Savory Pick: Brain Nourishing Soup
​Pairing a popular brain food, walnuts, and a Kidney tonic herb, he shou wu, makes this soup  the best choice for people who are looking for a remedy to turn their hair black (or back to their original color).  This combination is also ideal for pregnant woman, to help nourish the Kidney function. 

Sweet Pick: 8 Treasure Soup
A popular dessert soup made with a mix of legumes, nuts and rice. This dessert soup earns the 8 treasure name because this soup strengthen the body and considered a valued soup for longevity.  Together these ingredients are the "treasures" to optimize health at any stage of your life. 

In Chinese traditions, on the 8th  day of "layue" 臘月 in 12th month of the lunar calendar,  it is customary to have this soup to prepare for the winter season.

Recipe:
​30g He Shou Wu
50g Walnuts
50g Roasted Black Beans
12g 8-10 Dried jujube dates without the pit 
150-350g Lean Meat or Bones  
2 thick slices of Fresh Ginger
1-2 Fresh Carrots diced
12 Cups of water
1 pinch of Salt

Optional: Black Sesame

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes
Cooking Time: 2 Hours 

Preparation: Soaking roasted black beans and walnuts for about 1-2 hours 

Cleaning the Meat or Bones:  

• Bring 3-4 of water to a boil, place the raw meat in the boiling water for 1-2 minutes (until the red meat turn white) then take the meat out and rinse under cold water.

 
Directions:

1. Wash all the dried ingredients (dates, black beans, he shou wu, walnuts). Tip: Some people wash the walnuts with a pinch a salt to reduce bitterness.
2. Bring 12 cups of water to a boil then add all the ingredients in and simmer for 2-3 hours. Tip: You can try using a slow cooker and leave it on a setting that the water is simmering. I usually use the stove top to bring the ceramic pot to a boil then place it in the slow cooker.
3. Add salt to taste (Everything is edible except the he shou wu)

Suggestions for Long-Boiled Soups:  Prep all the ingredients in the evening and leave it in a slow cooker before sleeping (Soup would be ready to taste in the morning!) OR Prep all the ingredients at night such as cleaning the meat (then store the meat in the fridge unless your home is an igloo), and soaking the beans/nuts overnight.   In the morning, place all the ingredients into a slow cooker (or a regular pot) and let it simmer throughout the day (set the timer and taste when it's done!).

Recipe:
100g Sticky rice
100g Red beans
100g Black beans
100g Peanuts
50g Lotus seeds
30g Dried longan fruits
​30g Jujube dates​
10g Dried Lily bulb (Bai He)
20g Gogi Berries

Optional: Rasins
​
​Preparation Time: 20 Minutes
Cooking Time: 90 Minutes

Preparation: Wash and pre-soak red beans, black beans, peanuts and lotus seeds in cold water for 4 hours or over night

Directions: 

1. Bring 5 bowls of water to boil
2. Add the beans, peanuts, and lotus seeds to water and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour (depends how soft you like the beans to taste) and stir occasionally
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for another hour, stir occasionally
4. Add crystal sugar to taste

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