Cold & Flu Busters

When you feel down and out (see Cédric Roulliat's picture!): it's time for a cold & flu buster!

Marco, my husband, has been ill for three days now. Since then I've worked on preparing only super healthy meals with a lot of nutrients that should help him recover fast. For instance, I made a rich split peas soup (with carrot, celery and potato), a spicy Chili con Carne (to help him sweat the illness out). But last night he stil felt down and out, and I could indeed see that he was not in top notch shape, I decided to take drastic action. I thought of my favourite juice, the Cold&Flu Buster (carrots, pineapple, ginger..) that I usually order at Lettieri, the Café we often go to in Yorkville. I therefore started to prepare two Cold&Flu-Buster salads to help him fight against the vicious impact of the enemy flu; and it helped. This morning, after 72 hrs of illness, he is still weak and a bit feverish, but he looks stronger, ready to face a beautiful day out teaching at OCAD. And I like the idea that, perhaps, along with the effects of drugs and medication, my TLC and cold & flu busters played some part in his recovery...

Cold & Flu Busters...(Feel free to accomodate the quantities and ingredients according to your taste!)

Carrot, Avocado, and Pineapple Salad

Ingredients for 3-4 people:
-4 carrots
-1 avocado
-2 slices of fresh pineapple
- 1/2 cup of fresh coriander
-1 tin of albacore tuna
-1 tbsp of dried berries
Dressing: (according to your fantasy and taste!)
Mine had:
- Tapenade (black olives purée)
- Mustard
- 1 squeezed lemon juice
- Grapeseed oil + balsamic vinegar
- Cumin and Ginger
- Salt & pepper

Potato, Endive & Blue Cheese Salad

Ingredients for 3-4 people
-2 or 3 boiled eggs
-3 potatoes (peeled, cut into cubes and steamed)
-1 stick of celery
-1 or 2 endives (according to how big they are)
-1 good handful of arugula
-1 pear
-Crumbs of blue cheese (according to taste)
-Crushed or whole walnuts
Dressing:
- Tapenade+ mustard
- Grapeseed oil + 1 tbsp of sesame oil
- 1tbsp of cider vinegar + 1tbsp of soy sauce
- 1 pinch of curry powder
- Salt & pepper

If you have caught a nasty cold, remember what your mum would tell you: stay in, rest well, drink a lot of water or tea, and eat good, healthy food! It might even be a lot of fun, finally ;-)