Soup

Ingredients Broth: 2 cm fresh ginger, finely grated 2 green onions, minced 1.5 cups water 2 tbsp miso paste (either white or red, dealers choice) 2 tbsp peanut butter no sugar added (or almond or similar, get unsweetened if possible) Noodles: 1 packet ramen, or equivalent in rice noodles, or soba or udon or whatever available For serving: 1 sheet nori (seaweed) 1 red chili, finely sliced (or red chili flakes work fine) 2 tbsp fresh coriander (or 1-2 tbsp ground coriander works) 2 tsp black or white sesame seeds Instructions Cook the noodles separate as per package. Then place in serving bowl Place ginger and onion in small sauce pan with tiny bit of oil. Turn on the heat and just start to cook/sizzle, then add the miso and peanut butter along with the water. Whisk together and slowly bring to simmer. The instant it starts simmering, take off the heat and pour in serving bowl with the noodles Add the servings ingredients to the bowl and serve immediately

Ingredients 2 lb spicy italian sausage 3 cups diced yellow onion 2.5 cups diced carrot 2 cups diced celery 6 cloves minced garlic 2, 32 oz chicken stock cartons 1, 15-oz can diced tomatoes drained 4 tsp basic sugar 3 tsp dried basil 3 tsp dried oregano 1.5 tsp dried thyme Salt and pepper to taste 2 cup dry ditalini pasta 1, 15-oz can red kidney beans drained and rinsed 1, 15-oz can great northern white beans drained and rinsed Optional 6 tbsp minced fresh parsley Parmesan to serve Instructions Brown meat in huge pot with a couple tbsp olive oil. When ~? cooked or so add all the veggies. Cook until tender or at least mostly there. Add everything through the salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and simmer 10 minutes. Add the pasta and simmer another 15 min. Add beans and parsley and simmer one more minute. Serve in bowls with parmesan to add to taste. Notes It is easy to vary the proportions. More pasta, less. More beans or less. More veggies is what I usually do.

Ingredients Broth: 2 tbl vegetable oil 1 large onion, cut in half 1 small hand ginger (few inches at least), roughly sliced 1 bunch cilantro 3 star anise pods 1 cinnamon stick 4 cloves 1 tsp fennel seeds 1 tsp coriander seeds 8 cups of water 6-8 chicken drumsticks (or thighs) 1/4 cup fish sauce 2 tbl rock sugar For serving: 4 servings pho noodles prepared according to package directions 1 small red onion thinly sliced 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions (white only) 2 cups mixed herbs Cilantro, basil mint 2 cups bean sprouts 1 jalapeño sliced Lime wedges Hoisin sauce and Siracha Instructions Heat oil in pressure cooker (on sauté mode) on high heat until smoking. Add halved onions, ginger, and cook without moving until well charred (~5 minutes). Take this step seriously, more char is good, make it smoke! Lower heat if smoking excessively. Add rest of broth ingredients to pot. Seal pressure cooker and set for high pressure and heat for 30 minutes. Note: time does not include time it takes to get to pressure/temperature. When done, release pressure valve (for electric pressure cookers) and wait until safe to open. Cook noodles according to package directions and set aside. Get ready other serving ingredients and set aside. After opening pressure cooker, remove chicken to cutting board and debone it. Rest of broth should be put through a fine mesh strainer into a clean pot. Discard anything caught in the strainer. To serve: split noodles, chicken, sliced onion, green onion into bowls. Pour broth into bowls. Serve and individuals add herbs, sprouts, peppers, lime, and sauces as desired.

Ingredients 4 chicken thighs (or two breasts but thighs are better) Salt and pepper 1 tbsp butter 2 tsp vegetable oil 2 inches fresh ginger, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp mirin 4 cups good chicken stock (kitchen basics) Salt to taste 2 packs dried ramen noodles (or equivalent in rice noodles) Veggies (at least 2-3 cups of following, your choice): spinach, green onions thinly chopped, jalapeño, peeled carrot (with a potato peeler), can sweet corn (this is really good in this), diced sweet peppers (the kind that don’t need to be cooked), thinly sliced red onion Instructions With butter in medium sized soup pot, cook chicken on both sides (few minutes each) until golden. Make sure to season generously with salt and pepper. Then transfer to sheet and cook in oven another 15 minutes or so until well cooked. Slice or shred and set aside In same pot on medium heat, heat oil and saute garlic and ginger for a few minutes until soft. Add soy sauce and mirin and cook 1 more minute. Add broth and simmer for 15 minutes Cook noodles separately according to package directions Veggies: If any of them need it, saute briefly with sesame seed oil and rice vinegar. This does add a nice flavor and definitely do this if making vegetarian Assemble bowls with mix of veggies, noodles, and chicken. Pour boiling broth on it all and serve. Top with jalapeño at table as desired Notes To make vegetarian, skip the chicken and use very good veggie broth instead of chicken. In this case make sure you saute briefly any veggies with the sesame seed oil and rice vinegar (not much of each and just enough to get the flavor). This adds a nice richness in flavor Cook the noodles separate and not in the broth to conserve water of broth and stretch this to two servings

