Recipe of the Day: Carrot Ginger Soup To Warm Your Deadbeat Heart

Winter’s been getting harsher and harsher as the years have passed by (Suck it, global warming advocates!) and we’ve been forced to become more creative in the way we deal with it. Be it setting the cat on fire for warmth, rubbing ourselves against our neighbors, or getting more creative in the kitchen to bring about some warmth from within.

Everyone likes soup. If you know someone or are yourself someone who said they don’t like soup, you’re lying pieces of shit with no soul.

I slightly digress.

Living rooms in Cairo circa 2014

Below is my favorite soup recipe that is 110% guaranteed to thaw out your icicles and help you to momentarily stop stuffing kittens down your underwear. It’s super easy to make, and I guarantee it’s one of the tastiest - and healthiest- soups you can gorge down on during the cold days. Let’s get to it!

Ingredients (Serves two people)

• 4 tablespoon - Olive oil
• 1 Onion -- peeled and chopped
• 2 Garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon - Chopped ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon - Mustard seed
• 1/2 teaspoon - Ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon - Cinnamon powder
• 1/4 teaspoon - Fresh hot pepper
• 6 to 8 Carrots
• 3 1/2 cups of water
• 2 cup - Labneh
• 1 tablespoon - Honey

Directions

1. Saute the onions and garlic in a pan with the olive oil.
2. Add the spices and cook for several minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Slice the carrots into discs.
4. Add to the pot and cook a few minutes longer.
5. Add 2 cups water, cover tightly and simmer for 30 minutes.
6. In a food processor or blender, puree the cooked carrots with the remaining 1 1/2 cups water.
7. Return puree to the pot and whisk in the labneh and honey.
8. Heat the soup, but do not boil.

There you have it! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Recipe of the Day: Chili Chocolate For the Cold and the Soul

Another quick recipe and this one will be deemed more seasonal than anything considering the sudden weather shift we’re experiencing here in Egypt as the climate finally realizes it’s fucking December and starts acting like it.

So the below recipe is a straightforward hot dark chocolate drink with a spicy twist that will leave your body warm and your throat more than clear. It’s not spicy in the same sense as you’d experience it with food but there’s definitely an after-kick in the back of the throat that you feel with every single sip. You’ll know what I mean once you do it.

Now I’m not saying this is a “diet” drink. Dark chocolate is the real deal, it’s chock full of calories but it’s also full of healthy fats and antioxidants so you’re definitely getting some benefit aside from the flavor and emotional support. This shouldn’t be a daily fixture in your diet but can be a bi-weekly treat on those days when it’s just too cold out there.

The following makes for two servings (roughly two 250 ml mugs)

Ingredients

• 500 ml skimmed milk
• 6 squares dark cooking chocolate (You can find a brand called Swifax in almost any supermarket and it’s pure cooking cacao)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon powder
• ½ teaspoon ground chili powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (if desired)

Process

Preparation time: 2 minutes

Cooking time: 5 - 7 minutes

• Cut up your cooking chocolate bar so you have your six squares nicely separated from one another.
• Inside a pot, place your 500 ml of skimmed milk and the chocolate squares.
• Add the cinnamon and chili powder (and sugar if you’re going for it)
• Place on high heat while constantly stirring till it reaches boil (by then the chocolate should have significantly melted)
• Lower to low / medium heat after reaching boil and continue to stir until chocolate pieces have completely melted
• Serve in the mugs, garnish with raspberries or cinnamon sticks if that tickles your fancy.

Note: Tweak the ingredients’ portions as necessary if you’re making larger servings for groups (but go easy on the chili, a little goes a long way!)

I hope you enjoy it, I know I certainly did. Let me know how you react to it!