Hacker's Soup

Back before the web there was something called Usenet.  It was like a big text based bulletin board where people could post and read messages.   Geeks only.  No pictures, no colored backgrounds, just words.   During that time I found this recipe and though I might have modified it a little here and there it is pretty much stock, as I found it in 1989.

Hacker's Soup

What’s worse than waking up with a pounding head, a scratchy throat, and stuffed up nose?   I’ll tell you.   Rolling out of bed with all those symptoms and trying to conquer your current programming project.

Like all worthy noodle soups this one’s warm and comforting as it goes down, but that’s not all.   Eastern medicine teaches that shiitake mushrooms and scallions are top immune-boosting ingredients.   

Ginger and chili flakes help clear sinuses and bronchial congesstion while soothing aches and pains.   Snow peas, leaded with vitamins and iron nourish your entire body.   This soup contains all that good stuff and it takes just fifteen minutes to prepare!   Slurp it up, rest your weary body and then get back to work.

Ingredients

2 Cups sliced shiitake mushrooms

1 Cup thin slices scallions.   (Use green onions if scallions are not available)

2 Tablespoons minced fresh ginger

1/4 Teaspoon of red pepper flakes

4 Cups canned chicken broth 

2 Cups boiling water with 2 teaspoons decent (not Wylers) chicken bouillon 

2 Cups snow peas cut diagonally into 3/4” pieces

1 lb medium raw pealed shrimp

1 lb rice stick noodles

Rice stick noodles are readily available
at Asian grocery stores.

Replacing the dried red pepper flakes, you can use three Thai hot peppers with their seeds removed.

Heat water in a separate pan to cook noodles.   When it is nearing a boil continue on.

Combine shiitake mushrooms, scallions, ginger, chili flakes and broth in a large saucepan.  Place over high heat and bring to a boil, then turn down to low and simmer for eight minutes.

After the simmering time of the broth in the sauce pan is complete, turn off the heat under the water in the noodle pan and drop in the rice stick.   Set a timer for six minutes.

Turn the heat back up to high under the sauce pan and drop in the shrimp and snow peas.   When the timer for the rice stick goes off, drain them and put them into the broth.   Serve immediately.