better than chicken noodle

It seems like everyone I know is either just getting it, just getting over it, or right smack in the middle of it.  Cold, stomach flu, strep, croup, you name it.  We had it last week and are mostly over it, except Hazel who just takes everything so much harder than the rest of our family.  She continues to have bouts of coughing and puking between the hours of 1:00am and 3:00am.  She is only puking because she coughs so hard.  It is heartbreaking and our bed smells like sour milk.  Anyway.

My man has taken over most of the asian-style cooking in our home and he found a recipe that is like a fairy godmother when you're under the weather.  This is a Thai chicken and rice soup and it is so loaded with garlic and ginger it blows chicken noodle out of the water (or in this case, the soup bowl).  The trick lies in waiting until serving to combine most of the ingredients.  No home should be without this recipe.  

Sizzling garlic in oil.

Adapted from Quick and Easy Thai:

Kao Tome Gai (rice soup with chicken, cilantro and crispy garlic):

2 cups dry brown rice (measure, then cook)
1/2 pound diced chicken breast (or other meat--we'll try wild turkey next)
4 tablespoons coarsely chopped garlic (or 4 very large cloves)
1/3 cup oil (we use olive oil, but veggie oil would probs be more authentic)
6-8 cups soup stock (depending on how brothy you like your soups)
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
6 green onions thinly sliced
handful of fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
ground black pepper (optional)

*While rice is cooking, heat oil and garlic until garlic just begins to get gold and crispy; pour into heatproof container and set aside.
*Bring soup stock to a boil over medium-high, add pre-cooked rice, return to boil, add chicken and fish sauce, simmer 3-4 minutes or until meat is cooked.
*Ladle hot soup into serving bowls, top with oil and garlic mixture, ginger, green onions, cilantro and black pepper.  Just before serving, stir well.

YUM!  This will hit the spot.  

^If there is one art I am quite bad at, it's the art of photographing food.  Sorry about that.^      

^What your kids will do after eating Kao Tome Gai.^