Category: Living by the Seasons

• 1 cup white rice
• 3 cups water
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 4 – 6 dried shitake mushrooms
• 10 – 20 Chinese red dates
• Scallion
• Ginger
• Sea salt
• Chicken meat from stock if desired

In a slow cooker on low, or on the stovetop, bring rice, water and chicken stock to a boil. Meanwhile reconstitute mushrooms in a little water, soak 10 minutes and add mushrooms, dates, and a little sea salt to the soup. Let simmer very low, covered for about 2 hours stirring occasionally. After 2 hours add scallion, ginger and chicken meat and serve, discarding the mushrooms and dates if desired. Salt to taste.

This congee or rice porridge is incredibly easy to digest and very soothing to the digestive system. The cooking process does all the digesting for you so your stomach does not have to work, a feel good for your stomach.

The red dates are available at your local Chinese grocer. Substitute unsulphered dried apricots if red dates are unavailable; about 10 is plenty.

• 1 cup black sesames
• 2 Tbsp goji berries, rinsed
• 3 cups water
• Brown sugar (raw, unprocessed)

Bring sesame seeds, goji berries and water to a boil and then reduce to a simmer partially covered for about 20 to 30 minutes until 1 cup of tea remains. If it does not cook down in 30 minutes, the flame is too low. Strain tea and sweeten to taste.

Black sesames are very calming and good to drink in the morning if you have morning anxiety, or in the evening if you have trouble winding down. Black sesames nourish and calm the adrenals, as do the goji berries; overall the formula is very moistening. Brown sugar is full of minerals as are the sesame seeds, so this formula is rich in calcium and good for the bones. Brown sugar can be avoided for those sensitive to sugar, but the seeds are bitter. Maple syrup and honey are also suitable sweeteners as is agave; however, I prefer maple syrup or brown sugar for their high mineral content.

Ingredients can be purchased at the local Chinese grocery store or from an on-line service for Chinese herbs, such as Kamwo pharmacy.