In Search of Lost Soup

If you lived in Houston in 2000-2013, you knew Taco Milagro on the corner of Kirby and Westheimer. It wasn't a restaurant known for its food; it was one of the city's "see and be seen" meet markets for single people. It had a huge patio, salsa dancing, good margaritas, and was completely packed in the evenings.  



Ancho chili

I was at Taco Milagro when someone told me her theory about deciding if men were datable depending on their shoes. Gucci tasseled-loafers were particularly favorable. I can't remember why. "Never date guys with cheap shoes" was what it boiled down to.   I've never followed this advice, because it seemed like one of the dumber ways of selecting a mate, but I'm still single, so what do I know?

white corn tortillas

Anyway, Taco Milagro served the usual tacos, burritos, chips, salsa and guacamole, which were passable, but my favorite was the tortilla soup, which was not a brothy chicken soup, but a thick and spicy tomato based soup (with chicken). I loved that soup. It had depth to it. I would go there just for the soup.
 

cilantro

But Taco Milagro closed in 2013, cutting off my supply. So I've been noodling around the interwebs looking for a recipe that might work. This is my first attempt. It's good but a little thin. The search continues. . .

Spicy Tortilla Soup 1
 

Soup

• 2 ancho chilis
• 1 onion
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic
• olive oil
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 4 corn tortillas (torn into pieces)
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 2-3 cups shredded cooked chicken

Garnish

• salt
• cilantro
• queso fresco 
• lime juice
• avocado

Instructions


Seed the ancho chilies and soak them in hot water for about an hour.

Puree the chilies with the onion, the tomatoes and the garlic.

Heat up your soup pot and put about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in it.  Fry the pureed vegetables for about 5 minutes, until aromatic.

Add 6 cups chicken broth, the tortillas, the cilantro and the chicken and simmer until the tortillas have dissolved and thickened the soup.

Salt to taste. (I used about a teaspoon.)

Garnish with fresh cilantro, avocado, lime juice, and tortilla strips. You won't see any tortilla strips on mine because I'm a chicken about frying things. (Hot oil in large amounts scares me.)



My soup, you can tell my avocado was bit bruised, but it still tasted okay.

End of January Update

As you can tell, I'm not quite back into the rhythm of regular blogging. Part of it is that there really hasn't been anything to say. January has been busy, but not very interesting.


For example: the high point of my weekend was fixing the toilet. The flapper had warped, causing the toilet to run every 10 to 15 minutes, all day long. So, not just noisy, but a massive waste of water.


It was a fairly simple job, but one I hadn't attempted before. I always like to learn something new, even if it is just fixing a toilet. Last night was the first night in 3-4 months that the toilet hadn't run. It was so quiet it woke me up. Isn't it odd what you get used to?




The flapper that failed. Silicone flappers are the name of the game, don't get rubber!

Mostly, I've been cleaning things out, getting rid of detritus and planning for future projects. So I'm hoping to have more interesting things to report soon. But as of today, all I can say is that the toilet works.

Field of Light

If you're looking for something neat to look at over the holidays, Discovery Green is hosting the Field of Light this year. I volunteered to help install it.

 

This is what it looked like when I got there. A lot of clear plastic poles linked with a spaghetti-like tangle of fiber-optic cables.

 

My job was to put glass bulbs on each plastic pole. For three and a half hours.  But the results are worth it, don't you think?

 

I've spent hours since then trying to remember what sci-fi show or movie it reminds me of, but I can't put my finger on it. (Space 1999?) They also remind me of enoki mushrooms.

 

I don't have any photos of it all lit up, because I haven't managed to get there yet. I know, I know, I spent all this time putting it together, but haven't seen the finished product. I hear it's beautiful, but with the holidays and all, I haven't managed to get to Discovery Green when it's dark. Maybe if it doesn't rain this weekend...

 

Fortunately, the Field of Light will be here until February 21st, so there's still time.

Things I gave myself for 2016

I've spent a fair amount of money these past two weeks. Not on presents, but on preparations for 2016. I've been stocking up (hand lotion, saline solution), replacing the worn out (mascara) and the most expensive category: supplies for new activities. The following items are ways I’m trying to improve and grow in the coming year.

How do you plan on improving your life in 2016?


A drawing journal

I was in the bookstore, looking at the journals when memories of all my previous half-finished and abandoned diaries filled my head. So I thought I’d try something different. Maybe I'll even get better at sketching. So far, I've drawn a clock face and my own feet.

The Holy Qur’an

 

There is so much debate about Islam these days, that I thought it might not be a bad idea to see what the book itself says. It's also been awhile since I've tackled serious literature. This should be mind-expanding in many ways.

A mini-bonsai kit

I like plants. George, my cat, likes plants. The problem is that I see plants as decoration/air purifiers while George sees them as salad. This is small enough that I can protect it from marauding felines.

