Illness brings Miso Happiness!

Meg has been sick this week.  Very sick.  Sick enough that she has repeatedly considered going to the Doctor.  Thought about it, but was determined to beat it with it's own stick....  SO she has umcka'd (umcka is a wonderful natural cold medician!!!)  During a recent conversation with her mother, Ginger, she found out that even Dr. Oz loved trying to find natural ways to get well.  Everyone knows that studies show that Chicken Soup helps one to get over a cold faster.

But apparently the traditional Japanese soup, Miso, is also known to help one get well faster.  Since then, Meg was determined to make some of this delicious wonder and enjoy it's healing effects.  If you are confused as to what Miso is, think of your favorite Asian restaurant,  and the great little bowl of soup always accompanied with that sweet little salad.  Well, this is that soup.  YUMMY!

Funny enough, several weeks ago B and M watched a "Good Eats" about this exact soup! So, after doing some reading, we decided to go visit our local Asian market.  They were so helpful!  After buying all our needed supplies, we came home - and B made it all! Meg was pooped out, it was the first time she had been out all week.  Frankly it left her beyond tired!  But B jumped in and created a meal masterpiece!

First he followed Alton Brown's recipe for Dashi.  Dashi is the broth that is the basis to the Miso soup.  YUM!  Then after making the soup, he went on and made shrimp stir-fry with julienned vegetables and fried rice!  WOW!!!  If you are interested in the recipes, they are available here -


Dashi Recipe
Miso Recipe

As for the fried rice, well, that's in his head!  He has it down to quite a science anymore.  Emma regularly asks for it.  That's great because it's so full of wonderful vegitables!  I will have to get him to write down his thoughts on it.  All I can say is that I would rather stay home and have his rice than any other any day.  That's saying a whole lot because I LOVE rice!  Next?  To make our own eal roll and then we will be fully happy on the Asian dinner idea!

Hope that you decide to venture out into the world of Asion cooking! Shopping for the ingreients were half the fun.  We came home with extra rice noodles for the next time pad thai desire hits.  As well as four adorable little spoons for our soup.  I love food....