Lately, looks like the cough bug is in the air. My neighbour has been coughing for quite a while, so are my friends and their children. Lately my other half has been coughing too and instead of relying on the cough mixture, I turn to traditional Chinese remedies and hope for the best.
Elin of Elinluv's sweet delights recommended this concoction to me and I tried it ..... 'Double boiled apple with rock sugar'. Even if you're not coughing you can still make this soothing drink. Elin has a lot of wonderful recipes and right now she's in the mood of making bread. Do check out her blog, in fact she has two and I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.
I made this twice. The first time I used a double boiler, and on the second, I used a mini slow cooker as I don't have to monitor and add in water in the double boiler pot.
You'll need to abstain from eating chicken, oranges and grapes if you wish to recover from your cough because if left unchecked, you'll be coughing for months!
The sugary syrup with a slight tinge of sourness from the green apple is indeed very soothing to the 'ticklish' throat. This is not a guaranteed antidote but no harm in trying for it may work for some but not suitable for others. Nonetheless, your life won't be shortened with an overdose of this soothing drink ! Oh a less hassle way to combat cough is to eat fresh Jackfruit void of washing. It worked for me but not for my other half.
Ingredients
- 2 green apples
- 150 - 200 gm rock sugar, rinsed
- 2.1/2 cups hot water
- Cut off the top part of the apple, core and peel off the skin. ( I had to do this as the skin was waxy).
- Stuff the cored part of the apple with small pieces of rock sugar.
- Place the apples in the mini slow cooker, add in 2.1/2 cups hot water and 150 gm rock sugar.
- Switch on the slow cooker and leave it for 5 hours.
- Dish out the apple and syrup into a bowl.
- Serve warm.
- If using a double boiler, boil on medium low for 3 hours and don't forget to check the level of water in the boiler pot.
- You can substitute apples with Chinese pears or lemons.
I'm submitting this entry to Aspiring Bakers #5 : Fruity March (March 2011)
hosted by Jess of Bakericious
My mum used to cook this dessert in winters for us too. Very good to sooth our throats.
ReplyDeleteTake care!
Cheah.....thanks for the mention :) The concoction is good for health even if you are not coughing. Yea it depends on what kind of cough you are having. It works for some though :)
ReplyDeleteHope your other half is better now. Regards to him.
Elin
HI Ah yee....why do people use Rock Sugar in sweets like this? Why can't we use normal caster sugar? Is it because of the milder taste?
ReplyDeleteI remember having a lot of this when I went home last year. Not sure if it works, but it's yummy!
ReplyDeleteI have to remember not to take chicken and oranges! Thanks for the tips and the recipe.
ReplyDeletelyn
I always have cough and one of the remedy that my aunt introduced is this.
ReplyDeleteThis herb is avail in Malaysia and not in Singapore.
So I tend to stock up whenever she visit my other aunt.
http://preciousmoments66.blogspot.com/2005/07/golden-dragon.html
The apple drink is also good but I normally use 雪梨.
i was having cough too for past week and i also cooked this but i didnt double boil them, i just cook them in pot and added some sweet and bitter almond nuts..i'm not sure if it helps in coughing but it is soothing.
ReplyDeleteGood to know this remedy. Always handy when the coughing season strikes!
ReplyDeleteMy mom likes to use pears to make those for us...coughing or not. LOL
ReplyDeleteChristine
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed it's very soothing.
Elin
Thank you. Will be making this often as a 'yoon' drink.
Alvin
Rock sugar is more mellow,light and has a sort of caramelish flavour. It certainly makes a difference and indeed very soothing to the throat, also to combat 'heatiness' in the body.
pigpigscorner
Yes it's yummy, whether it works, hard to tell for each individual is different. But certainly it won't kill, that's for sure!
your pics are amazing and I love your write up..
ReplyDeletefirst time here...happy to follow u..:)
do stop by mine sometime..
Tasty Appetite
Cough remedy works very well during the begining stage. And it also helps in cooling heaty body. I like cooking this kind of drinks for my family. Thanks for the reminder. I need to make this tomorrow. The weather is not so right. I also asked my kids to bring umbrella & rain coat to school. You know why!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a lovely evening.
Kristy
Lyn
ReplyDeleteYes, it sure helps to remember those.
Edith
Yup, I've made with Chinese pears and lemon as well, do prefer the latter.
Zoe
Oh yes, it sure does when cough comes to visit!
Angie
Yes, a great drink for all seasons!
Jay
Sweet of you to drop by and thanks for the compliments. Just hopped over to yours. Great blog you have too! Hope to see you more often.
Kristy
ReplyDeleteYes, the world is topsy turvy and so is the weather, all gone haywire!
Cheah, Thanks for sharing, I did not know this method, will keep in mind...
ReplyDeletewow this might just be the solution to my cough! will that only work with green apples??
ReplyDeleteShu Han
ReplyDeleteWhen we cook with apples we normally use green apples. If not you can just boil dates with Chinese pears, with skin removed.
This is very useful and easy . I guess everyone will enjoy this dessert . Smile
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this extremely informative article on cough treatment. I recently read about cough treatment and various other allergies, its preventive measures to control and medication for cough & asthma on breathefree.com. I found it extremely helpful.
ReplyDelete