title: Bachelor Soup
category: food
content: |

    <p>Despite the dizzying (ha!) array of choices, this family of
    dishes has kept me well-fed on the colder nights of the year.
    Cheap, tasty, and filling -- and only myself to blame if I
    didn't like that night's flavor combination.  It is easily
    modified to be friendly to those who want to keep an eye on
    their weight.</p>

    <table border="1">
        <thead>
            <tr>
                <th>Broth</th>
                <th>Protein</th>
                <th>Starch</th>
                <th>Vegetable</th>
            </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
            <tr>
                <td>1 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon, any flavor</td>
                <td>1/4 to 1/2 block firm or extra-firm tofu</td>
                <td>1 bundle bean threads</td>
                <td>1 cup frozen stir-fry vegetables</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>2 cubes Telma, any flavor</td>
                <td>1 frozen chicken thigh or breast, defrosted and cut into bite-size pieces</td>
                <td>1 serving dry wheat noodles (mein, udon, or soba)</td>
                <td>1 cup frozen peas and carrots</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>2 cups chicken broth</td>
                <td>2 or 3 Hebrew National 97% fat free franks, cut into bite-size pieces</td>
                <td>1 rice stick</td>
                <td>fresh broccoli florets</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>light soy sauce and curry powder to taste, plus a few dashes of sesame oil</td>
                <td>2-4 ounces of meat from a store-bought roasted chicken</td>
                <td>1 block dried ramen noodles, seasoning optional</td>
                <td>1 cup <em>mirepoix</em> or <em>trinity</em></td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>

    <p>Choose one item from each column.  Feel free to go off-list,
    this is basically an improvisation anyway.</p>

    <p>If your broth doesn't already start liquid, put 1 quart of
    water in a 2-quart pot.  Otherwise, add water until you reach
    1 quart of liquid.</p>

    <p>If your protein needs cooking for safe consumption, throw
    it in the pot.  Add broth ingredients plus any additional spices
    and seasonings which suit your fancy.  Bring to a boil.</p>

    <p>Add your chosen starch and vegetables.  If your protein is
    safe to consume raw, add it at this point.  Return to a boil.</p>

    <p>Cook until noodles and protein are done.  Put a dinner plate
    under your pot, and eat straight out of the pot with chopsticks
    and a spoon.</p>