The Soup Queen

I know.  It isn't the sexiest cough cure around.  It's not even exotic. It's just a plain vegetable. But today I shall praises of the humble watercress because it is a well-known cure for the sort of incurable, annoying and keep-you-awake-at-night coughing sessions. So what's in the watercress?  In the West, it is commonly eaten fresh and raw in a salad or sandwich.  Here in Malaysia, I've always eaten this cooked in soups. Never raw.  So what's so fascinating about watercress?  Watercress' botanical name is Nasturtium officinale.  It is a fast grower in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments. It usually grows in ditches rapidly.  It is one of the oldest known leaf vegetables eaten by humans. The plant is native to Europe and Asia.  It has a peppery flavour and is related to the cabbage and mustard family.  The town of Alresford, near Winchester, UK holds a Watercress Festival that brings in more th...

Here's a peek at some of my favourite herb books on my bursting bookshelves! Many of these books can be bought or sourced from any good bookstore like Borders, Popular, Kinokuniya and MPH. I refer to these books a lot as they're full of information and one read cannot glean them all. Books by DK ( www.dk.com ) or Dorling Kindersley are fantastic - they come with colour photos and that's always helpful when I am trying to figure out which herb is which! Slowly build up your books on TCM and herbs as there are plenty out there. Get them with hardcover if you can - they're sturdier and last longer because you will be referring to them a lot in your study of herbs off and on. I started collecting these books about 5 years ago and am still slowly building up a collection. I cross-refer when I am unsure (and refer online when I am really stumped!). But books, unlike websites, can be picked up anytime for a quick perusal. Switching on my laptop takes much longer! If you have ...