Monday, May 3, 2010

Sick and Soup

Luke got a viral infection this weekend. Which means fever and just not the usual Luke. We took him to the doctor and he said that he's also contagious so wash your hands. Doh! I've been sharing food with him, touching his mouth, kissing him... you know the normal mom stuff. This morning and last night I've had a scratchy throat. Am I getting sick too?
When ever I'm sick or feeling like I'm going to get sick I always make this soup. It's my own recipe and it really caters to my own tastes.

Tomato Sick Soup
1 can of low sodium diced tomatoes
1 can of low sodium tomato sauce
2 cloves (or more :)) of garlic
1/2 onion chopped
1Tbsp of oregano
1 spoonful of red pepper flakes to taste
1 handful of chopped fresh basil (if you don't have it used dried)
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
I sautee the onion in the EVOO until soft, then add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Sautee for a few more minutes, don't let garlic burn. Then you add the can of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Let bubble for a minute or so and then add a swirl of balsamic vinegar. Then you just let simmer for 10 minutes or so... when ever you think it tastes good.
I love tomatoes and garlic so the taste to me is so good. Maybe you have other ingredients you want to add that would appeal to your own tastes?

The reason I think this soup is so good for fighting off sickness...
tomatoes- lycopene- capable of warding off free radicals, antioxidant because it's high in vitamin c, fights cancer
garlic- it is said to be an antibiotic, works as an antioxidant, and fights cancer
onions- good anti inflammatory which helps congestion from common colds they are also antimicrobial so they fight unwanted bacteria in your system.
oregano- another super spice. It has antimicrobial effects and it is full of antioxidants.
EVOO- omega 3s, antioxidant and a whole range of other things. It makes your skin pretty too.

I don't know what it is but a good dose of garlic always makes me feel a little better :) and its tasty too!

2 comments:

Lindsay said...

Sounds yummy! Where do you find the low-sodium stuff? We keep looking for it and can't seem to find it!

Cassie said...

well, i found the low sodium at a store called winco, which is just over here in the north west. Well maybe it just said 50% less sodium. Sometimes I really have to look for it!