So, now that I am beginning to feel like I am back in the land of the living I thought I would cook a batch of garlic chicken soup to really kick this walking pneumonia’s butt!

I researched recipes online and came across this one here:

DR. IRWIN ZIMENT’S PRESCRIPTION GARLIC CHICKEN SOUP FOR COLDS & COUGHS

28         ounces of chicken broth

1            bulb garlic (about 15 cloves)

5            sprigs parsley, minced

6            sprigs cilantro, minced

1            teaspoon lemon pepper

1            teaspoon minced mint leaves

1            teaspoon minced basil leaves

1            teaspoon curry powder

Peel the garlic cloves and place them with the other ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer 30 minutes. Inhale the fumes of the soup during preparation. Drink the soup, one cup at the beginning of each meal, until it’s finished. (The soup can be strained after simmering if one doesn’t care to eat the herbs.) Add chile pepper flakes or vegetables to taste.

I am not exactly sure who Irwin Ziment is, but I came across this book that he co-wrote about Herbal Medicine, too.

At any rate, I am going to alter the recipe a bit because I don’t have all the ingredients (specifically the fresh parsley, cilantro, mint and basil). I will use dried herbs, add some onion, celery and carrots, and double the amount of garlic.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

And, here are some fun facts about garlic found on the same website as the recipe:

• There is an ancient Telugu proverb that says: Garlic is as good as ten mothers. (Telugu is one of the languages of India.)

• A 17th century writer summed it up with this statement: “Our doctor is a clove of garlic.”

• In 1858, Louis Pasteur noted that bacteria died when they were doused with garlic.

• At the turn of the century, garlic was the drug of choice for tuberculosis.

• Albert Schweitzer used garlic to treat cholera and typhus.

• During World War II, British physicians treated battle wounds with garlic.

• Several studies say that garlic is packed with chemical compounds that can boost the immune system.

• Garlic is said to have a soothing effect on the respiratory system.

• The average clove contains five calories, vitamins B1, 2 and 3 and vitamin C, plus the minerals calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and germanium.

Last, but not least, I have a funny/interesting story to tell about garlic and a hotel room from my days in hospitality design…I’ll save that for another blog post someday.

home is…homemade garlic chicken soup to cure a cold (or walking pneumonia).