Chinese: Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu

3 tb Vegetable oil

2 lg Sweet red peppers, cored,

-seeded and cut into -3/4"x1/4" strips -(about 3/4 cup) 1 sm Bunch green onions, cut

-diagonally into 3/4" pieces -(about 1 1/2 -cups) 2 c Chicken broth, canned OR

-homemade 2 c Vegetable stock OR water

-(stock recipe in next post) 2 tb Soy sauce

2 ts Red wine vinegar

1/2 ts Crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 ts Salt

1/8 ts Pepper

2 tb Cornstarch

3 tb Water

1 ts Oriental sesame oil

1/2 lb Snow peas, fresh or frozen

1 lb Firm tofu, drained and cut

-into 1/2" cubes 1 cn (8 oz.) sliced water

-chestnuts, drained Makes 8 Servings Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add peppera snd onion; stir fry about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, vegetable stock and soy sauce. Bring to boiling. Lower heat; simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir together vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, cornstarch, water and sesame oil in a small bowl until smooth. Add to soup with fresh snow peas; cook for about 5 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Add tofu, frozen snow peas if using, and water chestnuts. Gently heat through. Makes 8 servings (about 8 cups)