Yam Soup for Budget-Conscious Voters

Silver ear. Also known as "poor man's bird's nest.", bird's nest is nutritious but expensive. Silver ear resembles bird's nest in appearance, texture, and efficacy, yet it is much cheaper, hence the name "poor man's bird's nest".

If I had to choose between bird's nest and silver ear, I would opt for silver ear. Bird's nest can be too nourishing and may cause heatiness. Silver ear has a cooling effect with moisture-softening properties. Heatiness and fireiness are like acute and chronic diseases; they come quickly but leave quickly. However, if fireiness persists, it turns into dryness. After a long time, the body fluids deplete, leading to dehydration of organs, especially constipation in the elderly caused by intestinal dryness. Silver ear is most effective for this condition.

Red dates can nourish blood and give a rosy complexion. They also contain natural female hormones similar to estrogen, beneficial for nurturing the uterus and enlarging breasts in women. Silver ear is rich in gelatin, promoting mucopolysaccharide formation. It not only helps with breast development but also strengthens muscles and bones. The white color of silver ear enters the lung meridian; thus, it not only moistens the lungs but also contains fiber that clears intestinal toxins and promotes bowel movements. Following traditional wisdom, "shape supplements shape," as white has a whitening effect on the skin. White influences the lung channel. Therefore, silver ear not only moistens the lungs but also includes fibers that clear the intestines and remove accumulated waste.

1. Two ounces of silver ear, five or six red dates, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar.

2. Soak silver ear in cold water for more than six hours.

3. Remove the stems from the silver ear.

4. Clean the silver ear and place it in water to simmer on low heat for four hours.

5. Rinse the red dates, then add them to the pot."Silver ear soup" Add an appropriate amount of rock sugar.

6. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat for three to five minutes until the rock sugar is dissolved; turn off the heat.

7. It can be eaten cold or warm, and it can be stored in the refrigerator after cooling.