Chinese Soup - Pears and Pork Soup

This soup is good to have when the weather is dry during the cold seasons.  It is very light and tasty. The fruit is enriched with vitamins and apricot kernels that help sooth the throat.  I make this soup often whenever my kids have itchy and dry throats.  My daughter had a sore throat over the past few days and I made this for her yesterday.  It was so good that she requested to have the same soup again today.

For those who would like to learn how to make Chinese soup regularly, these are also staple ingredients to have at home.

Dried Figs

Dried Dates (Those on the left are dried and coated with sugar, the right ones are just from supermarket,either one is fine to use).

Dried Scallops

South almonds (smaller in size, sweeter taste) on the left, North almonds (bigger in size, bitter taste, only use a few pieces at a time) on the right.  They are always used together. Both are actually apricot kernels, not almonds.

Ingredients:

1 lb. of lean pork
3 Dates or Figs (dried or fresh is fine)
2 Dried Scallops, soaked
2 tbsp south almonds (Chinese Apricot Kernel, sweet ones = "south apricot kernel")
1 tsp north almonds (Chinese Apricot Kernel, bitter ones = "north apricot kernel")*
3 Pears or Apples, cored and cut into quarters

Directions:

1. Boil half a pot of water.
2. Add all the ingredients except pears or apples.
3. Bring to boil on high heat, turn down to simmer and boil for 40 minutes.
4. Add the cut pears or apples, and continue cooking for another 40 minutes.
5. Add salt for taste. Turn off heat and serve everything with soup on a bowl.

Note:

*North almonds are actually apricot kernels and are bitter in taste.  Never use too much of them. These ingredients can be found in any Chinese store and supermarket.