J is Jook

Jook is the chinese-american version of homemade chicken soup. Also known as "congee," this comfort food consists of plain white rice simmered in broth until the individual grains meld into a thick porridge.

However, this food isn't just for the invalid or sad. You can easily elevate this humble meal into an elegant dish for guests. Just break out some extra dishes and allocate more prep time while the soup simmers.

For substance, add ground pork, raw peanuts, or slivers of chicken to the simmering soup. For the table, prepare bowls of shredded iceberg lettuce, coarsely chopped cilantro, thin slivers of ginger, sliced green onions, and minced chung choy (preserved turnip). Just before serving, bring out thinly sliced, raw white fish fanned out on a platter, or if your guests lean toward the vegetarian sort, place a bowl of still warm 2-minute eggs on the table.

Encourage guests to place a few slices of fresh fish or break a soft-boiled egg into their bowls. After you ladle the hot soup, guests can garnish then to their taste. The broth will gently cook the fish or egg as they select their toppings.