Dumpling noodle soup... your own version!

SOUP.
I used to hate the stuff. 

Maybe hate is too strong a word... 
I just thought it was a fake meal. 
All liquidy & no substance! What a waste!

Thanks to Muffin, North America, South East Asia and my palate.. I am now a soup lover!

(I've always been a curly straw lover)

Sometimes when you're home alone, you make dumpling soup whilst listening to Lady Gaga and Beyonce really loud.. then later you eat 2 chocolate bars in a row and instantly feel really sick...

SOME people do that... I mean.... So I've heard..
so they say..

This soup is good for*: 

families

couples

children

fussy people

monkeys

cats

dogs

sloths

stick insects

(*some of these are untrue)

The base soup is simple and then you add your own special flavours in the bowl.

That's right - RIGHT IN THE BOWL, I SAID.

This idea works for many reasons. 

One example could be that you personally LOVE the taste of sesame oil,

heck, you would wear it as a perfume if you could... 

but unfortunately your boyfriend is all sesamed out from the past 4 years of forced consumption.. he has now become bitter towards you and your relationship with sesame. 

~ So he passes you the sesame oil (and seeds!) and he goes without (such a shame). 

Again... so I've heard. 

This is more about ratios than recipes, really.

It's about your own taste buds.. Mine goes something like this:                 

1/2 Tablespoon soy sauce

1/2 Tablespoon black vinegar

1/2 teaspoon chilli sauce/hot sauce/sriracha

1/2 teaspoon vegetarian oyster sauce

1/2 teaspoon black bean sauce

1/2 teaspoon pickled ginger liquid & 2 pieces sliced ginger

few drops sesame oil

sprinkle toasted sesame seeds

1 birdseye chilli, sliced, seeds removed

But hey... I'm a complicated bug.

 plain broth, before seasonings

delicious broth, after added seasonings

Noodle & Dumpling Soup.

Broth
1 cup water
1/2 cup uncooked chinese noodles (or 2 min noodles)
1/2 teaspoon stock powder
2 chunks ginger

Bring water, stock and ginger to the boil. When your vegetables are almost cooked through, add noodles until cooked.

Vegetables (1 cup ANY mixed vegies. I used...)
1 Tablespoon oil
1 Tablespoon sliced onion
5 broccoli florets
1/4 cup diced eggplant
2 big handfuls chopped chinese greens
1/4 cup frozen soy beans

3 frozen vegetable dumplings

Heat a frying pan and throw in oil, onion, broccoli and eggplant. Season with salt and pepper.

After 5 minutes, add in 1/4 cup broth and chinese greens, soy beans and frozen dumplings. 

Place lid on top until dumplings & soy beans are entirely cooked through, shaking pan throughout, about 5 mins.

Discard ginger from broth.
Transfer broth and noodles to a big bowl.

Top with vegetables and dumplings and season to your liking with sauces, chilies etc! 

Eat it with someone special, feeling glee, joy and pure happiness.