Soon Du be better

Apologies for Major Delay- Rear Admiral Holidays and Captain Procrastination have prevented his leaving until today...

Brief breakdown:
We celebrated Thanksgiving at the in-laws, always good.
We went to Montreal for Christmas, the Mister's eye froze shut and we saw a unicorn.
We sat on our asses and did absolutely NOTHING for New year's eve. Which usually I'm ok with, I have a paranoia about driving anywhere after dark on new year's eve that is not unfounded. Drunk drivers are a menace.
Annnnd then back to work.
Started newest pottery class but it may have been a mistake. It's fun but I lack motivation this time. Need to pull my head out of my ass and hopefully that will help get me out of the funk.

Finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo. Which I've read before but I think I've never read the unabridged version. I recommend the unabridged (as always) it gives the book a greater depth. It's on my list of desert island books.
Am currently reading Pride & Prejudice... again me and bossfriend B were discussing how it's an excellent filler book. I also have a Jasper Fforde book (The Big Over Easy) and a Haruki Murakami book- 1Q84 both of which I'm ready to read but I think I'll get sucked in and the world will stop until I'm done. Anyway, READ. It's good for you.

On the subject of funk, I think everyone is either ill or ill tempered since the post holiday stretch is in full effect. Only people in Rhode Island get MLK day and President's day off routinely. I can say without a doubt I'm in the middle of them... I always get "meh" this time of year but this year is almost as bad as some of the college years ("this is stupid, I'm never going to use this degree, I'm just wasting my money"). I think I need a trip home or something.

Perhaps soup will help!

Here's a bastardized "easy" version of Korean spicy soft tofu soup. I don't make dashi type stock, I leave out the red pepper flakes/chili oil and use tinned clams. You can really put whatever vegetables or seafood you have into the soup... it works well with little bits of everything.

Soon dobu jigae
1 package of soft tofu (it's consistency of cooked egg whites, silken tofu will work as well)
1 tsp sesame oil
1 small can chopped clams
4 or 5 small raw shrimp
1/4 lb beef or pork cut into strips
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sliced carrot
1 small bunch enoki mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced napa cabbage
1 small potato cut into 1/4 inch slices
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 inch of ginger grated
1 or 2 Tbspns korean red pepper paste* depending on how spicy you want it (if this is the first time you've ever eaten this, only use 1 TEASPOON)
3 cups broth
optional 1 tsp honey or sugar
optional 1 small jalapeno cut into rings or strips
for garnish: 1 green onion or scallion cut into rings and 1 tsp sesame seeds

1. on medium heat, heat up oil in a sauce pan (large enough to hold all the soup)and brown meat but don't cook through
2. cook onions until starting to soften
3. add carrot and any other vegetables you're going to cook
4. add garlic & ginger and fry for about 30 seconds
5. add red pepper paste and stir around - don't let paste burn
6. add clams and the clam juice in the can, stir it around and sort of deglaze the pan
7. add broth and honey or sugar if you're using it
8. add soft tofu and gently stir it around
9. let come to a boil and skim off any foam
10. add shrimp, jalapeno strips and crack the egg into soup
11. let boil for 1 minute and shut off the heat
12. let stand for 4 or 5 minutes, basically until the shrimp are cooked through and the egg is cooked to your liking

Serve with scallions sprinkled on top with a side of steamed rice

*this is sold in asian markets and comes in a variety of heats, I use the medium hot which is pretty ridiculous...the extra hot should just be named "anal fuego". There's a little thermometer on the package that indicates how spicy it is.