Peanut Cabbage Quinoa Soup

I came down with a sore throat this weekend. Must be the changing fall air here in Michigan. So the only thing I want when I feel a little under the weather with a sore throat is a big bowl of steaming soup. Just soup that's all. And maybe rotate the soup with many cups of honey, lemon and immune-building herbal tea as well. Who wants to be in the kitchen when you are not feeling well? Not me, I want to be on the couch watching an old movie or the Food Network. So this soup is simple, not a lot of chopping and not too long to cook. It contains some fresh cabbage that I bought this weekend and it tasted superb with a touch of peanut goodness.

I love cabbage. I have told you this before. It has texture, color, and so many good cleaning benefits. A good food to eat when you are not feeling well because it will help your blood and body cleanse out some of the toxins. What s gorgeous way to stay healthy with cabbage. This soup is made with savoy cabbage which is higher in beta-carotene than some of the other cabbages and it is very rich in vitamin C. Just what you need when you need a little immunity boost. This soup also contains great immunity boosters like garlic and ginger. Just a little extra goodness to get you feeling better. Or keep you feeling well and not giving an germs a chance to invade. Peanut Cabbage Quinoa Soup:

2 TB of olive oil or ghee (clarified butter)

1 medium diced onion, about 1 cup

4 large cloves of minced garlic

4 cups of vegetable broth or stock

2 cups of pure water

3 cups of chopped and diced savoy cabbage

1 1/2 cup of peeled and diced carrots ( I like cutting them like saucers for this recipe)

2 cups of cooked quinoa (or brown rice works as well...basically whatever you have available)

1 TB of ginger (dried or grated)

1 TB of wheat-free tamiari sauce

dash of cayenne pepper and paprika

juice from 1 fresh lime or about 1 TB of lime juice

3 TB of a raw creamy organic peanut butter

1 ts. of cracked pepper or however much to your taste

Saute the diced onions on the bottom of a 5 qt. pot and let them soften just a bit, then pour in the broth, water and minced garlic. Give that a minute to cook and then dump in the cabbage, carrots, and let cook for a few more minutes. Then you can add the rest of the ingredients. Let the peanut butter melt into the broth and it will not be a clear as before. Make sure you don't have any chunks of peanut butter floating around, and that it has melted completely through the broth. Once you add the already cooked quinoa that should be your last step. It is already cooked, so it just needs to get warmed. I let this soup cook for about 15-20 minutes so that the flavors can meld and the cabbage and carrots have time to get soft and cooked.

It is pretty simple, but that is what you need when you are feeling the greatest. Hope you enjoy even if you are not sick because the soup is a great combo on a bunch of delicious flavors, not to mention healthy benefits. Enjoy and be well!

Notes:

If you have a cold or sinus infection not only is a good vegetable based soup good for you, but also to stay away from mucus-creative foods like eggs, dairy, and sometimes even meat can create mucus. Also, stay away from all sugar! The only sweetener I eat is honey in my tea and on my throat, which is a natural soothing remedy. Sugar in foods will cause your body to fight harder to get better, it is just best to stay away until you are feeling better.

Try and keep drinking a lot of water, and also as much herbal tea as you can. Herbal tea immune booster tea usually has a good combo. Ones with echinacea and ginger, an many other added herbs for healing.

Rest and don't try and do any projects or go out. Stay close to home and rest.

Do some light stretching or yoga or even a nice walk. Sweating just a bit will help shed some toxins sitting in your body. Stretching is a great way to loosen up some of the toxins that want to come out.

Assist you body in healing. Don't go against it and make it harder.