(no subject)

[madbaker]

I was going to post a Resolution Recipe that I did for dinner last night. However, there isn't much point in discussing what worked and what didn't.

Note to self: Don't make a gourmet dish involving dried mushrooms when you both have head colds. Neither one of us could taste anything. In fact, the wife commented that it was like eating cardboard. She didn't mean it maliciously, but still - Gee thanks, honey.

What I'm reading: Eric Flint, The Rivers of War

Comments

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

Here's what you need, the all-time greatest food for cold sufferers:

Hot & Sour Soup

Note: Although the ingredient list is long, this is a quick and easy preparation.

48 oz Chicken Stock (4 12-oz cans)
4 slices Westphalian Ham (1 or 2 oz), julienned
4 large Shiitake Mushrooms (dried or fresh), cut into small pieces
1/2 cup dried Black Fungus, sliced into ribbons
2 medium carrots, julienned
14 oz Firm Tofu, diced
2 eggs, well beaten
4 green onions, chopped
1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced
2 tbsp Cilantro (or to taste)
2 tbsp Thin (Chinese style) Soy sauce
1/2 tsp Chile Sauce (Sriracha)
1 tbsp Chinese Black Vinegar
1 tbsp Rice Vinegar or white vinegar
1 tsp black pepper, finely ground
Few drops Sesame Oil

If using dried Shiitake, put them in a bowl or cup, pour boiling water over them, and leave to soak for at least half an hour. Put dried Black Fungus in a cup and soak in cold water for 15 minutes or so. When the shiitakes have hydrated, cut them into small pieces. When the black fungus is hydrated, slice it into thin ribbons.

Scrub the carrots and use a peeler to cut them into long thin strips; cut the strips into 1- to 2- inch long pieces.

Dice the tofu and set aside to drain.

Beat the eggs in a bowl.

Cut the ham into matchstick pieces about 1 inch long.

Chop the green onions into small pieces. Mince the ginger.

Put the chicken stock in a 4-quart pot and put on low heat. When the stock begins to boil, add the ham; after about 30 seconds, add the shiitakes and the chili sauce. Cook briefly, then add the tofu. Bring the soup back to a simmer, then add the carrots and the black fungus; stir well, then slowly drizzle in the egg so that it forms fine strands; do not stir for 30 seconds or so. When the egg has set, stir to mix everything well, then add the soy sauce, vinegar, pepper, onions, ginger, cilantro, and sesame oil. Stir well, then serve immediately.

[ornerie.livejournal.com]

or get tom gai delivered ;)

mmmm....soup....

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

Mmmm... Tom Kah Gai... one of the most perfect foods ever invented.

But when I have a head cold, I think Tom Yum or maybe Po Tak are better - spicier and more acidic, so they cut through the goo in your head better. Hot & Sour is still the best, the vinegar and pepper clear a path for the ginger to get right to work in your sinuses.

[ornerie.livejournal.com]

maybe because I'm such a major capiscum whimp normally, Tom kah Gai is plenty for me :)

taht and pickled ginger. mmmm. the best part of going out to sushi is eating everyone elses pickled ginger :) (that and the eel...)

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

That sounds really good.
Weren't you considering doing a Resolution Recipe regularly as well? 8)

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

My resolve seems weak.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Yum! One of my favorite soups, although I haven't had this exact recipe. When I am feeling a cold hitting me, one of the first places I go is a chinese restaurant ... <g>

[wyterayven.livejournal.com]

This is off topic...but I was thinking about some of your problems with Galen at night.

I would know what to do if it was a dog...but then I got to thinking that this solution might work for a cat too.

Get a large dog crate. Put his litter box in there with some toys, and put him in it at night when everyone wants to go to bed. It isnt going to kill him to stay contained at night. Put the crate somewhere that he isnt going to wake you up, as I am sure he will make some noise, but he cant hurt himself in there, and he cant destroy things in the house. Just let him out in the morning. It should work until he is old enough to not be so active...

Anyway, just a thought.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

I think we are going to try the buddy route.

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

Another cat? Hmmm... With dogs, it can go one of two ways, depending on the sign of their energies. If they are oppositely-signed (positive and negaative), they cancel each other out - playing with each other all day long, the potential destructive energies get consumed and nothing gets broken.

But there is also the possiblity that they are like-signed. In this case a sort of power law applies, and two dogs working together cause four times as much damage as one!

[ornerie.livejournal.com]

my cats neurosis mellowed out a lot when she got a pet. unfortunately, he now causes a different set of neurosis, but at least she's not chewing off all her hair anymroe!

(I get woken up by the cat fights at 2am now tho. ugh.)

[roswtr.livejournal.com]

Heh, likewise. After Grendel died, Caliban started licking himself bald and bloody. That stopped after we got Jabberwock -- now Caliban is so busy defending himself that he doesn't have the time to overgroom!

[wyterayven.livejournal.com]

Excellent. :) More Kitty Cuteness.

Good luck with that.