Egg Drop Soup with Fried Wonton Croutons

The Best Egg Drop Soup

I don’t know why this soup isn’t consistently delicious, everywhere it’s served because it’s not that difficult to make. My daughter loves this soup but she too prefers the soup from one specific Chinese restaurant over any other so, I decided to make it the way she and I both like it. I can tell you that this is probably the Best Egg Drop Soup recipe and it only gets better, the longer it simmers.

It’s got all of the basic vegetable ingredients, including carrot, corn and peas. Other than the egg ribbons, that I teach you how to make, firm Tofu is the preferred protein in this soup and you can garnish with green onion and/or add it directly to the soup. I also show you how easy it is to make the crispy wonton croutons we all love to crunch on in our soup.

MSG is in this recipe and you really shouldn’t worry about it because this soup is good with or without it. However, You really shouldn’t be concerned with all of the misconceptions about this ingredient and HERE’S WHY. Also, know that Chinese restaurants use it in almost everything and it’s one of the reasons their food tastes so much better than your homemade Chinese cooking. MSG achieves that Umami that we all crave in food and if you read the article I linked above, you’ll understand more about it.

Egg Drop Soup Ingredients:

1 pkg Wonton Wrappers, fried crunchies (optional)

1 tsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Ginger, freshly chopped
2 qt Chicken Broth
2 tbsp Rice Cooking Wine
2 Eggs
2 tsp Sesame oil
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp White Pepper
1 tsp MSG
1/4 cup Corn Starch, mix with 1 cup of the Chicken Broth
1/4 cup Corn
1/4 cup Frozen Peas
1/4 Carrots
8 oz Tofu, firm, cubed slices
2 Green Onions, chopped

Kosher Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Oil for Frying, 350° Fahrenheit

2 Eggs, for egg ribbons, soup should be boiling. Add Corn Starch after.
1/4 cup Corn Starch, pre-mix with 1 cup of the broth and stir in last.
Just watch the short video tutorial and I’ll show yo exactly how to make this Egg Drop Soup.

Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich

Grilled Ham & Cheese with Black Forest Ham, Swiss and Mozzarella cheese.

The Best Ham & Cheese

I bet you didn’t think a Ham & Cheese sandwich couldn’t get any better but, I’m telling you, it can and it’s the little things that make all the difference. Really it’s all about personal preference but if you choose the right kind of bread, the right kind of ham and cheese, you can really make something special with just a few other trade secrets that I’m going to show you in this simple little recipe.

Black Forest Ham, thinly sliced from my local deli.

Black Forest Ham & Cheese

When you make a Ham & Cheese sandwich, do you get all serious about what you put in it or do you just quickly throw something together so you can eat? Personally, I’m not a big fan of ham, which is funny considering how much I love, just about anything, pork. I chose Black Forest Ham for this recipe but I think it would be just as good with about anything you decided to use as long as it wasn’t watered down and packed with unnatural alternative preservatives other than curing salt. Just kidding. I could probably make this sandwich with spam and be completely happy with it so, it’s up to you.

Cheese in your Ham & Cheese

There are so many different kinds of Cheese in this world that they have to write books to describe them all. I know that some people like a sharp Ham & Cheese and there are some that like a Swiss. In this recipe I chose to go with Mozzarella, to make it more cheesey, and Swiss cheese for more flavor. I really think the two balance each other out.

Another thing I like to do is season the buttered bread. You can choose white, wheat, rye or even sour dough bread, if you prefer but I highly recommend using an all purpose seasoning, to season the sliced buttered bread, before grilling. All purpose seasonings usually have garlic and onion powders in them and a few earthy herbs as well so, they’re perfect to add more flavor. Technically, it’s now a garlic toast Grilled Ham & Cheese but I’m not too sure that anyone would think to google the name of that sandwich.

Other sandwich recipes to check out:

Reubon, Steak and Cheese, Philly Cheese Steak, Sloppy Joe’s, Double Grilled Cheese, Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese and my Grilled Egg and Cheese Sandwich.

Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich video tutorial.

Grilled Ham & Cheese Ingredients:

2 Slices of Bread
3 Slices of Ham
2 oz Mozzarella Cheese, grated
2 oz Swiss Cheese, grated
1 tbsp Butter, softened
All purpose seasoning to taste

Sauce
1 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 tbsp Ketchup
1/2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar

Follow the directions in the Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make it with these ingredients.

Taco Salad

How to make Taco Salad

If you do it right, Taco Salad can be amazing. It’s one of my wife’s all time favorites. And she got really excited, when she heard me say that this was going to be my next video recipe post, because this salad has got it all. I’m talking about, not only, a great selection of salad ingredients but an array of toppings that really make this recipe pop. And it’s the combination of those ingredients that really make a great Taco Salad.

4 Major Taco Salad Ingredients

Unless you want to buy some of these pre-made ingredients, you’re going to need 3 other recipes and it doesn’t matter if you already have your favorite go to recipes or if you want to use mine. Either way, it is essential that you have a nice and thick Chili No Beans, a good Guacamole and of course homemade fresh Salsa. I would highly recommend making all of these, beforehand, yourself because let’s face it, store bought Guacamole, Salsa and Chili, never really measure up. But settling for canned ingredients isn’t the worst thing in the world and if that’s the way you decide to go, your salad will still turn out out pretty good. But I would highly recommend going the extra mile on this one and make everything fresh.

The fourth major ingredient, in my opinion, is of course optional but I think is very necessary; Sour Cream. No all you need is your favorite greens and chopped vegetables to make a salad and you’ll be well on your way.

Taco Salad Ingredients:

1 head Iceberg Lettuce, chopped or torn
1 Red Onion, sliced
4-6 Sweet Peppers, chopped
1 can Black Olives
1 Cucumber
8 oz Cherry Tomatoes
1 can Red Beans

2 cans Chili No Beans, RECIPE
1 pint Guacamole, RECIPE
8 oz Salsa, RECIPE
1 pint Sour Cream
1 lbs Cheddar Cheese

To make this Taco Salad, just follow the instructions in the video tutorial.