Thai Soup

A good, simple meal that is very easy to make.  All you need is Thai soup base (below) and you can throw in anything you like.
I usually include:

• peeled, sliced potatoes
• enoki mushrooms
• frozen, medium firm tofu
• oil tofu
• lettuce

But you can put in anything really.. from noodles to chicken to shrimp..
Even though I don't normally care for tofu.. when it's in this soup it's the best!  As you can see in the picture, my soup is mostly tofu :] The trick to getting it right is to take the tofu and freeze it first.. then, after it has been thawed, slice it up into rectangular chunks and throw it in.  The longer the tofu soaks the better.. but if you cook it at a high heat it will dissolve so make sure you put the tofu in first and the heat is not too high.  If you want really good tofu, then simmer the tofu in the soup for half an hour before you put in any of the other ingredients.

To make the broth, add spoonfuls of the soup mix into boiling water until you like the strength of the taste. The one I usually use is a ginger paste which you can find at any 99 Ranch.  You can add some pepper too if you would like.  You want to add the ingredients that take the longest first like the potatoes and the tofu.  The mushrooms won't overcook so add them right away.  The soup is done once the potatoes start to fall apart.  Put the lettuce in last... right before the soup is done as it only takes a minute to cook.