One of the oldest edibles on this planet is broth. Across the world, soups have are used to cure or nourish people suffering from various ailments. For nearly hundreds of decades, mothers and wifes living in Egypt have skillfully and lovingly made the attached list of soups.

*Soups Reputed to be Aphrodisiacs – It is customary to feed these soups to a bridegroom for the entire week prior to the nuptials!

- If you can make chicken soup then you can make pigeon soup, it is prepared the same way. You would need two pigeons, 3 onions, some cardamom seeds, salt and pepper, a few mastic seeds and cup of hulled wheat, this will serve two people. Put the bird and whole onions together, in boiling water. It is best to tie the seeds into a muslin bag. Reduce the heat and let cook till the birds are tender. Take out the pigeons as well as the muslin sack, combine the hulled grain with the soup, and continue to boil for an additional ten minutes. The bone and skin should be removed from the pigeon before adding.

- If one is making a soup made from the shanks of lamb, beef or camel, the parts need to be boiled long enough in water so that they are soft and the meat easily falls off the bone. The shanks can be removed from the pot, pull off the meat and put it in a bowl to keep it from getting cold. Place 1/2 cup of the shank broth off to the side and allow it to cool off. Boil the rest of the broth. Allow butter or ghee to melt in a different kettle, then mix in flour and keep stirring until it’s mixed well and is golden in appearance. Lightly beat the two egg yolks with a fork. Now add the egg to the flour and butter, stirring constantly, add the cup of cool shank broth. When making this stew return the flame to low and slowly add the remaining hot broth stirring the whole time. it is beneficial to add the broth after the meat boils. Keep from boiling. Combine lemon juice to suit your preference and salt and pepper to taste. Lamb and Beef can be costly. Camel shanks are used by those on a budget, and they take more cooking time.

* A simple recipe that will aid an upset tummy or runny stools is to boil water, salt and onions together to make a simple onion and water broth. Vegetables such as onions have amazing properties to sterilize bacteria and saline or salt derivatives prevents dehydration. If the soup is intended for a baby, the cooked onion is removed and the baby can drink it out of a baby bottle.

- Boiled Rice and Lemon Broth; this broth is frequently given as a remedy for diarrhea as well. In 1 cups of water boil cup of rice, add salt. Once you remove it from the heat source, combine juice from two to three lemons. The lemon is a disinfectant and can kill some of the bacteria at the root of the problem, the salt keeps you hydrated if you are suffering from diarrhea and the rice is an easy to digest complex noncarbohydrate food.

* For regaining strength after a bout of serious illness:

- Egyptian Bean, Vegetable and Lemon Soup; this is a simple and nutritious soup that is often served to people who are just beginning to eat solid food after recovering from illness. Using a small amount of olive oil, chop 1/2 onion and saute it in the oil. Combine a teaspoonful of smashed cumin seeds, one or two bay leaves, and one large carrot, chopped up; then, cook over medium heat until the onion turns gold in color. Add chopped fresh tomatoes, a cup of pre-soaked dried and skinned broad fava beans and 1 liters of boiled water, reduce heat and simmer until both the carrots and the beans are cooked. Add salt and pepper to taste. When it is done turn off the heat and add the juice of two or three lemons, and serve. If chewing is not an option, making a puree from the soup is possible.

It is known that the lemons from Egypt are a lot smaller than from other countries.