Below is the recipe of a wonderful herbal soup. At any time of the year we can all use a little help with our immune systems. The Miso added at the last moment saves it from being bland. Adding pre-cooked shrimp or chicken last minute puts it over the top. Really!

INGREDIENTS:
1 big Yellow Onion, chopped.
6 cloves garlic, chopped.

1 cup dried shitake mushrooms.
¼ cup crumbled seaweed.

1" piece ginger, grated or chopped.
1 cup brown rice.

4" piece of burdock root (as you will want to remove this woody root after cooking make many small slices along its length, keeping it in one piece).

4 cups (or more) chopped veggies, like kale, carrots, celery, lotus root.
10 cups of water.

Note: Every element of the soup is a powerful enhancer of the immune system - especially burdock, shitake mushroom, ginger and lotus root. A good health food store will have all these items, fresh or dried.

DIRECTIONS:
Place everything together in a big pot - bringing to a boil - immediately reduce to simmer.
Simmer at very low setting at least 45 minutes.

SERVING DIRECTIONS:
To an individual soup bowl add:
Miso to taste, powdered or paste (never cook miso)
Cayenne pepper to taste.

LEFTOVERS:
Reheat only the amount to be eaten.
A delightful option: Add frozen pre-cooked tiger shrimp, at the last minute, during reheating (don't boil) -or some pre-cooked chicken. Mmmmmmm!

Bill Stratton ©2007