Having soup sometimes brings back vivid memories......
The rain was falling heavily but I had to reach home. The four o'clock bus to Maracas would surely leave me behind this time. Trudging through puddles and pools of water, I raced down Saddle road. It was all a blur. I remember passing figures huddled under umbrellas trying to escape the the cold water darts and if that was not enough, the taxis didn't seem to care either, as they drove through the deluge at normal speed with no care for us on the pavement.
Well that did it! I was splashed by a passing car and now I was soaked. But it didn't matter I was already soaked: I just wanted to reach Curepe in time to catch that bus. The Croisee (pronounced: quay zay) was already flooded with even more people huddled under the "stingy brim" of a roof; a style popular with the large establishments. As I passed one entrance the cold blast of air condition hit me; I was surely going to get a cold today. But I was closer to the bus terminus; I just wanted to get to Curepe.
The blue bus terminus quickly became dirty with mud from a thousand shoes each to their own business and destination. Mine was there also in the hustle wanting to reach Curepe....Half past three, I was standing for almost thirty minutes now while I watched bus load; after bus load ; after bus load pass us by.
Oh! Here one comes; gripping my bus pass in hand I got ready but to no avail. This bus was going to Chaguanas. Then one pulled up aside the Chaguanas bus.... Tunapuna it read; with one push through the crowd I was able to get in. No one even cared that I was dripping wet. We were all trying to get home before heavier rains came since it had let up for a while.
The bus pulled up at Curepe bus terminus and the Maracas bus was already there waiting for four o' clock; only five more minutes to wait. Getting on was another push because no one lined up to get in the bus; It was every man for themselves. Lucklily for me I got on and got a seat; no holding on to any poles for the long ride into the valley......
Down to my socks got wet; miraculously my books were dry. As for my shoes, I had to wash them and put them behind the fridge to dry together with my uniform. To warm me up, my mother made a simple soup; nothing fancy but it surely served it's purpose that evening. I still remember the rains on the galvanised roof as I sipped each spoonful of warm goodness; it was a lulaby to my ears.....
Following along the lines of that soup, here's one that my wife made that brought these memories back to life.
Tip: You can use other types of noodles instead of the ramen noodles.
Feel free to add other vegetables.
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
3 leaves chadon beni, chopped
2 sprig chive, finely chopped
2 large tomato, chopped
2 potato, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 tin corn
1 pack ramen noodles
salt to taste
5 cups water
Melt the butter over a low to medium flame
saute the onion and garlic
then add the chadon beni (culantro) and chive
Now add the tomatoes and let it cook in its own juices for about a minute...
then add about 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt to taste
Allow to cook for about 5 minutes.
Then strain
The stock is now ready
Return the chicken stock to the pot on a medium flame.Add the potatoes, carrots and corn
When the potatoes are just about cooked add the ramen noodles and the rest of the chive.Stir until ramen is cooked. Season to taste ( salt, pepper etc.) Serve hot
Ah gone!
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