CHINESE... It's what's for Dinner!

You all know my obsession with Asian food, culture, and countries. I don't know why I'm so obsessed but I can pinpoint to when my Asian Infatuation began ;). Now, five years later, I am older, wiser, and fuller because of my great food recipes. I have found inspiration and comfort while consuming the varying degrees of food from varying Asian ethnicities (they can be called ethnicities, right?). Today's menu is Chinese. How I love the Chinese. Their language, food, customs, and traditions. *Although I am not on a quest for a man, please let me know if Jeremy Lin is available. He's right up my alley way and the height is a definite added bonus :).

CHICKEN EGG-DROP SOUP

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 1-inch piece of ginger (make sure it is thinly sliced)

4 scallions, roughly chopped

2 T. mirin (sweet rice wine) OR dry sherry (*i like the sweet rice wine better)

1/2 lb skinless, boneless chicken breats, and cut into cubes

1 t. toasted sesame oil

4 T. of Cornstarch

add Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper (it makes a difference! trust me)

3 Large eggs, well beaten

1 small bunch watercress, with the stems removed

1. Bring the: chicken broth, ginger, and scallions to a boil (in a saucepan proves best). Cover, and lower the heat to medium low. Let simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and strain into a large bowl, throw out the ginger and scallions (used for flavoring). Return the broth to the saucepan and stir in the mirin.

2. Toss the chicken, sesame oil, 1 T. constarch, 1/2 t. salt, and 1/2 t. of white pepper in a bowl. I put mine in the refrigerator until I'm ready to use it. In fact, do that.

3. Dissolve the reamining 3 tablespoons of cornstarch in 1/4 C. of water. Return the broth to a simmer over medium heat. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook (while stirring) until it's glossy and slightly thickened (it takes about 4 minutes). Add the chicken and simmer until cooked through (1-2 mins). Drizzle the eggs into the soup a little at a time (it's fun!) creating thin sheets of cooked egg. Finally, stir in the watercress.

4. ENJOY!

I always find myself in need of comfort food and this is a semi-healthy way to soothe my mind and spirit. I sure do love me some Chinese Egg Drop Soup!