Ingredients Olive oil for cooking (just a few tbsp at most) 1.5 pounds chicken thighs cut into 0.5" chunks Salt and pepper to taste (for the chicken) 5 cloves garlic minced 1 red or orange bell pepper, diced 1 onion diced 4 tbsp red curry paste (or most of a small bottle) 2 tbsp grated or minced ginger 6 cups chicken broth 1 can coconut milk (full fat) 7 oz rice noodles 2 tbsp fish sauce 3 tsp brown sugar 6 green onions sliced small 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup chopped basil 2.5 tbsp lime juice Instructions In a large pot over med-high heat, heat oil and pan fry the chicken until golden. You don’t have to fully cook. Set aside but leave the drippings in pot Add garlic, pepper, and onion. Cook until tender Ginger and curry paste. Stir for <1 minute until fragrant Add chicken broth, coconut milk, and partly cooked chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes to soak in the flavors and finish cooking the chicken Add noodles, fish sauce and brown sugar. Cook until noodles are tender (~5 minutes or so, check package) Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients and stir well Serve Notes If you want to do bone-in chicken and get much better chicken broth in the process. Add 6 thighs (with salt, pepper, dash of dried basil) to a pressure cooker with 4 cup package of good chicken broth (kitchen basics is the best). Pressure cook high for 30 minutes. Then debone the chicken and add all chicken and broth to pot. This gives it all a richer flavor

Ingredients 1 yellow onion chopped 4 garlic cloves minced 3 carrots chopped 3 tsp oregano 1.5 tsp cumin 1 tsp rosemary (or more) 1 tsp red pepper flakes 2 bay leaves 1-1.5 cup crushed tomatoes from a can 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth (buy the good stuff not the cheap salt variety) 1-1.5 cup red lentils Salt and pepper to taste Few tbsp lemon juice Optional toppings: Feta cheese, greek rice, crackers, bread Instructions Heat oil in big pot and saute onion, garlic and carrots for a few minutes on med-high heat Add spices and bay leaves and stir a few seconds. Quickly add tomatoes, broth and lentils before spices burn Simmer for 15-20 minutes until lentils are fully cooked Using an immersion blender (or blender) pulse until you get it as smooth as you want it Add lemon juice and serve with optional toppings available

Ingredients 4 lb tomatoes (any type) 3 tbsp olive oil divided Salt and pepper to taste when called for 1 huge yellow onion, diced 7 cloves garlic minced 1 tsp smoked paprika 1-2 tsp red pepper flakes, or more to taste 4 cups vegetable broth (chicken broth works too) 1 cup loosely packed basil leaves chopped Optional toppings: parmesan, drizzle of olive oil or cream, sour cream, basil Serve with garlic bread, grilled ham/cheese sandwiches or crackers. ...

Ingredients Oil 1 large onion diced well 4-5 garlic cloves minced 1 bell pepper diced roughly 1 tbsp minced ginger 1 tbsp lemon juice 3 tomatoes diced 1.5 lb large shrimp deveined and shelled 1 can coconut milk 0.5 cup water or chicken broth 1 bunch of cilantro (use half in dish and half at table) 1/2 lb white fish (tilapia, cod, whatever) 2 tbsp lime juice 1-2 cups steamed rice ...

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 1 yellow onion, minced or in food processor 3-4 cloves garlic, minced or in food processor 1 tsp salt or more to taste 1 tsp dill, if using fresh (don’t have to) throw in food processor with garlic and onion Lots of ground black pepper 1 lb, 12 oz can crushed, concentrated tomatoes 2 cups water 1 tbsp honey (optional) 1 tbsp mayonnaise or sour cream (for texture and appearance) 2 medium fresh tomatoes, diced small For optional toppings: yogurt, minced parsley, minced basil, minced scallions or chives Instructions Heat olive oil and butter in dutch oven or deep pan. Add onion, garlic, salt, dill, and black pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent. Note: It is best to throw the onion, garlic and dill (if fresh) in food processor to mince them even better prior to cooking Add canned, crushed tomatoes, water, and optional honey. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat About 5 minutes before serving, whisk in mayonnaise or sour cream, and stir in diced tomatoes Serve with option toppings, added by the eater Garlic Bread (10/10) Ingredients: fresh baguette or similar bread, sliced 1/2" i.e. thin ish, butter or country crock, garlic salt, and parmesan cheese (the flakes not the ground stuff) ...

Ingredients (sauce) Olive oil 1 lb spicy italian ground sausage 1 large onion diced 5 cloves garlic minced 4 cups chopped potatoes (relatively small or larger to preference) 4 cups stock (veggie or chicken) 1 tsp oregano Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup heavy cream 2-3 cups chopped (well) kale Optional: cooked bacon bits and saltines Instructions In instant pot, saute mode, brown the sausage and at least mostly cook. Add onion and garlic and saute for another couple minutes stirring enough that it does not burn. Add potatoes, stock and dry seasonings and stir together well. Close lid and pressure cook high heat and pressure for 10 minutes at said states. Press quick release when done and let de-steam before opening. Serve with optional saltines and bacon bits as toppings.