Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

Soup Name: Chicken Soup with Baby Wintermelon and Corn

Introduction:

A very healthy and sweet soup that is ideal for children and toddlers.  It’s unique color and ingredients make it slightly cooling and helps maintain internal moisture.  Although the ingredients aren’t the easiest to find, you can always substitute regular corn for the variety of corn. 

1 fresh whole chicken
1 whole baby winter melon
2 whole corn (special variety)
15 ginkgo biloba
2-3 L of water

How do I prepare it?

Wash and prepare chicken by cutting into quarters (remove organs)
Blanch chicken in a pot of hot water
Start boiling your soup water
Cut winter melon into large cubes (keeping the skin in order to prevent it from disintegrating)
Rinse ginkgo biloba in warm water
Once water is boiling, add all the ingredients together
Boil on high for 30 minutes.   Reduce to simmering for 2 hours (or use internal pot).
Serve and enjoy!

 Any benefits?

• Very sweet soup that is ideal in the summer
• The winter melon help reduce heatiness and cool the body
• Ideal for children and toddlers to consume (reduce the amount of ginkgo biloba if deemed necessary)

Any precautions?

• Since winter melons are a cooling food, it is suggested that women who are pregnant less than 3 months into term should avoid cooling foods
• This also applies to women who are menstruating as it may cause undesired contractions
• Do not give ginkgo biloba to children to eat – especially if consumed in large quantities, can be poisonous