Soup For a Sick Monkey

When your baby doesn't feel good, Mommy doesn't feel good. And it doesn't matter how old that baby is! Mine is 7 and anytime he is under the weather, I suffer just as much. Sometimes I think a little more b/c he's a trooper when he doesn't feel well, still eats, plays;sometimes when you look at him you wouldn't believe he is sick. Me on the other hand, I'm the one making sure meds stay on schedule, up half the night listening for him, running around making sure he's warm, comfortable and trying to make it better however I can. What can I say? I'm a Mommy and that's my job :) So last week when he wasn't feeling well I knew exactly how I wanted to treat him, and at the same time get something warm in his belly. After all, "feed a cold, starve a fever"! And a great thing to feed that cold? Soup! In this case, not just any soup, Hot and Sour Soup! Alex loves going to our favorite Japanese restaurant for sushi, but I think something he enjoys even more is eating soup out of their cute bowls and spoons. I'm sure you know the ones I'm talking about. They are pretty standard at any Asian restaurant I've ever been too. From the first time we ever took him there, he has always gotten such a kick out of those spoons! We are lucky enough to have an Oriental Market here in Fort Wayne, and Adam has shopped there more than once. So on his latest trip, he picked up a set of those bowls and spoons and I knew giving my monkey some yummy soup out of those was just one more way to make him feel better! He walked into the kitchen was his eyes got as big as saucers~"Mommy, you got the bowls and the spoons," The smile that lit up his face was all the thanks I needed. Even if you have to eat this out of a "regular" bowl, it's still pretty tasty and might just hit the spot the next time you're feeling a little under the weather!

Hot and Sour Soup

4 c. beef broth
3 TBS soy sauce
1/2 c.button mushrooms, diced
1 tsp garlic chili sauce (Use this to taste. For Alex, I didn't want it too hot)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 c. white vinegar
1/3 c. bamboo shoots, julienned
3 oz. block tofu, cut into 1/4 inch dice, optional
2 TBS cornstarch
2 TBS cold water
1 egg beaten
3 green onions, diced

Bring broth to a simmer in a 2 quart saucepan. Add soy sauce, mushrooms and garlic chili sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add pepper, vinegar, bamboo shoots and tofu. Simmer for 5 minutes. Combine the cornstarch and water. Stir until mixture is smooth. Add to soup and stir well. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened. Pour beaten egg in slowly and stir soup in one direction. Stir to combine. Take off heat. Serve w/ garnish of green onions.

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Soup at Very Good Recipes