quick, look! the weather pixie is wearing a long sleeved shirt and carrying an umbrella! so's eleanor (though if you look carefully at the picture, you'll notice that she's actually playing rain in the sprinkler... i took the picture last week when "rain" was as exotic an imagining as "princess" or "dinosaur".)

the rains have perked up all the plants and made the birds sing. me, i'm thinking of knitting (a Hallowig of course!)... and soup. yesterday was tom ka gai -- a very tasty alternative to everyday chicken soup and not difficult. what's your favorite soup?

tom ka gai
for 2

1/2 lb. or so of boneless skinless chicken
2-3 cups chicken broth
1 can coconut milk
2 T fish sauce
2 T lime juice
lime leaves (or lime peel)
chopped lemon grass (if you have it)
1 t asian chili sauce (the stuff with the mocking rooster) - to taste
a couple of mushrooms
cilantro

chop chicken and cook in broth until done. turn heat to low and add everything except the mushrooms and cilantro. allow to simmer for a while -- but don't boil!. add mushroom slices and cilantro for garnish.