Serves 6
¼ pound smoked thick-cut bacon, diced
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 teaspoon fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried
2 medium *potatoes, unpeeled, ½ inch dice
1 tsp kosher salt
4 cups whole kernel corn (about 4 ears of corn)
4 cups whole milk 
1 cup potato water
1 ½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ cup parsley, chopped

1. Heat a large heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium-low heat. Melt the butter and add the bacon, onion, celery, and thyme.  Sauté until the onions and celery are soft, about 8 minutes.
2. In a separate saucepan, add the diced potatoes and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add enough water to cover the potatoes. Cook until the potatoes are fragrant and just fork tender.
3. Add the potatoes, 1 cup of their water, corn, milk, salt and pepper to the cooked onions and celery in the soup pot. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes to heat through and cook the corn. Taste to see if you need more salt and pepper. Add the chopped parsley just before serving.
   
   *Yukon Gold, Russet, or Red Potatoes, sweet potatoes can be used as well.

Additions: Cherry tomatoes (sliced in half), cooked shredded chicken, raw or cooked seafood-if using raw, add to the soup in the last 5 minutes of cooking to cook through. 

Serves 4
1 bundle Soba Noodles
1 Tbs sesame oil
4 cups vegetable, chicken, or beef stock
1 inch piece fresh ginger, sliced thinly or chopped fine
1 garlic clove, sliced thinly or chopped fine
2 Tbs soy sauce or Bragg’s Aminos
2 Tbs Oyster Sauce
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
2 small bok choy, white parts separated and sliced. Greens set aside.
½ package tofu, cut into small cubes
 
Vegetables for soup bowls:
Bok choy greens
1 carrot, shredded
1 cup sugar snap or snow peas, sliced thinly
2 scallions, sliced thin on the bias
4 Eggs, poached or hard boiled-peeled and cut in half

Garnishes:
Sesame seeds
10 leaves Thai basil or sweet basil, sliced thinly
½ cup cilantro, chopped
1 lime, quartered
Sesame oil
Sriracha sauce
 
1.Cook the soba noodles according to package directions (about 5 minutes). Drain well, rinse with cold water and drizzle with sesame oil. Divide the noodle between the bowls.
 
2.In a medium saucepan, heat the stock, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, mushrooms, white parts of the bok choy, and tofu. Heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
 
3.Divide the soup over the noodles and top each serving with the bok choy greens, carrots, peas, scallions, and eggs if using. Serve the soup hot and offer garnishes at the table.
 
Additional options: shredded, cooked chicken, shrimp, steak, pork, Korean seasoned meatballs.