RECIPE
November 6, 2017
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 13
Asian talent shines in NWSL’s fifth season
Sara Moulton via AP
Continued from page 8
Ginger Tea is a
soothing drink
By Sara Moulton
The Associated Press
ith the arrival of the cold-and-cough season, you
may be thinking about cooking up a big batch of
chicken soup as a cure for what ails us. I love the
stuff, too, but I suggest stocking up on some fresh ginger
root instead. Ginger, of course, is one of the many flavors
to be found in a stir-fry Asian dish or Indian curry. But
used in larger quantities than specified for those recipes,
it can become quite spicy. Of all the home remedies out
there, I have found tea, prepared with fresh ginger, to be
the most effective.
Ginger Tea is easy to make (and is much cheaper than
chicken soup). Essentially, there’s nothing to do but chop
up some fresh ginger root, combine it with water, and let it
simmer. When you’re done, you’re looking at a potent,
clean-out-your-sinuses beverage that’s ready to sip. I’ve
provided a recipe below, but there’s no need to be so
formal. You can wing it and you’ll be fine.
When making the tea, you might imagine that the first
task would be to peel that gnarly ginger root. In fact, it’s
not necessary. Just rinse it well and slice off any bruised
spots, then chop it and pile all the chunks into a small
saucepan. The more finely it’s chopped, the better — but
half-inch chunks are good enough. Cover the ginger root
with one inch of cold water, then bring the tea to a boil.
(Starting with cold water pulls out more of the ginger
flavor than starting with hot water.) The longer you
simmer it, the stronger it becomes. So take a sip after 15
minutes or so and, if you approve, strain out the liquid.
You can drink it straight up or embellished with honey
and lemon — or even a pinch of cayenne.
If one potful of the tea doesn’t entirely vanquish your
cold, you can return the chunks to the saucepan, add fresh
water, and repeat the process. A single crop of chopped
ginger can keep a pot going all day.
W
Ginger Tea
Start to finish: 25 minutes (10 hands-on)
Servings: 4
4 ounces fresh ginger root
1 1/2 tablespoons honey, divided, or to taste
4 lemon wedges
Rinse the ginger, cut off any bruised spots, and cut
into roughly 1/2-inch pieces. In a medium saucepan,
combine the ginger with four cups cold water and
bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover
partially, and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste, and if
strong enough, strain and pour into mugs. Add one
teaspoon honey or more if desired to each portion and
serve with a wedge of lemon.
Nutrition information per serving: 47 calories (2
calories from fat); 0 g fat (0 g saturated, 0 g trans fat);
0 mg cholesterol; 4 mg sodium; 12 g carbohydrate; 1 g
fiber; 7 g sugar; 1 g protein.
2017 pushed Williams to the bench, so the Dash traded
her to Seattle in August.
Seattle already had a capable keeper in Haley
Kopmeyer, but Williams started instead of Kopmeyer in
three of the team’s four final matches, allowing just two
goals. The Reign may make further moves to clarify
Williams’s situation, but she certainly seems to have the
edge to be Seattle’s starting keeper when 2018 begins.
Seattle midfielder Rumi Utsugi and forward Nahomi
“Naho” Kawasumi both signed within two weeks of each
other in June of 2016. Naho led all Seattle forwards in
minutes played, and it’s easy to see why. Her six goals
ranked third for the club, her nine assists were best in the
league, and her combined total tied for third in the NWSL.
Utsugi led all Reign midfielders in passing accuracy,
ranking second among the same group in minutes and
games played. Seattle missed the playoffs this season
with a fifth-place finish, and this Asian trio will be
essential if they hope to get to the postseason in 2018.
Sky Blue FC has only one Asian player, but she is an
all-time great. Often the team leader in scoring, forward
Samantha Kerr was voted the 2017 NWSL Most Valuable
Player during a season in which she shattered several
NWSL scoring records.
The 24-year-old Kerr, an Australian with Indian
heritage, began her career with the Western New York
Flash, scoring six goals in 2013 before leading the team
with nine goals in 2014. Despite missing time in 2015 and
2016 with Sky Blue, Kerr still led the team in scoring both
seasons.
In 2017, Kerr went from being best on her team to best
in the league. She scored 17 goals, setting a NWSL
single-season record, and her 43 career goals is also the
most ever.
Kerr’s 17 goals include the NWSL’s first-ever four-goal
game, two hat tricks, and a brace — and, incredibly, none
scored via penalty shot. Her career marks of 43 goals and
15 assists combine for 58 points, which is also the best in
NWSL history. Sky Blue hopes the league’s most
prodigious scorer ever can lift them to the playoffs in 2018.
In last year’s NWSL final, Hawai‘i native Caprice
Dydasco of the Washington Spirit tore a ligament in her
knee that kept her off the pitch for several months at the
beginning of this season. She still played in 16 matches,
but Washington allowed 48 goals, second-worst in the
league, falling from 2016 finals runner-up to last place.
They will need a full season of Dydasco if they hope to
rebound in 2018.
Japanese native Yuki Nagasato of the Chicago Red
Stars can sympathize with Dydasco. This past May,
Chicago signed Nagasato, who has made her mark as a
goal-scoring forward with top-notch clubs in Japan,
Germany, and England. Soon after her signing was
announced, however, doctors discovered a minor knee
injury, and Nagasato returned to Japan to rehabilitate.
Nagasato returned in August, started three games for
the club, and appeared in four more, notching a goal and
two assists. The Red Stars made the playoffs this season,
but suffered a last-minute loss to North Carolina. Next
season, Nagasato should bolster a Chicago offense that
could only muster 33 goals this season, sixth overall
during the regular season.
The NWSL has already proven itself by being the
longest-lasting U.S. professional women’s soccer league.
And like other American professional leagues, it’s also
proven that having stars with Asian roots is essential to
that success.
To learn more, visit <www.nwslsoccer.com>.
SUCCESSFUL FIFTH SEASON. The National Women’s Soccer
League’s fifth year concluded in October with the Portland Thorns as
champion. Athletes (pictured top to bottom) who played during the 2017
season included Mana Shim (#6), Naho Kawasumi (#36), Sam Kerr
(#20), and Caprice Dydasco (#3). (AR Photos/Jan Landis)
Filipino WWII veterans awarded
Congressional Gold Medal
Continued from page 7
ship to thousands of
Filipino veterans and later
extended VA benefits to
them. The 2009 stimulus
law authorized the lump-
sum payments, although in
some cases missing or poor
records blocked the pay-
ments from being made.
“After bravely serving
our country, it is frankly
shameful
that
these
veterans had to fight so
hard for what they were
promised,” Hirono said.
Today,
only
18,000
Filipino veterans are still
alive.
“We are living in tumul-
tuous times, and we have
many
disagreements,”
Hirono said, “but we agree
that it is our responsibility
as public servants and
Americans to honor each
veteran in the same way
they honored our country.”
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