Coping Mechanism: keeping stock
Chicken soup for the soul was not just a book I read in 3rd grade.
I got got this week. Not by the ongoing aftermath of the fires, nor the distant observation of the changing Administration that also feels so close and personal, not even by the emotional toil of my job of playing professional Red Light Green Light, but by the virus - influenza A. I got wrecked by a 101.3F fever, invisible daggers in my throat, congestion, and a splitting headache, among other symptoms. So this Coping Mechanism is not about how to attack the existential dread caused by the artificially tanned men with gravel voices taking over the world around us, but about how I dealt with being sick. It’s a cocktail recipe for healing. It’s actually just a lot of medicine, and a lot of soup.
Disclaimer! See a doctor, heed their advice. I am not a medical professional.
Take the drugs, at the suggested times, like clockwork until symptoms are relieved. Here is what mine advised:
Upon testing + diagnosis: Tamiflu
Cough: Delsym
Runny nose: Sudafed, and nasal spray (the good ones, don’t skimp)
Fever + headache: Tylenol or Advil
Brain fog: 30 Rock. And this is very important, not Severance.
Rest, hydrate, repeat
Broth
In my house, there is only one essential pantry item that must always remain stocked. And that’s stock. Chicken stock, or broth, if you can, bone broth.
Holy Grail
The only constant in my life is change, but without fail, there will always be a jar of the Owl Venice Organic Chicken Bone Broth Elixer in my fridge. This quart of clarified bone juice is priced like a special occasion wine (pictured above). Treat it as such. It can sit there unopened for months.
Owl originally came into my life at their former Hollywood Farmers Market Stand, which made it an elusive treat. One can only carry so many jars of broth and Weiser melons on a single outing. Then following a particular spat of overconsumption, I once attempted the 6-Day Owl Reset cleanse program. And then a few years ago finally, shining like a golden beacon on the hallowed shelves of Erewhon, I saw the full broth lineup. The “Chicken + Lavender + Cilantro” variety is my go-to. The “Turkey + Ginger + Sage” is a rare pokémon, so I also grab that whenever I encounter it. There are no bad tasting options - the Vegan Mineral broth is just as flavorful as the Beef bone one. I have yet to try the Bison. We all have our (price) limits.
Flavortown
During a time when the only thing you feel good eating is clear liquid, you don’t have to deprive yourself of diversity of taste. And you might not have it in you to cook, clean or shop. You’ll need to dip into the back stock. Keep these single serving Bonafide sippy cups of collagen drink in your freezer. They microwave from frozen in under four minutes and eliminate any need to do dishes.
For one extra step of heating up and putting the soup in a bowl, the excellent Brodo brand frozen packs pack flat and take minimal freezer real estate. Drinking Brodo transports me to the days of walking up to the Hearth window for a coffee cup of broth. Marco Canora, if you’re out there, LA welcomes you. Or can you at least please start stocking Brodo at Whole Foods again??
Brodo in Organic Spicy Nonna Bone Broth and Tom Yum
Bonafide Provisions Organic Be Well Chicken Bone Broth in Lemon and Coconut.
Survive the Apocalypse
Boxed broth is a real pinch hitter when you’re between a rock and a hard place. Normally, I prefer to use it as a filler, base or thinner and don’t enjoy sipping it like a tea - but it’s a perfectly viable option when you need it stat. Here are three boxed broth options sitting in the depths of my pantry at any given time.
Aneto Chicken Bone Broth ($11.95 34oz)
Dr. Kellyann Thai Lemongrass Chicken Bone Broth (~$6-8 17oz)
Kettle & Fire Turmeric Ginger Bone Broth ($8 17oz)
Jewish Penicillin
Homemade chicken soup is the gold standard. If you have your family heirloom recipe, or know how to make it; do that, freeze the soup, stockpile. My mother and surrogate’s have come to my rescue countless times. If I could keep a pyrex of mom’s broth available at any given time, I would. One day I will try doing it myself. But she carefully keeps it going in the cooker for 48 hours, then clarifies it of all fat, debris and otherwise until it’s the pale shade of an early morning sun ray poking through the cloud. Thanks mom!
Pounding Pavement
Eventually, I was deemed noncontagious and able reenter the world. First stop, Erewhon’s coffee bar for a cup of their Super Bone Broth Tonic made with reishi, lemon juice, ginger juice, turmeric juice, cayenne and Himalayan pink salt. And re-upped on jarred broth to keep at home, just in case.
Marugame Udon at the Galleria mall for dinner. Their fish-based dashi with a 1/4 cup of thinly sliced green onions tasted like a new Spring was upon me. Bright, green, healing.
