Ginger

If you have a juicer at home, by all means use it, but good store-bought 100 percent carrot juice will work just as well here.

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can also calm an upset stomach. We love the heat it adds to this chicken soup recipe.

This Japanese eggplant recipe is all about that umami-rich miso glaze. Can't find long, skinny, Japanese eggplants? The glaze is good on all varieties of eggplant (and hey, carrots, too).

This delicate cheesecake is cooked in a water bath and steamed for a supremely light texture. To make sure the homemade-gingersnap-cookie crust stays crisp, wrap the cake pan inside and out with heavy-duty, 18"-wide aluminum foil.