Asian Noodle Soup

4 oz shiitake mushrooms, stems removed

2 cans ready-to-serve chicken or vegetable broth (14 1/2 oz each)

3 T soy sauce

2 t finely chopped garlic

2 t finely chopped fresh ginger (or 1 t ground dried ginger)

1 C angel hair pasta broken in pieces

3/4 C cooked, shredded chicken or cubed tofu (about 4 oz)

1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots

1/2 t Asian sesame oil

Thinly slice shiitake caps (makes about 2 1/2 cups). In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine chicken broth with 1 1/2 C water, the soy sauce, garlic and ginger; bring to a simmer.

Add mushrooms, pasta, chicken (or tofu) and carrot; simmer until mushrooms are soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in sesame oil and, if desired, 1/4 C thinly sliced green onions.

Yield: 4 portions (about 5 3/4 cups)

Sweet Potato Pancakes with Tofu

These are a delicious twist on traditional potato pancakes, and they include all the healthful goodness that tofu—a secret ingredient—provides. Serve them with poached eggs for brunch.

1 cup (8 oz/227 g) cooked sweet potato, mashed
4 ounces (113 g) tofu
2/3 cup (1 1/3 oz/38 g) fresh breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon (15 ml) onion, minced A few dashes curry powder
1/4 teaspoon (1.3 ml) salt
2 tablespoons (101/4 oz/284 g) unbleached flour, spread on a saucer
2 tablespoons (1 fl oz/30 ml) oil

Using a fork, mix all the ingredients, except the flour and oil, in a small bowl. Mash the tofu as you mix and blend. Form the mix into 4 thin patties. Dip each side of each patty in the flour. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet, and fry the pancakes over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes on each side. The pancakes should be golden brown and crusty on the outside, soft and rich on the inside.

Yield: 4 pancakes

Time: 25 minutes