Green Shchi a summer soup in Russia, packed full of vitamins and nutrients.

• 1 pound sorrel
• 1 ½ T butter
• 1 pound spinach
• 6 c stock
• 1 T flour
• ½ c sour cream
• salt and pepper

Method:
Pick over and wash sorrel, shake off water; chop fine. Saute in ½ T butter. Mash through colander.

Wash spinach thoroughly. Cook in boiling salted water. Drain. Mash through colander. Combine with sorrel and dilute with stock.

Cream butter with flour. Add ½ c boiling stock. Add mixture to soup; bring to boil. Good served cold.

Just before serving, blend in ½ c sour cream. Serve with dry toast.

I found this handwritten recipe in one of the many second hand community cook-books I search through for old-fashioned traditional recipes.

• Whole oranges
• Whole cloves
• Powdered orris root
• Ground cinnamon

Method:
Select firm oranges. Stick cloves into orange skin, until rind is all covered. Roll orange in equal parts orris and cinnamon. Pat in as much powder as orange will take.

I often keep a little pot of simmering herbs on the back of the stove making a flavorful medicinal tea, the herbs and spices vary depending on the season and other conditions. Suggestions for basic simmering herbs and spices:

• pau d’arco (immune booster and anti-viral)
• rooibus red tea (anti-oxidants)
• cinnamon stick (blood-sugar regulator, circulation)
• cloves (circulation)
• cardamon
• ginger (circulation, anti-nausea, heating)
• 1 peppercorn (enhances the other spices actions)
• tiny pinch of chili (enhances the other spices actions)

This is really easy to make and handy to have in the kitchen. A mainstay in Burmese kitchens it results in two great additions for salads. Crispy golden fried garlic and garlic-turmeric infused oil.

Method:
Peel and slice thinly as much garlic as you would like to have available. I suggest 2 heads of garlic to make the exercise worthwhile.

• Fill a heavy bottomed pan with enough oil to deep fry the garlic.
  
• Add a teaspoon or so of turmeric
• When it starts to sizzle slightly add the garlic
• Stir occasionally and keep an eye on the garlic. It is quite easy to burn at this point
• When it begins to get golden and before it starts turning black, quickly take the garlic out of the oil and drain on paper towels
• Allow to cool and store it in an air-tight jar. This crispy fried garlic will keep indefinitely stored in this manner
• When the oil has cooled store it in a jar in a cool place

Use it for flavoring your hand-tossed Burmese salads!

Garlic cloves are used as a remedy for infections (especially chest problems), digestive disorders, and fungal infections such as thrush.

For Colds and Flu: At the faintest sign of sore throat, running nose, or aching bones, simply peel a clove of fresh garlic, cut it in half and place one-half in each cheek, allowing the juice to be absorbed in the saliva and pervade the system. Or place garlic cloves in your stockings before going to bed.

To Mask Garlic Breath: The odor can be masked by use of anise, cinnamon, or caraway seeds; chew these with a little parsley.

Wound Healing: Decocted garlic extracts that are left to set overnight are very effective in healing wounds.

Garlic Bandage: Fresh grated garlic or expressed juice may be put directly on any external wound or infection.

Garlic Cough Medicine: Fill jar with peeled and sliced garlic. Cover with a mixture of equal parts of raw cider vinegar and water. Let stand 4-5 hours, strain and add an equal amount of honey. Chill, shake well before use. Use 1 Tablespoon 3 or 4 times a day.

• 1 head of cabbage, shredded
• 1 T caraway seeds
• 2 T sea salt
• 2 T whey

Method:
Mix the cabbage, caraway seeds and salt together. Pound to release the juices. Place mixture into a jar and press down firmly so that the juices cover the cabbage by at least a centimeter. Cover tightly and keep in a warm place about 3 days.

This is a great way to start your day. It is quick, nourishing and delectable. Most importantly is has a lot of easily absorbed calcium and potassium.

Serves 2-3

• 1 banana, the riper the sweeter
• 1 T tahini, or you can use freshly ground toasted sesame seeds
• 2 T peanut butter
• 1 t vanilla essence
• 1 T honey (or you can use a sweet apple)
• ½ c herbal iced tea (or water)
• 1 c yogurt or keffir or both
• 1 t cinnamon, ground
• 1 T flax seeds, freshly ground

Method:
Blend ingredients together. It is also nice to add ice at the end to make it into more of a thicker colder smoothie.

Chicken broth is a practical and affordable addition to any diet. Broths and stocks provide powerful nourishment.

Organic chicken legs are generally a reasonable price and sometimes even cheaper than buying the whole chicken. You can leave the skin on if you like. I like to fry the chicken skins up for a tasty snack. Use the rendered chicken fat to fry with.

Organic chicken fat was traditionally considered to be very healing. This recipe is also good because you can use the poached chicken meat to make Myanmar Chicken Salad, and other recipes.