Photo Story 1:
Special Spicy Soup
Due to Covid-19, it is no secret that we have been cooped up inside with little to do. Left to our own devices, experimenting with food has been on the top of many people's lists. Like many college students far from home, on a cold winter day, the nostalgia of a steaming bowl of soup from mom might be on the mind. Scheyenne Vue, who goes by Ann, is a Hmong Community member living in Fort Collins, but whenever she gets the chance she makes the drive down to Denver to make soup with her mom. For many communities food is a cultural driving force that holds various amounts of value and for Ann, eating her mom's soup reminds her that no matter how stressful growing up may be, she will always find comfort at home with her family. Passed down from her mother, now Ann makes her mom's special spicy sour Korean soup whenever life gets too busy.
While preparing her ingredients to make her signature soup dish, Ann washes her green onions ensuring their freshness. No bowl of soup is complete without a little bit of delicious yet pungent zest.
After washing the onions, chopping them into small enough slices to seamlessly mix them into the soup is next. Cutting the onion into small bits lets the flavors fill the broth while not making the consistency change drastically.
Once the ingredients are properly cut and stored, boiling the special Korean egg noodles is next. By separating each noodle and stirring frequently Ann can ensure that every noodle is cooked thoroughly. This gives you a crisp but doughy bite.
After the noodles are boiled in the water, it is time to add in the ingredients. Before throwing in the Kimchi and sausage bites it is time to flavor the broth. It is now time to add the onions, secret spicy chicken broth powder, and lime to the broth. The lime adds a sour taste to counteract the bitterness of the Kimchi and onions.
The first bite is always the best according to Ann, “Every ingredient is simple but once together everything becomes nostalgic. The firm noodles and comforting broth remind me of home”.