Hot and Sour Soup

Here is another recipe of sorts. My boyfriend's cooking style is more improvisational but I like to have something written down. Call it a crutch. So I pinned him down once for these instructions to take on a trip home to the farm. My parents adore hot and sour soup but usually go for the meaty version. They liked this style when I made it for them. Tien Garden in NYC serves a fine hot and sour soup.


Hot and Sour Soup, "crutch recipe"
1. First make soup base (soupy part).
--In a pan with some oil, cook onions, carrots, black pepper, mushrooms, hot pepper, baby corns, pepper, etc., with a little water and veggie base or a vegetable stock.
--Boil a while.
2. Now make sour.
--Add cider vinegar, soy sauce, and MSG.
3. The rest.
--Add more veggies, frozen or fresh. Such as broccoli, dark leafy greens, bok choy, etc.
--Add rice noodles, preferably the thick kind.
--Add tofu or gluten if you like.
--Add corn starch & water mixture to thicken at the end.
--Put a few drops of sesame oil on top.