Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Snow and groundhogs.

2015-02-02 21.57.06Sunday and Sunday  night it snowed gently but continuously with the result that when we got up on Monday morning everywhere was totally white. We got 6 inches on our balcony wall which means it’s pretty deep elsewhere. Nothing like the pictures JoJo has been posting from the Cape Cod area, but still quite a bit of snow nevertheless. Enough to make driving a problem. I have always wanted to have the apartment on the ground floor which we can see from our windows, it has direct access to the outside, no wall. Monday morning the tenant was shovelling his patio. Never thought of that before so now I have changed my mind.

It being FeWiarton Williebruary 2, as I write, I wonder how our Wiarton Willie got on this morning. Oh! he predicted an early spring but apparently he has a competitor Shubenacadie Sam who disagrees. There is a third groundhog, Winnipeg Willow, didn’t know there were any others in Canada before.. I just saw a video announcing Willie’s forecast. Quite funny to watch. They make sure that the groundhog is always an albino. Apparently last year Willie was  the only one to get it right – the other two predicted an early spring and instead we had one heck of a winter.

Going to see the Paddington Bear movie this afternoon – Tuesday. Looking forward to it. Oops, no I'm not. Changed to next week.

This is my all time favourite soup but it’s not the easiest to make because you have to have so many ingredients which I don’t stock normally. It’s always the first thing I have when I go to the Mandarin restaurant, they make an absolutely fabulous one.


Chinese Hot and Sour Soup by Closet Cooking
 
(makes enough for 4 light meal sized servings)
Chinese_Hot_and_Sour_Soup_500
Ingredients:
6 dried tree ear mushrooms (also known as wood ear mushrooms)
6 dried black mushrooms
8 dried lily buds (otherwise known as golden needles)
1/2 cup bamboo shoots
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons Chinese black vinegar
4 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon oil
4 ounces pork loin (optional, cooked and shredded)
4 cups Asian chicken stock (or regular chicken stock or vegetable chicken stock)
1 package tofu (cut into small pieces)
2 eggs (lightly beaten)
1 teaspoon black pepper (ground)
1 teaspoon white pepper (ground)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons chili oil (to taste)
1 tablespoon chili sauce (to taste)
4 green onions (sliced)

Directions:
1. Soak the tree ear and black mushrooms in boiling water until softened, about 20 minutes, and shred them.
2. Soak the lily buds in warm water until softened, about 20 minutes, and shred them.
3. Cover the bamboo shoots in water, bring to a boil, drain and shred.
4. Mix the vinegars, soy sauce, salt and sugar in a bowl.
5. Mix the cornstarch into the water in a bowl.
6. Heat the oil in a large pot.
7. Add the pork, tree ear and black mushrooms, lily buds and bamboo shoots and saute for a minute.
8. Add the broth and tofu and bring to a boil.
9. Add the vinegar mixture and the cornstarch mixture and stir until it thickens.
10. Pour the eggs into the soup in a thin stream while stirring the soup.
11. Stir in the peppers, oils and chili sauce.
12. Serve garnished with green onions.

Have a great day
Jo

26 comments:

  1. Wish we had snow.
    Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow.

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    1. I'd send you some with pleasure.

      Seems to have varied across the country as to what the groundhogs saw.

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  2. We were hit with a storm yesterday too and everyone's gunning for Phil now. lol Alex be careful what you wish for.....and you are more than welcome to some of mine. I still can't access my yard due to plow piles, drifts and still 2' of snow. I also have 2 weeks' worth of garbage outside, hoping that the town does pick up today or soon.

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    1. You needed some more snow JoJo!! Poor groundhog. Did you see the pix of a groundhog biting the mayor's ear? I hope you get garbage pick up soon too.

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  3. It's wonder that groundhog didn't bite the mayor's ear off!

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    1. I assume it was in a cage of some kind so probably couldn't get near enough to do so.

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  4. That is a complicated soup!

    I live on a hillside, so I have a long flight of steps that have to be shoveled with ever snow. Once all the boys have moved out and we have no shovelers, we'll have to build a garage to connect to the house. LOL.

