Every second Sunday in May is Mother's Day, a holiday to show gratitude to our mothers. This year's Mother's Day is approaching, and many of my friends are struggling with what to give as a gift. Do you have the same confusion and dilemma? Today, I'm here to give you a suggestion that will not only be healthy but also deeply touch your mothers' hearts. As we enter May and approach summer, the weather naturally gets hotter and everything is in full bloom. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the human body corresponds to the heart which becomes more active, while the liver function weakens, leading to excessive heat and weakened water. Since the liver and kidneys are closely related, it is advisable to nourish the liver and kidneys to strengthen the water, so as to maintain the balance of yin and yang. In this era where everyone is talking about health, this Mother's Day, why not consider giving your mom a table of nourishing meals? Let's take a look together.
【Nourishing Breakfast】
1. Qi-boosting Heart-nourishing Porridge
Method: Take 30g of Astragalus membranaceus, 30g of Chinese yam, 30g of lotus seeds (heart), and 200g of glutinous rice. Wash the Astragalus membranaceus, Chinese yam, lotus seeds, and glutinous rice, put them in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and cook until the rice becomes porridge. Serve warm. Effects: It nourishes the spleen and boosts qi, nourishes yin, and clears the heart.
2. Hawthorn Malt Beverage
Method: Take 15g of hawthorn, 30g of raw malt, 15g of Astragalus membranaceus, and 10g of bamboo leaf core. Wash the hawthorn, malt, Astragalus membranaceus, and bamboo leaf core, boil them in water, and soak for 15 minutes.
Effects: It benefits qi, clears the heart, and invigorates the spleen.
3. Duck and Winter Melon Soup
Method: Take 500g of winter melon, 500g of duck meat, 100g of lean pork, 50g each of coix seed and Job's tears, 1 lotus leaf, 5g of dried tangerine peel, and an appropriate amount of salt and monosodium glutamate. Wash the duck meat and lean pork, cut into pieces, wash the winter melon with the skin on and cut into pieces, wash the lotus leaf and cut into small pieces. Put the four ingredients together with the coix seed, Job's tears, and dried tangerine peel into a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until the duck meat is tender. Add salt and monosodium glutamate to taste.
Effects: It nourishes yin and liver, invigorates the spleen, and eliminates dampness.
4. Red Date Porridge
Method: Take 50g of coix seed, 10 red dates, 100g of glutinous rice, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Wash the coix seed and glutinous rice separately, soak them in water for 4 hours, remove and drain. Wash the red dates and drain. Put the coix seed and glutinous rice into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water (800ml), bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat, and add the red dates. Cook until the rice grains are mushy and serve. Add brown sugar according to personal preference.
Effects: Red dates nourish qi and blood, nourish the liver, invigorate the spleen, and nourish the stomach. This porridge is suitable for people with poor appetite, weak digestion, insufficient qi and blood, reduced platelet count, anemia, chronic hepatitis, malnutrition, etc.
5. Milk Porridge
Method: Take 250ml of fresh milk, 60g of rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Cook the rice until half cooked, remove the rice water, add the milk, simmer over low heat until it becomes porridge, and add sugar and stir until fully dissolved.
Effects: It can replenish deficiency, invigorate the spleen and stomach, and moisturize the five organs. It is suitable for people with weakness, insufficient qi and blood, post-illness weakness, old age, malnutrition, etc.
6. Walnut Porridge
Method: Crack the walnuts and remove the kernel, soak them in water, remove the thin skin, and crush them. Remove the pits from the red dates and soak them in water, then crush them. Put the walnuts, red dates, glutinous rice, and an appropriate amount of water in a small pot and cook. Season with salt or sugar when cooked.
Effects: Walnut kernels not only contain elements such as calcium, iron, and phosphorus, but also essential minerals like zinc, manganese, and chromium. Various vitamins, proteins, and minerals are all nutrients that contribute to a beautiful appearance. The linoleic acid in walnut kernels, which is rich in plant fats, is regarded as a beauty agent that moisturizes and smoothes the skin, making it moisturized, smooth, and elastic.
7. Almond Porridge
Method: Take about 20 peeled almonds and 50g of rice. Add the almonds to the porridge when it is almost cooked, then continue to cook until done. Add a little sugar or salt.
Effects: It can relieve cough, asthma, and phlegm, and moisturize the lungs and dryness. This medicinal porridge also has the effect of nourishing the heart and calming the mind. It is worth trying for those who suffer from insomnia and irritability.
8. Spinach Porridge
Method: Wash the glutinous rice and put it in a pot with water, cook over high heat, add chopped spinach, salt, green onion, ginger, coriander, and other seasonings, and cook for a while.
Effects: Spinach porridge is light and easy to digest, and has the effects of regulating the liver, nourishing blood, moistening the intestines, and improving eyesight. It is suitable for everyone to consume, especially for the elderly, weak digestion, habitual constipation, and decreased vision.
9. Lily and Goji Berry Porridge
Method: Take 20-30g of lily, 10g of goji berries, and an appropriate amount of sliced pork or minced meat, put them in rice porridge and cook until fully cooked.
Effects: This porridge is suitable for people with symptoms of yin deficiency, such as irritability, thirst, sweating during sleep, and a red tongue with little coating. Lily is a good lung-nourishing food commonly used to treat symptoms such as lung dryness or cough due to lung heat. It also has the effects of calming the mind and soothing the nerves. Goji berries have the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, nourishing essence and qi, and dispelling wind and treating deficiency. When used together, they form a powerful combination.
10. Pig Liver and Mung Bean Porridge
Method: Take 100g of fresh pig liver, 60g of mung beans, 100g of rice, and an appropriate amount of salt and monosodium glutamate. Cook the mung beans and Zhanjiang rice together. Boil them over high heat, then simmer over low heat until the mung beans are cooked. Add sliced or shredded pig liver and cook until done. Add seasonings.
Effects: This porridge nourishes the liver and blood, clears heat, brightens the eyes, and beautifies the skin. It can make a person radiant and is especially suitable for those with pale complexion, decreased eyesight, and blurred vision due to weakness.
Above are ten recommended porridge recipes for Mother's Day. Learn them quickly and make them for your mom on Mother's Day! The second Sunday in May is a day to express our love for our mothers, but it is often replaced by the fast pace of life. Whether you are good at expressing your love for your mother or not, on this day, let's slow down our pace of life and express our love and blessings for our mothers together.
