The Soup Queen

After like a few weeks of not going to the market, I decided to go today. I have a love-hate relationship with market days. On one hand I know I am stocking up on fresh food and vegetables. On the other I know I need to clean out the fridge when I get back coz I need to make space for the new stuff that I bought. Anyway.  Today I bought pork bones to make a soup called Ming Mu Tang or literal translation, Bright Eye Soup. We Chinese aren't so subtle. If the soup makes our eyes bright/sparkling/clear, then name it such. No point beating around the bush. Pragmatic us indeed. As always, I start with blanching the pork bones in boiling water over the stove. This gets rid of the scummy stuff that floats up on your soup.  Next, I soak the herbs - they're pre-packed dried herbs from my herbalist in town. Dried herbs from China are getting more expensive these days. Damn the ringgit and damn the GST. I usually use a colander and a plastic basin...