I am sick. I'm sitting here with a pounding head, stuffy nose, a throat that won't stop coughing, and a body that seem to have forgotten how to function. Who's to blame? The weather and it's indecisiveness or my outdoor bonfire in 20F, I'll go with the former. Seriously, though, I am in pain, a pain of "trying-to-breathe-through-your-nose-but-can't-and-so-you-breathe-through-your-mouth-and-it's-so-dry-it's-like-the-Sahara-and-you're-slowly-deteriorating-into-nothingness" and I just want to get better. I just want my mommy here.
Sometime all you want is to be babied and cared for by the expert. Now, I know I gave up that life the moment I moved out to go to school and live else where, but it's beside the point. Luckily, I have my lovely Hines who comes and cares for me when I need him most, but no one serves a bowl of soup with care or stuffs medicine down your throat like a mommy.
You know, when we were all younger, we all fantasized on waking up "sick" so we wouldn't have to go to school (unless you didn't, than, congratulations on being the good kid). A day of sleeping all day, with nothing to do and watching t.v. while all your schoolmates slaved away with homework. As much as I wanted to, I was never lucky to be that kid. My mom and dad instilled in me the importance of "SUCK IT UP" and I went to school anyways. Headache? Ibuprofen. Slight 1 degree fever? Tylenol and Propolis. You just don't feel like getting up? You were ready for school in half the time than normal. It seemed cruel, back then, to have had to go to school in some of those conditions. "That kid just had a headache and their mommys and daddys let them stay home!" But you know what? I've learned a bigger lesson.
As an adult, we are blessed with the term "sick day". It's where companies, following their own terms and conditions, allow employees to take a day of leave for ailments of any sort while getting paid for a regular day of work. Unfortunately for me, and majority of the food industry personnel out there, we don't get sick days. You don't come to work? Oh okay, we will scramble to find someone else to fill your position and I beg you to come back tomorrow. As an employer, too, I've realized how AWFUL having people sick or being personally sick is. This time, you're the one scrambling to find people to keep the business running well while shorthanded. I am proud to say, in the last year, I have only missed one day of work for sickness, and that was 3 days ago. Lord know, I wish I had stayed in bed the last two days too, but that wedding cake wasn't going to make itself. That's where my parent's "SUCK IT UP" lesson comes into play. I did exactly what they made me do when I was a kid: stuff cold medicine, pain killers, and Propolis down my throat and hope I can stay on my feet for the 6 hours I needed to be. Miserable? Yes, but I continuously washed my hands and kept on a good spirit so that the bride and groom would have the wedding they deserved. Now that it's Sunday and we're closed, I can hack, cough, sneeze, and deteriorate all on my own free will. I'll be staying in bed the rest of the day (after this blog of course) and hopefully I'll be doing less of dying tomorrow.
If you are so lucky to have a special mommy or a significant other who will take care of you, try this recipe to warm you up. My mom always made me this soup whenever I was feeling under the weather. Share some of your favorite sick day food below.
Chicken and Stars Soup
Serves 4
Ingredients:
Half chicken or 2 chicken breasts
1 medium carrot
1/2 yellow onion
2 stalks celery
1/2 bunch Parsley
S/P
1/2 cup Star shaped noodle (Yes, the star shape is important)
MOP:
-In a large stock pot, place your chicken pieces and fill with water until all meat is submerged. Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly.
-While the pot is cooking, peel your carrots and cut into thin diagonal pieces (On a bias). Dice the onions into small cubes (brunoise) and same with the celery.
-When the chicken is cooked, remove from the pot and place in a bowl. Let it cool down until you are able to touch comfortably. Shred the meat, removing the bones, if you have the half chicken. Strain the water and save for the next step.
-In the same stock pot, pour two Tablespoon of oil and turn the heat to medium high. Cook your onions until starting to brown, then add the carrots and celery. Cook until the carrots begin to tenderize. Add the shredded chicken meat. Add the chicken broth to the pot. Add more water, if needed.
-Turn the heat to medium to medium low and let the ingredients simmer. Pour in the star pasta and continue to simmer until the pasta is cooked all the way (10 minutes, give or take) Add more water if needed.
-When the pasta is done and the carrots are al dente, chop the parsley and add to the chicken soup. Taste and add Salt and pepper accordingly.
-Now, grab yourself a bowl, go snuggle up in a blanket, and forget your worries away.
"The importance of star pasta."
: I have tried this recipe on numerous occasions where I didn't use that specific shape. I used egg noodle, orzo, anything, and the soup never tasted quite the same. Maybe it's a memory and comfort thing and you might think I'm crazy (it's possible), but I just don't feel right eating anything but the star pasta.
