With a change in weather, from winter to spring, temperature fluctuation from wet cold to warm sunny days the immune system can find itself tested. Many people experience colds and even flu during the seasonal changes not to mention those who suffer from allergies.  This and for the sake of our general health and wellbeing, is why it is important to help and strengthen our immune systems.

In a previous article we covered Holistic Cooking in Toronto, and how people are learning not only how to cook fabulous dishes, but are learning a holistic approach to cooking. This recipe and article is in the same venue as that which many people in Toronto are learning to appreciate, and apply to their cooking, Holistic Health.  

Holistic health and cooking calls upon us to respect our body and health by ensuring the foods we eat are as close to nature as possible, fresh as possible and organically grown (free of pesticides, hormones and genetic modifications).  It is also recommended in holistic cooking that the ingredients in addition to being organically grown should also be locally grown (as much as is possibly available).  The Island Druid also recommends that during the preparation and cooking process one should have, what he describes as "life infusing music" (described as music with a possitive message as well as a harmonious vibration) playing at a soft but audible level. 

Island Druid's vegetarian holistic health soup is a great (possibly better) alternative to the famous grandma's chicken soup recipe. 

Ingredients:

• 8 cups (237 ml) water (H2O) – use pure water, reverse osmosis or filtered water
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
• 4- 5 tablespoons of dark organic barley miso paste - most health food stores carry this
• 2 organic onions, large diced - never use onions bulbs that have begun to sprout as they have also begun to decompose and are lossing their nutritious value
• 12 organic green onion stalks (chopped)
• 6 cloves of firm organic garlic (minced)
• ¼ cup of organic ginger root grated – this can be reduced slightly for a milder soup.

Spices:

• Sea Salt (to taste) – do not use table salt or iodized sea salt as the processing of these have removed all mineral benefits from the salt.  Use pure sea salt which can be obtained from your local health food store.
• Black Pepper (to taste)
• Cayenne pepper powder (to taste)
• 3 Pinch of dry oregano *
• 1 Pinch of freshly ground Anise seeds *

Mandatory Vegetables:

• 3 – 5 thin slices of Astragalus root
• 1 cup of large chopped organic Bok Choy
• 1 cup thinly Sliced organic Broccoli stem (the stem not the flowerets)
• 1 cup diced raw organic carrots
• 2 cups fresh, sliced shiitake mushrooms

Additional Vegetables:

(add all or any combination of the following)

• 1 cup thin sliced organic zucchini
• Half a pinch of dry Irish Moss (the sea weed) *
• ½ cup of chopped Kelp

* Note: All the ingredients identified with an asterics should be placed in a stainless steel tea ball so they do not spread within the soup.

Making of the Soup

1. Bring water to boil in large pot.
2. In a large carbon Steel wok, heat olive oil sauté garlic, onions, and ginger until soft but firm and aromatic.
3. Add contents of skillet to water. Add broth, shiitake mushroom, and astragalus. Simmer covered for one hour.
4. Add tea ball with spices, broccoli stem, and Carrots. Simmer covered for one hour.
5. Remove from heat; allow cooling to a warm temperature – approximately one hour. Remove the astragalus and tea ball.
6. Add the dark organic barley miso, kelp, bok choy and zucchini (Important note : Do not re-heat miso on high heat, as it will kill the living microorganisms that aid in digestion and healing)
7. Add salt and pepper to taste, and cayenne pepper powder if desired.

For a printable version of the recipe click here - Island Druid Recipe.

Health benefits and Special notes:

Please note that the following information is information gathered from various reports and sources of knowledge and research. The island Druid makes no claims that the ingredients of this soup will improve or affect your health in any manner. This soup is intended for your dining enjoyment. Health Canada does not allow for any claims of health benefits.

Based upon recorded and historical herbalist properties of the ingredients of this soup, this soup should be of benefits in strengthening the the immune system as well as increasing overall energy and vigour. Main health ingredients based on traditional herbalist records are: Astragalus, Miso, Broccoli, and Oregano, and Anise. Other ingredients are also nutritious and healthy containing elements that aid in human health and wellbeing.