A clean house

Not that I live in squalor, but I rarely shampoo the carpets and wash every single window pane. So I borrowed a rug shampooer, got out my rubber gloves and went to work.  I also went through my linen closet and threw out/donated everything I could. As a bonus, I had the car detailed. This is, literally, a clean start.

A skin care system

 

I’ve always been a Cetaphil and water girl.  But given my age, I'm beginning to think I should get a little more serious. Here's hoping.

Tickets

I have strong reclusive tendencies, so I’m always trying to find ways to get myself out of the house. I've committed myself to going to two operas and three plays between now and June. And I just found out that the Alley Theater is performing one of my favorite comedies on my birthday. Score!

 

Look what I grew!

Okay, the tree did the heavy lifting, but I watered it.

Just in time for Christmas, my orange tree has given of it's bounty. Six (six!) oranges.

My last harvest yielded oranges the size of golf balls. This time around there is a greater size range. The largest is about the size of a baseball.

 

And the smallest. . . well, as you see.

 

My First Thanksgiving

This year I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, and I'm having a mild nervous breakdown.  It's such an iconic meal, and there's a lot of pressure to get it right. Then, just to make sure I drive myself crazy, I asked extra people to join us, one of whom is a vegetarian.

But it's a family and friends kind of day, and I can't leave friends to celebrate alone. Besides, I see my family all the time, so the conversations will be more interesting if we add some new people to the mix. Possibly explosive if we let my liberal friend and my brother talk politics. Well, that's one way of making the holiday memorable.

On the plus side, the Thanksgiving menu is not terribly difficult, it's just large and dependent on good time management. (And mom is bringing the cranberries, so that's one less thing I have to make.) Since I'm having a vegetarian this year I've added my apple/leek casserole to the line up and I'm making the stuffing without chicken stock. Everybody should be happy with the food.

I've been thinking about serving dishes, what I have, what I can borrow. Will I bother with a center piece? (No.) Should I get some crystal to go with the china? (Probably, but this year the glasses are from IKEA.) How much food is enough? How much is too much?  I realize that I'm being ridiculous, that I will have eight (eight!) separate dishes (including pie) and that I've managed Christmas with half that. But I still find myself obsessing.


In addition to the meal, I'm looking at my house and wondering if there is some magic spell or something to keep pets from shedding, just for a couple of days. Why do I have such a ridiculously narrow table? (Seriously, I can't find tablecloths to fit it.) Why did I spend money on a vacation instead of window treatments for the living room?


Then there is animal management. My guest are bringing a dog, so the cats will have to be corralled and the house dog proofed. (Not that big a deal, I long ago put fragile things inside cabinets or up very high. Cats can be just as destructive to one's belongings.)  It's going to be chilly, should I put a blanket outside for the dog?


Deep breath. It's all going to be okay.


Do I have to make gravy?

Vacation Snaps

I spent the first two weeks of September in Vietnam. It was my first visit and I hope it will not be my last.

Morning on the Perfume River, Hue

I took a tour, 10 days travelling from Hanoi to Saigon, and it was wonderful.

I'd never been on a tour before, and while I didn't see as much of each individual site as I would have liked (simply not enough time) it was very relaxing to not have to deal with travel arrangements and hotels. All I had to do was show up. I can do that.

taken from the bus on our way to Hoi An

I tried my hand at landscape photography this time round. It's not my strength, but the countryside is beautiful, which helps a lot.


Destined to be dinner

The people are friendly, and the food is great. For those of you who are worried about food being too spicy, chilies tend to be on the side. And the beer is plentiful and good.


Roof detail

A gargoyle, I almost wish it had rained, so I could have seen it in action (Hue)

The tourism industry is in its infancy, so there are no pamphlets to pick up, no signs in English and very few maps. This can be great (less visual clutter and litter) and it can be disorienting (where am I?) They are fixing up the old palaces in Hue, but it's a constant fight against the climate.

And it's hot. There is no way around it, it's hot and humid and we blessed the men who invented air conditioning every time we got back to the hotel.

Saigon, the 70 was to celebrate Vietnam's 70th birthday as a modern nation 1945 - 2015

I arrived two days before national day, on the 70th anniversary of Vietnam becoming its own nation. So Hanoi, where we started, was packed, filled with people paying their respects at Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, all the government buildings had a fresh coat of paint and there were red flags everywhere.

Daoist temple - coils of incense, with prayers attached (Hoi An)

Ha Long Bay

If you ever get the chance to see Ha Long Bay, go. We felt so incredibly lucky to be there, it's an incredible spot. And I tried kayaking for the first time! I didn't turn the boat over, so I'm calling it a success.

Hoi An at night

Hoi An, in addition to being a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for its lanterns. These ladies are selling paper lanterns that you float in the river and make a wish. Its a big spot for engagement photos.

Temple offering - Buddha's Hand (Hanoi)

Fishing - Ha Long Bay



I would like to go back and spend more time, about a month, and really get to explore. But for an introduction, my 10 day whirlwind trip was fascinating.