To soothe away the sniffles....... {Elderberry Cough and Cold Syrup}

I have become quite attached to alternative remedies recently, I'm not entirely sure why but I just like the knowledge that I am not pumping my body full of unnatural chemicals. I came across elderberry syrup a while back and decided to make some of my own and it seems to be working for us. I firmly believe that better eating habits, juicing, alternative remedies and exercise are keeping H and I happy and healthy through this change of seasons whilst those around us suffer from coughs and colds. Two spoonfuls of this medicine every morning and we're fit and rearing to go - with the exception of Monday mornings of course....

Elderberry Cough and Cold Syrup

Recipe adapted from Holistic Squid Website

150g dried elderberries, I found them here

800ml filtered water

couple of thumb sized pieces of fresh ginger, grated 

1 TBSP cinnamon 

1 TSP cloves

250ml honey, raw is best but I used local blossom honey as it also helps with allergies in the lead up to Spring

put all the ingredient except the honey in a pan and bring to boil. turn down and simmer for an hour until liquid has reduced by half. take of heat and strain through muslin  /sieve. Allow the liquid to cool until it is warm and then stir in the honey. Transfer to bottle / jar and keep in fridge where it can be stored for 4-6 weeks

*** Disclaimer: I am in no way an qualified alternative medicine practitioner I am just sharing with you what works for my family of  two***

Soup that nourishes and revives....... {Chicken Noodle Soup}

When I wasn't feeling well last week I made roast chicken and veg and the bonus to this is the broth that you can make from the stock. H says this soup is miraculous and I have to agree that a bowlful of this can really make you start to feel more human if you are fighting various colds and aliments. If you don't fancy chilli and noodles etc then you can always make my jewish penicillen here 

Chicken Noodle Soup 

2 chillies, de-seeded and thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, chopped 

thumbsized piece  of ginger, grated

handful of corriander, roughly chopped 

3 pints of chicken stock / broth, fresh is best but you can use pre-made or stock cubes

precooked shredded chicken, we used the left over roast 

handful of mushrooms, sliced

handful of mangetout

couple of spring onions, thinly sliced

1 carrot, thinly sliced 

noodles, I used vermicilli rice noodles 

stifry garlic, chillies and ginger in a litlle oil, after a couple of minutes add the mushrooms, onions and carrot. Once cooked pour in the stock and chicken and simmer for a while. add the noodles. sprinkle in the corriander at the last minute. serve and let your senses be revived 

A Sniffle.........{and a cure}

I hate getting colds and feeling run down, and I rarely do, but this is the time of year when it tends to
happen. Work has been so busy and full on and I feel like there has been no time just to be still and breathe. Just breathe. I hate taking any sort of medicine so I just go with rest, and vitamins from fresh fruit and veg and my honey, ginger and lemon drink that works better than any sort of lemsip. You can take this by just taking a teaspoon straight, adding a teaspoon to hot water or to some tea or even better use in a hot toddy - works every time.

Honey, Lemon and Ginger Syrup 

take a lemon and cut in to thin halves, pat down with kitchen paper to remove excess juice. Slice up some fresh ginger. layer half the ginger and lemon in a jar and pour over some honey, stir it up a bit. add the rest of the lemon and ginger and add some more honey. seal and put in fridge. stir it up before each time you use it as the juice from the lemon can thin it out a bit. I use local Kentish honey for this and so I swear it also helps improve my hayfever when the dark days of winter are over and spring arrives