Party Mix

• 2 sticks butter
• 1 tsp seasoned salt
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 cups each of Rice Chex, Corn Chex, and Crispix
• 2 cups each of Wheat Chex, Cheerios, and pretzels

First mix cereals and pretzels together in a large roasting pan or stock pot. Melt butter in a small pan and add spices. Drizzle over the cereal and mix well. Heat in oven for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Lemongrass Chicken Soup

I found this recipe at Live to Eat. What a great site! Lots of exotic recipes. We used ridged gourd and crimini mushrooms. We added udon noodles to the leftovers the next day. Excellent soup. It's important not to skimp on the lemongrass.

Use any veggies and greens and mushrooms of your choice. I used oyster mushrooms and baby spinach, only veggies I had. The measures are approximate.

Ingredients

• 8-10 cups of chicken broth
• 3 lemongrass stalks
• 2 tbsp thinly sliced ginger pieces
• 8 small Thai chilies slit (3 jalapeno peppers)
• 1 cup oyster mushrooms
• 1 cup baby spinach leaves
• 1 large tomato cut into 8 pieces.
• fresh basil leaves for garnish
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce/ tamari sauce
• juice from half a lime
• salt and pepper for seasoning

Method

Discard the tough outer layers of the lemongrass, and cut the soft inner part into small finger long slices. Place the lemongrass stalks and the ginger slices in a mortar, and crush lightly with the pestle.

In a large saucepan, place the broth and bring it to a boil. Add the lightly crushed lemongrass and ginger, along with the sliced chilies. Reduce the heat and cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove and discard the lemongrass, ginger and chilies from the liquid and bring it back to a full boil.

Add the mushrooms and spinach and tomato slices into the liquid and let it boil for about 8-10 minutes. Add the soy sauce and lime juice and season with salt and pepper.

Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve piping hot.