Marrrow...the food of winter

Marrow

Marrow is a great food to nourish the kidneys. Kidney nourishing recipes include Osso Bucco, kidney organ itself, seaweed, fungus family and walnuts. Soups and stews are particularly good cooking methods for winter, as they cook meats by adding water resulting in tender and moisture-rich foods. 

I made this kidney-tonic stew which only takes about 15 minutes to prepare and it’s also gluten-free, Paleo and a great winter tonic! 

Ingredients:

• 10-15 mushrooms, cut in half
• 1 piece of Wood Ears fungus, cut or rip into small pieces.
• 1 or 2 pieces of Osso Bucco
• 1 “soup pack” of vegetables – Turnip,parsnip,onion,2-3 sticks of celery, carrot. Cut into a rough soup cut.
• 1 handful of seaweed strips or 3 pieces of nori sheets, cut up. 

Method:

1. Place all ingredients into a slow cooker and cover with water. 
2. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours (or overnight) OR cook on high for 2-3 hours first, then reducing heat to low for another few hours. 
3. Make sure there is plenty of water to cover ingredients throughout cooking. 
4. Season if needed with Pepper, and if your diet allows, salt. 

Winter

Winter

Seasons are a major aspect of Chinese medicine, they influence the ways in which we should live, and the kinds of illnesses that are prevalent in the various seasons. Winter is the season where things retreat, hibernate and rejuvenate. Just as the weather becomes cold, and nature retreats, our lifestyle should also change to suit the climate. 

I took this photo on one of my trips to the tea village in Changsha

Wearing warm clothing, avoiding the wind and protecting the lower back (which is known as the “kidneys house”) is an important way to maintain health. Kidney energy relates specifically to winter via the Water Element. Water is reflected in tranquillity, stillness, rejuvenation and gestation. It’s the Kidney energy that is directly influential in reproduction and fertility. Water energy accumulates in hibernation and rest, this should be encouraged during Winter with longer sleep time (go to bed later and get up later), resting during the day by lying down flat after lunch for about 20 minutes, and sweating less by engaging in non-sweat producing exercises like stretching and gentle walking. 

Generally winter is the season where we don’t need to do much exercise. Certainly opening the pores during sweating creates an easy-access path for External Pathogens like Wind-Cold to invade and cause colds and flu’s.

The primary focus of winter is to allow the body to rest, sleep and recover from any cold and flu’s, and avoid exposure to External pathogens. For healthy people, winter should be a season of storing up the nourishing Post-natal Kidney Essence (Jing). 

Click here for a winter recipe!