Some seasons remind us that we are not machines.
After spending several days working where hot and cold air constantly met, my body finally asked me to slow down. The fever came first, followed by a sore throat. Thankfully, those passed, but I was left with lingering phlegm, little energy, and a strange feeling that even my favorite foods had lost their flavor.
In our family, moments like these never called for elaborate meals. They called for a soup pot.
Not because soup could magically make everything better, but because it was our way of giving the body time, warmth, and kindness.
So I gathered a few familiar ingredients, crisp apples, sha shen, yu zhu, dried tangerine peel, dried figs, apricot kernels, and lean pork. As the soup quietly simmered, the house filled with a gentle fragrance that reminded me of home.
Sometimes healing doesn’t arrive all at once.
Sometimes it begins with turning down the heat, listening to your body, and allowing yourself the grace to rest.
That afternoon, I wasn’t trying to make a special meal.
I was simply taking care of myself, the same way my family had always cared for one another.
Recipe
Serves: 4 to 6
Ingredients
- 2 apples, cored and cut into large pieces
- 300g lean pork, blanched
- 15g sha shen (沙參)
- 15g yu zhu (玉竹)
- 1 small piece dried tangerine peel (果皮), soaked
- 3 dried figs (無花果)
- 10 to 12 apricot kernels (南北杏)
- 2 litres water
- Salt, to taste
Step-by-Step
- Blanch the lean pork, then rinse well.
- Soak the dried tangerine peel until softened and scrape away any bitter white pith if desired.
- Place all the ingredients into a soup pot with the water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for about 2 hours.
- Season lightly with salt and serve warm.
Family Tip
This soup is one we often enjoy when we feel run down or simply want something light and comforting. It is best enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and a good night’s rest.
Recipe of Life
Our bodies have a quiet way of asking for what they need.
Sometimes they ask us to work hard.
Sometimes they ask us to be still.
Learning to listen is one of life’s greatest forms of wisdom.
A pot of soup may not solve every problem, but it reminds us that caring for ourselves isn’t a luxury.
It is how we prepare to care for others again.
“Rest is not time lost. It is where strength quietly returns.”
While There’s Still Time
Every family has someone who quietly took care of everyone else.
Perhaps it was your mother.
Perhaps your father.
Perhaps a grandparent who always seemed to know exactly what to cook when someone wasn’t feeling well.
Who was the person in your family who always knew what to cook when someone wasn’t feeling well? What do you remember most about those moments?
While they’re still here, ask them:
“When someone was sick, what did they cook for you?”
You may discover that what they remember most isn’t the recipe.
It’s the person who made it.
Pass It On
Every family has a soup that speaks without words.
Perhaps it was a bowl waiting on the stove when you came home from school.
Perhaps it was something your mother quietly placed beside your bed.
Or perhaps today, you are the one preparing it for someone you love.
If you can, make this recipe together with the person you thought of today. Let them tell the story while you cook. Listen carefully. One day, you’ll be grateful you did.
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