Hot and Sour Soup

A favorite dish: grated fresh ginger and plumped-up dried shiitake mushrooms sauteed in 3 tablespoons of sesame oil; then add 4 cups broth or water, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and bean threads, which cook in 3 minutes. Throw in peapods (or greens) and shrimp and three tablespoons cider vinegar and one tablespoon soy sauce. Good served hot, even in summer. If it needs reheating, do it in the microwave; repeated boiling on the stove will make the noodles dissolve. Replace shrimp with tofu cubes sometime. Ginger anything will make you feel good.