hot and sour soup

(read the following introduction in a big, booming, WWE announcer voice)

A new record has been set!

After only one week of school,

Yes, just One,

The Littlest Carrotstick is . . . .

Already Sick!!!!

(end announcer)

Or maybe it's just that his Olympic fever has finally broken.

Poor kid. He really wants to be the next Michael Phelps. But since he's not double jointed, and doesn't have much chance at being 6'4" and all . . . . Well, I don't want to dash his dreams. But we'll see.

But, as a last, final tribute to those glorious days in Bejing, on Good Food Friday, here's a recipe for


Hot and Sour Chicken Soup to Soothe a Swimmers Soul


8 cups chicken stock
1 10-oz boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion
4 oz mushrooms
2 carrots, peeled & cut into matchsticks
1 ½ tsp grated ginger
1 tsp ground pepper
pinch cayenne pepper
½ tsp salt
3 Tblsp cornstarch
3 Tblsp soy sauce
6 Tblsp rice wine vinegar

Boil chicken stock, add breast; poach until cooked through, 12 minutes. Transfer to cutting board. Slice in ½ crosswise, and then into 1/4" thick strips. Set aside, clarify stock. In large saucepan heat oil over medium low. Add garlic and onion and cover. Saute, stir occasionally until transparent, 6-7 minutes. Add mushrooms and saute 5 minutes. Add reserved chicken stock, carrots, ginger, pepper, cayenne pepper and salt; bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots are tender — 3 minutes. Whisk cornstarch and soy sauce together. Whisk in vinegar. Slowly whisk into soup. Simmer until soup is clear, 5-7 minutes.
Add chicken, and simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes.


People, I seriously like this soup. I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can start making soup again. I think the originaly recipe had the egg ribbons in it, and possibly some tofu, too. But really, why? So I cut it out. If you are a purest, go ahead and add it back in, but you'll have to figure out how much.

Make it, and think sweet thoughts about Michael Phelps and his 12,000 calorie a day diet.

If I could eat 12,000 calories a day, and not gain a pound (and not have to live in a swimming pool), I think I might have an Oreo shake for every meal. Maybe. Or maybe I would eat loaves of hot sourdough bread slathered in butter.


Oh the joy!

At least until you are so full you feel like puking.


What would you eat, if you were Michael Phelps?



sick photo originally downloaded by Hutch, which is a picture of some crazy spraypaint stencil art created by the same. The Littlest Carrotstick does not have the pukes. Just a cold. Thanks for asking.