Best Meal When You Get Sick - Porridge

For those people who suffer from illness, lack of appetite, or holiday fatigue, porridge’s pure taste may be the refreshing change that one needs to live a better and healthier life. Here I introduce to you one of my favorites – Seven Grains Porridge.

Ingredients: Brown Rice, Brown Sweet Rice, Pearled Whole Parley, Millet Hulled, Red Beans, Red Kidney Beans, Black Eye Peas (Note: all seven grains I use here are Organically grown.) You can get them in a package called Organic Mixed Grains (7 different kinds of Grains).

Tip: In US, All Organic Products should have the USDA Organic Seal printed on them. – See the picture on the right

Of course, you may use regular grains and rice to make porridge. But I’d rather use all organic ingredients. The reasons, for me anyway, are provided in the links below.

Using a rice cooker makes your life much easier and cleaner. Most rice cookers, nowadays, can actually cook Porridge for you. They usually come with a measurement cup (or you may buy one separately from a store).

Inside the rice cooker pot, you will find several sets of marks, one of which is labeled - Porridge. The marks tell you how much ingredients (by cup) should be used with how much water. For an example, for 1 cup of mixed grains you just add the water (or Organic Milk if you like) up to the mark, where it says 1 under the label - Porridge. The liquid may seem too much at the moment, but remember, you are making porridge, not regular rice, and the cooking time is considerably longer.

Next, press “Menu” button to move the cursor to the “Porridge” and then press “Start” to cook. It normally takes about 1 hour to 1-1/2 hour depends on how much content you put in there (more content requires longer cooking time).

For those who have no rice cooker, just use a deep pot (works better with an unsticking pot). The ratio between rice and water should be at least 1:3, if one prefers more juice, 1: 4 or 5 is also doable. Use high heat to bring the content to boil, keep stirring, and make sure no spill over and no sticking to the bottom of the pot. Then, turn the heat to medium low for about 1 hour.

When the porridge is done, you can sprinkle some dried Osmanthus Flowers (they smell wonderful, you find them in most Oriental Supermarket), and some Organic Sugar/Brown Sugar, or if you prefer Sea Salt.

Hard-boiled Organic Eggs: actually, it is the best way to eat an egg. You get 100% of the nutritive value. Here is a tip on how to make a perfect hard-boiled egg – put eggs in a pot, add enough water that covers the eggs, bring the content to boil for 3 minutes, and then continue to cook on medium-low heat for 5 more minutes. Turn off the heat. Rinse the shield eggs under the running cold water for a minute. This way, when you crack an egg, the shield will not stick to the egg white. Cut the eggs in half; pour a few teaspoons of sweet soy sauce and a couple drops of sesame oil on the top - done.

Organic Products are better for you, better for farmers and better for the planet. Those delicious and nutritious natural ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides. They may cost you more in the pocket, but better health is priceless. If you are patient and resourceful, you may find cheaper Organic Products at various places. Many supermarkets nowadays carry Organic bread, vegetables, dairy Products, nuts and crackers, even ice cream. An old say has that: if there is a will there is a way. Nobody can give you better health. The only one you can rely on is you, yourself.