    Enjoy Paddington- whenever you see it!

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    1. But the end result is so delicious Liz. I cannot imagine you having to make do when they do move. You won't be getting any younger either.

      Hope so.

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  5. The snow is very beautiful, BUT the shoveling is NO PICNIC.... Stay safe while driving around, JO.

    HOT and SOUR is an amazing soup. One of my favs too! Thanks for the recipe!

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    1. Thanks Michael. You are right and I am so glad we don't have to shovel.

      I will be having some tomorrow at the Mandarin. I'll think of you.

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  6. Your white Wiarton Willie is adorable.
    I've heard good things about Paddington - will look forward to your opinions on it.
    I could almost taste that soup, and it's very flavorful.
    Be well, Jo.

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    1. He is isn't he Robyn. They always have an albino and I must say I like the look of him.

      I have a friend who has just seen it and loved it so I am sure I will too.

      I love that soup wish it was easier to make - from the ingredients point of view.

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  7. That hot and sour soup looks delectable. Sometimes I go to our nearby Panda Express carry-out and get hot and sour if they have it, but it has never looked as good as the soup pictured or have all the ingredients in your recipe. Maybe someday I'll have to try to fix some of this--though I don't think my wife will even try it, especially since it has mushrooms. She refuses to even try mushrooms.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. What a pity Lee. At least I have access to an excellent version at our local Chinese. Don't they eat mushrooms where your wife comes from (don't remember where you said)? Or is it just she doesn't like the look of them?

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    2. My wife is from Ecuador. It's funny, but we were having a mushroom conversation the other day because I had made some stir fry that had a few mushrooms in it. She removed any mushrooms from her portion and gave them to me. But I asked her if they used mushrooms in Ecuador and she not only affirmed that they did, but she said her mother used to make spaghetti sauce with mushrooms in it. I asked why she was willing to eat that sauce and she explained that her mother blended all the ingredients in a blender. Well, go figure--I like having the whole mushrooms or pieces at least for the texture and substantial nature of them. Blended mushrooms seems kind of pointless to me. I think she has a paranoia about mushrooms or something, but trusted what her mother fixed for her. And then maybe she had no choice but to eat what her mother fixed.

      Arlee Bird
      A to Z Challenge Co-host
      Tossing It Out

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    3. Of course, Ecuador, I remember you saying that before. How odd to blend all the ingredients, as you say, it's nice to have the mushroom pieces. Maybe she will try them one day.

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  8. I feel jealous. We are sweltering here in 37 degree days going down to a minimum of 25 degrees over night. Our air conditioning bill will be horrendous. Ground Hogs are so cute.

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    1. Pity we can't share both the snow and the heat.

      They are cute although I bet the mayor who got bitten didn't think so.

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  9. I love the groundhogs ... and Chinese soup is wonderful. Stay safe in the snow Jo - we're only seeing it on the hills around here, but it is bitterly cold. I'm ready for Summer now.
    Fil
    Fil’s Place - Old songs and Memories

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    1. They are cute, except if they bite I guess. I agree about the soup. We are pretty careful in the snow although unfortunately not everyone is. Pretty cold here too of course.

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  10. Sorry to say, but I've eaten groundhog. I was only five when my uncle cornered and killed it in an out building. Grandma didn't want the critters in her garden so we had him for dinner. We have a huge one in the back yard, but he doesn't have to worry - I like his company! We had snow on Sunday night and then it rained, hubby thought he'd get up to find the rain had washed the snow away, but instead he found three inches of heavier snow to shovel! :) We have a mountain of it in the front yard from all the storms - more to come! Beautiful as long as it stays white!

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    1. I didn't know you could eat groundhog. No reason why not I guess. I would like one in my back garden too. You are so right Yolanda, so long as it stays white.

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    2. No reason why not Ivy, just never thought about it before.

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  11. I miss the snow. it's going to be in the 80s here. This time of year, at least give me a really goof thunder storm and raging winds.

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    1. I wouldn't mind the 80s right now. I've never come across a goof thunder storm!!

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