is parent-teacher conferences so I can't stay home! Mint tea sounds good!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 05:18
 

Garlic!

Feel better!

A variation on chicken soup.... slice as much garlic as you can stand into your basic chicken soup recipe.  Ginger too, if you like.  It'll cut through any congestion, and also has antibiotic properties, or so I'm told.

 My personal sickness-comfort food is takeout Wonton soup from Sammy's.  Their dumplings are gingery and soy-saucey, and perfect.

- E

elizabethwillse.wordpress.com

Freelance Writer And Book Reviewer

Submitted by ewillse on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 13:00
 

Plus, garlic tastes great!

I have garlic and ginger, and chicken stock already made and this sounds like a winner!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 18:13
 

Spicy Soup

Here at home when one of his having a cold or fever, i make them this spicky chicken noodle soup.
If you have a cold you bet the nostrills flair open after having this spicy soup.
http://mykitchentreasures.blogspot.com/2007/10/chicken-noddles-soup.html

Submitted by Happy Cook on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 09:59