Another Soup for the Cold: Apple & Pear Soup

Here's another great recipe for children who have cough or cold. It's somewhat similar to the Stewed Pear recipe, but with a twist. Added apple and took out the white fungus. I prepared this soup for Ainsley, 18 months, who is having a wet cough and it seemed to have helped. Here's the recipe:

Ingredient:
1 Apple
1/2 China Namshui pear (梨）
Lean Pork or Pork Loin *Lean pork will give a clearer soup.
1 candied date (without seed)
2 bowls of water.

5g sweet and bitter almonds (南北杏)）*Optional - For my kids, this Chinese herb cause the cough to turn into a very dry cough. So I omitted this ingredient.


Method:
1. Remove skin and pits of apple and pear. Rinse and cut into pieces.
2. Place cut apple and pear into a slow cooker and turn on high heat.
3. Rinse Lean Pork. Scald it in boiling water to remove smell. Place in slow cooker.
4. About an hour later, rinse candied date with hot water, and then place in slow cooker. Turn down to medium heat. I like to rinse it with hot water, in attempt to remove the sugar coating as much as possible.
5. In total, need only to stew for 2 hours.

This soup is perfect for young children. Ariel and Ainsley both love it. As I've noticed that whenever my children are sick, their stool is also on the soft side. Stewed apples/applesauce, being part of the BART diet, helps to harden the stool as well. This is a great family soup for all.