Healthful Asian Soup

One of my favorite restaraunt style soup recipes!! Is actually a Doctor recommended 'diet' soup. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! I adjust as I need to, today I omitted tofu and cilantro, although the diet exchange will vary a bit then. Great w/beef broth and sirloin steak pieces in place of shrimp. 1 TBS. peanut oil (today I used Mandarin Olive oil) 1/4c. chopped fresh ginger (keeps well in the freezer) 1/4c. garlic 2 cont. (32oz ea) plus 2 cups fat free chicken broth 1/2 c. cornstarch 1 pkg. (10.5oz) extra firm Tofu, cut into 1/4" pieces 1 can (8oz) sliced bamboo shoots, drained 1 can (8oz) straw mushrooms, drained (may be in some stir fry mixes already) 1/2 c. soy sauce 1/4 c. rice wine vinegar (or more :)) 1 TBS. sugar 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 2 bags (16 oz ea) Oriental style frozen veggies (Costco 5.5 lb bag 3 x recipes & has mushrooms) 1lb. fresh peeled, deveined or canned or frozen shrimp 1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro 1 pkg. (10 oz) spinach, trimmed and coarsely chopped In a large pot heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic & ginger, cook until tender about 3-4 mins. Combine 1 c. broth w/ the cornstarch until smooth. To pot add cornstarch mix and remaining broth, tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, & crushed red pepper; bring to a boil and cook unti thickened. Add frozen veggies, shrimp & cilantro. Simmer until shrimp is just opaque, about 10 mins. Stir in spinach just until wilted. Makes 20 cups. Per cup: 87 cal's, 9 g. protein, 2 g. fat, 35 mg. chol, 9 g. carbs, 751 mg. sodium, 2 g. fiber. Red Pepper, Ginger, Garlic all have protective effects against heart disease & certain cancers. Tofu helps lower cholesterol and relieve hot flashes. Shrimp is super lean protein w/1g. fat per serving, contains Omega-3's as well. 1) Have up to 8 cups a day 2) Enjoy one mini meal a day 3) Take a multivitamin mineral supplement ( a good one) 4) Sip 8 (8oz) glasses of water a day Stay on plan no longer than one week at a time. ENJOY!!!!!