Soup's on

My husband saw me take a picture of this soup and asked "Is this your creative activity for the day?" To which I responded "Only if you don't count shopping!

This is one of those recipes I've been making for years that it comes together so easily I'm surprised we don't make it more often. A few months ago my husband found dried Chinese mushroom that were sliced so prepping for the soup now takes even less time.

Hot & Sour Soup

Soak a couple of handful of dried Chinese mushroom in hot water (probably about a generous dozen whole ones) and soak about handful of dried lily buds in hot water (about 40). Let these soak for half an hour. After I drain off the liquid, I give them both a coarse chop. In a large soup pot, start 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth, 4 sliced scallions, 4 tablespoons soy salt,3 cups of corn kernels (with the liquid), lily buds, and the mushrooms - bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for five minutes. Then add a pound of tofu, cut into thin strips, a teaspoon of white pepper and three tablespoons of wine vinegar. After about three more minutes of simmering, taste: if not sour enough add more vinegar; if not spicy enough add more pepper or hot sauce. (If making in advance, this is a good place to stop. I'll do this part in the morning and then finish it up for dinnertime.)

Make a paste of cornstarch (or arrowroot) & water- four tablespoons each. Add to hot soup. Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened. Beat two eggs. Remove soup from heat and slowly stir in eggs, stirring constantly with a chopstick or fork until all the egg is added and is cooked... the eggs should look like strings. Serve immediate. We like to put Hot Sesame oil on the table. Some use it more than others! Lots of leftovers, should be enough for 12 servings.


Fortnight day 13




This, the last night before my husbands' birthday, I decided to give him (more)chocolate, a CD and make him Hot & Sour soup for dinner. We are also going wine tasting this evening. The wines tonight except for the Riesling (Germany) are from California. There is one I'm really looking forward to, the Justin Obtuse, it's a dessert wine. I generally don't like sweet wines but this is a dessert wine made from 100% Cabernet grapes... port-like, I guess.

Thoughts for the Fortnight:

You don't need to be on the save wavelength to succeed in marriage. You just need to be able to ride each other's waves. ~ Toni Sciarra Poynter, From This Day Forward: Meditations on the First Years of Marriage

I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming that comes when you finish the life of the emotions and of personal relations; and suddenly find - at the age of fifty, say - that a whole new life has opened before you, filled with things you can think about, study, or read about...It is as if a fresh sap of ideas and thoughts was rising in you.
~Agatha Christie