Sunshine in the Haze

Ah, February… The time of year where everyone is either dodging a plethora of sicknesses with the power of GermX or groaning in misery because sanitizing their hands just wasn’t enough.

If you’re sick, don’t feel bad! So is everyone else. Unfortunately, even my germaphobe husband—I’m a germaphobe too, so I mean it as high praise—lost the battle. The flu reared its ugly head and overtook him.

Of course, his mom sent him some of her amazing homemade chicken and rice soup to combat the head congestion and lack of appetite. It did wonders for him.

The next day, I fed him some of my corn chowder… A beefed up version of it. I added extra onion, garlic, and canned spinach for their vitamins and antioxidants.

It’s not as good as chicken and rice (or noodle) soup while sick, but it’s great for when when your appetite starts coming back.

So maybe I should call it post sick day corn chowder?

Anyway, I wanted to share my original recipe with you in case your household or you are dealing with the not so fabulous flu too!

Simple Dairy-Free Corn Chowder

¼-½ yellow onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups chicken broth
2 potatoes, cubed into small chunks
1  15oz can corn
¼tsp white pepper
¼tsp black pepper
⅓-½ cup potato flakes

Directions:
1. On medium-low heat, sauté onion and garlic in a medium pot until fragrant.
2. Pour the chicken broth over the sauteed onion and garlic. Turn the eye on high.
3. Chop the potatoes into small cubes. Dump into the heating pot. Stir.
6. Bring to a boil. Once the soup starts to boil, continue to cook until potatoes reach desired tenderness. This takes 15 minutes on my propane stove. Stir occasionally.
7. Once potatoes are to desired tenderness, add white & black pepper. Add potato flakes until soup is to desired thickness. Stir well and serve!

While I hoped that consuming onion and garlic would somehow save me, it was too late…

I wrote this entire post from the confines of my bedroom with the FLU. Of course, I ugly cried wanting my own mom’s care.

Something about being sick triggered all the feelings of missing my mom’s hand on my forehead. She can always tell when I have a fever. My husband doesn’t have that super power, albeit he tries his best. 🙈

I’m so thankful for the ability to call and hear my mom’s comforting voice telling me to go outside and get vitamin D whenever I feel well enough. (I did, Mama. Don’t worry!)

With all that said, my mom-in-law sweetly made me soup and tea, knowing I needed some motherly love sent my way.

Being sick reminded me how thankful I am for all the people in my corner, cheering me on and helping me fight.

Thank YOU so much for being in that corner! I wouldn’t have written this post without you!

Now it’s your turn. Share your favorite sick day food in the comments! (If I didn’t make it obvious, my favorite is chicken noodle soup.)

Photo by Marco J Haenssgen