The Easy Recipe this week is based in a recipe I found in The Essential Wok Cookbook. But, because the recipe was to be cooked in many stages in a wok and then combined at the end of the process to create the soup, I felt it needed to be whipped together as a quick and easy soup. I imagine it lost something in the cooking short cuts, but the soup version is easy to make and tastes great. So, game on.
EASY RECIPE
Ingredients:
2 skinless chicken breast filets (one whole breast)
6 oz Manischewitz Fine Egg Noodles
1 onion – sliced
1 medium size fresh red chili – seeded and finely chopped
1 Tbsp fresh ginger – skinned and diced
10 oz baby bok choy – cut in long strips
4 Tbsp fresh basil – torn
32 oz chicken broth
26 oz light coconut milk
2 Tbsp canola oil
1 lime
Preparation:
Place Tbsp of canola oil in large soup pot, heat on medium high.
Add chicken breasts and cook on each side for 5 minutes (until no blood runs when poked). Remove chicken breasts to plate.
To same pot add 1 Tbsp canola oil, and heat on low.
Add onion and saute until tender.
Add ginger, red chili, chicken broth, coconut milk, and bring to strong simmer.
Add the curry.
Add juice of 1/2 lime
Cut the chicken on the diagonal into bite size pieces and add chicken to the soup.
Add baby bok choy
Simmer for 8 minutes
Add the noodles and simmer for a few minutes until tender.
When ready to plate add the fresh basil, and to each bowl a lime slice.
AND STUFF
I had an early court appearance in the Desert this morning. Started driving on the LA Freeway in the dark and broke out into more open freeway as the sun began to rise. Even though I was formation driving on a 6 lane freeway at near 70 mph, the sunrise was soothing.
After parking my car I began my morning walk through the desert parking lot to the courthouse. The weather was perfect and the birds were singing. All in all, the walk was quite soothing.
After removing all metal from my pockets and passing through security I began my walk to the courtroom. I walked with and past people going from or to their courtroom all wearing similar facial masks of blandness. The day may be different but the expressionless people always seem to look the same.
Back in my car I began the return trip. Out of curiosity, I drove down Paseo Drive to see how business looked. The drive was beautiful but so many of the nice store front windows were empty. Maybe next year the vibe will return.
Back home, mid-afternoon, I needed to stretch my legs, so I was off for a power walk at the beach. It’s one of those warm sunny fall days. There was almost no one on the beach, and only a few other walkers. The waves were breaking on shore with no form. So while the waves were useless to the surfers, they were perfect for walking and daydreaming.
It was just another day, November 7, 2012. I imagine it won’t be long until the clouds begin to form and winter storms bring havoc. No doubt there will be difficult days ahead. But on this day my walk at the beach was warm and soothing.
What’s my point? Maybe it’s that we need to look outward from the daily grind and see and feel nature. Or maybe it’s just a story of the calm before the storm.
Good Eating and Table Talk,
Roger
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