This is a rotten time of year to have a cold, but I guess it's better than during the rainy season. In any case, I always crave Thai Tom Yum soup when I've got a head cold. I order it medium spicy (at least) and have them add chicken (Gai). Last night I got the delicious version ($7.95 for a quart) from Taste of Thai on Broadway, but many restaurants around here do it well. Note the nice thick slice of chile pepper and Vitamin-rich tomatoes in this version though!

If you aren't a fan of Tom Yum soup (or even if you are), try this recipe from my upcoming book:

Gingerrific Chicken Soup

Hands Off: 30 minutes

I developed this recipe to help soothe a cold, but it’s also good for easing the effects of allergies. Spicy ginger, combined with vitamin C–rich potatoes and lime, immune-boosting shiitake mushrooms, and vitamin A–packed carrots make this soup practically medicinal. Luckily, it’s also delicious and lower in salt than canned soup—so don’t limit it to days when you’re sick. The soup freezes well, so you might as well make a big batch. However, if you want to halve it, cook it for just 30 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8

2 quarts chicken broth
About 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken tenders
1 pound new red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 cups baby carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced, or 1 ounce dried shiitakes, rinsed and chopped
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Pour the broth into a large pot. Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to the broth along with the potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, lime zest and juice, ginger, salt, and pepper.

2. Set the pot over medium-low heat with the lid slightly ajar and simmer for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender. Serve immediately or freeze and heat up as needed to soothe a cold.

Hands-Off Technique: To easily peel fresh ginger, use the edge of a spoon to scrape off just the papery skin.