...is a delicious Vietnamese soup that takes a little time to make properly. (And that for some reason never sits right for me; I suspect it's something in the way they make their broth. I tolerate all other kinds of Vietnamese food extremely well--I could eat it every day and never get tired. Just the broth.)

Faux pho--and I could have sworn I had this in the recipe box but apparently not, or it's one of the several hundred that need re-entering--is my quick and dirty variation. Basically you need hot broth of some kind, very thinly sliced raw beef and/or seafood (raw whole shrimp, raw scallops, chunks of fish), fresh Asian veg like nappa cabbage, bok choi and/or Chinese broccoli, thin rice or egg noodles, raw egg, green onion, fresh hot peppers, fresh cilantro and various sauces. The diner assembles what ingredients he would like in his bowl and then pours the very hot broth over the top. The broth cooks the veg, egg and meat(s) on contact.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor