Plane Crashes, Hurricanes, and Distant Memories

Friday Night is movie night at our house.  We've celebrated the end of the week for years with pizza, root beer, licorice, and a family movie.  As our kids are getting older we're able to watch movies that deal with heavier, sometimes more emotional, content and life lessons that add to interesting, thought provoking conversations.

This last week we watched We Are Marshall.  It is a tragic story about an airplane crash carrying the majority of the Marshall University football team along with coaches, athletic directors, and boosters.  The lost life and shattered dreams threatened to destroy a football program, school and town.  The first few minutes leaves viewers speechless and heartbroken.  As the movie progresses, we witness the resilience and renewed hope as the Marshall football team is rebuilt and the town begins to heal from the devastating circumstances that could have left them crushed without inspiration or a future.

While watching it, I couldn't help but think of a similar airplane crash that occurred when I was a child living on the small island of Terceira, Azores.

There are some monumental events, like hurricanes, I vaguely remember during our time living in the Azores, 1974-1976, but first I'll reminisce the fond memories I have while living on "The Rock." 

I remember:

• Sliding down hillsides on cardboard veering to miss the large volcanic rocks.
• The giant volcanic rock wall behind our house and catching the lizards that occupied the crevices.
• The Portuguese people digging through our garbage regularly for just about anything they could reuse. 
• The flowers they'd make from old wire hangars and discarded nylons.
• The smell of fig trees and geraniums that bloomed like perennials.
• Hydrangeas, AMAZING hydrangeas.
• Spending the whole summer at the pool.
• Seeing a submarine out in the ocean wondering if it was a Communist invasion.  It probably wasn't, but my imagination thought it might be. 
• Our neighbor girl getting lice and her maid picking the nits out.  She was the first person I ever knew to get lice.
• Wanting a dog, but the island dogs were something crazy. 
• Communist propaganda pasted all over the white-washed walls in the towns outside the base.
• Walking past guard shacks on my way to school everyday.  The Portuguese soldiers made me uncomfortable.
• Being able to walk all over the base because military bases felt safe and secure.
• Every Saturday going to the matinee and buying a Sugar Daddy.  It lasted longer than any other candy option and seemed like the most economical choice.  After the movie, I'd walk up and down the aisles looking for lost change. 
• Our maids, seamstresses and gardeners.  Some had teeth, some didn't.  Some showered, some didn't.  We went to the home of one of our maids.  She had a dirt floor, no running water, no electricity.  She still smiled through a toothless grin and had joy.  Our seamstress could make a complete outfit just by taking measurements and creating a pattern from a brown grocery sack.  She could whip out an outfit in a day and she'd make matching clothes for my dolls!
• Ox pulled carts on cobblestone roads.
• Having to go to the MARS station to call the states and saying "Hi Grandma, over." 
• Not having ice cream, fast food, or a live Christmas tree. 
• Having birthday parties and receiving 3 of the same thing because it was all there was to buy at the base Toyland. 
• Not having television until evening.  Armed Forces Television and Radio had limited shows like Mannix, SWAT or Barnaby Jones.  I think we may have had Electric Company and Felix the Cat on Saturdays.  We watched this limited programming on a small, probably 10-inch black and white television.
• Waiting for Saturday so I could hear Casey Kasem's Top 40. 
• My parents going to Lisbon, Portugal for a get-away while we stayed back on the island with friends.  While in Lisbon, there was a coup.  My parents called and informed us they weren't sure when or if they'd be able to get out of the country.  This really scared me.  That could be another post.

I actually remember quite a bit.  Most of it was really great, but...There were scary things too.

One of the scariest things I remember were two hurricanes.  Hurricane Emmy and Frances.  I remember having to sleep downstairs because the wind blew so hard the four-plex we lived in swayed.  We were instructed to stay downstairs in the event the top floor blew off.  I also remember a plane crash.  My dad was called out to help.  Watching We Are Marshall got me to thinking about the plane crash.

With the help of the internet I've been able to find out more about what happened.  I've found the two scariest events we experienced while living there were related.

Hurricane Emmy developed on August 20, 1976 and reached her top speed of 100-105 mph and gradually weakened when absorbed by Hurricane Frances.  Emmy was the longest-lived hurricane of 1976.  Hurricane Emmy downed the Venezuelan Air Force plane that killed the 68 passengers aboard.  These 10 flight crew members and 58 passengers from a Venezuelan school choir were on their way to Spain when they attempted to land at Lajes Field in hurricane force winds.  The plane crashed into a hillside just one mile from the runway. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aeroporto_das_Lajes,_costa_Norte_da_ilha_Terceira,_A%C3%A7ores,_Portugal.JPG

I found the following description of Emmy.

Hurricane Emmy, 1976



Storm Lifecycle


The tropical depression that became Hurricane Emmy developed on August 20 from a tropical wave, located about 1000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. As it moved west-northwestward, the area strengthened to a tropical storm on the 22nd. On the 24th, it recurved to the northeastward, and strengthened to a hurricane on the 25th. Its eastward movement so early in the year is almost unprecedented, as it occurred from the rapid development of a low pressure system to its northeast. Emmy moved recurved back northwest on the 26th, but again moved eastward on the 29th, when it reached its peak of 100 mph. More » It gradually weakened, and on September 4, a weakened extratropical Emmy was absorbed by the larger circulation of Hurricane Frances while located over the Azores. Hurricane Emmy caused 68 indirect deaths when a Venezuelan Air Force plane carrying a school choir crashed on a landing attempt at Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the storm. This makes Hurricane Emmy the fifth documented storm to have downed an airplane (the others were Hurricane Janet, Typhoon Emma, Hurricane Betsy and Hurricane Esther)[citation needed]. Like Emmy, the tropical depression that became Hurricane Frances formed from a tropical wave on August 27, while midway between the Lesser Antilles and the coast of Africa. The next day, it became a tropical storm, and on August 30, Frances became a hurricane. As it recurved to the north and east, Frances reached her peak of 115 mph on September 1. Steady weakening occurred afterwards, and Frances became extratropical on the 4th.

Hurricane Frances reached her peak speed of 115 mph on September 1, 1976!  Wow!  I remember hearing the gauge that measured wind speed was blown off.  I don't know if that was true or not.  I just remember everything that was not nailed down was blown.  I seem to remember even vehicles being moved by the wind.  Now, thinking of it, I seem to recall a woman being blown around while on the street.  Is that true, or a dream?

But watching We Are Marshall, I'm reminded of my dad responding along with other emergency response personnel to the downed aircraft.  Hurricane Emmy was the fifth documented storm to down and airplane according to Stormpulse.  What a sad, life-changing day! 

I am glad that with the help of the internet I can find answers to the questions that have occupied my thoughts over the past many years.  I can't help but wonder about the Venezuelan school (Venezuelan choir Orfeon Universitario) and if they recovered and healed like Marshall University.

Book Study: Out of the Dust Week 2 & Self Portrait Line Drawing with Watercolor

Week 2: Book Study Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Students should have completed Winter 1934 reading and assigned study guide pages 12-17 found in Progeny Press Study Guide.

Review and discuss completed questions from Progeny Press Study Guide.

Further Discussion:

Prior to class, teacher/group leader may research Cimarron County, Oklahoma.  This is the setting of the book.  Point out and explain demographics to students.  Note Cimarron County reached the height of population, 5,408 residents, in 1930.  Since 1930, Cimarron County's population has dwindled.  As of 2010 the county population is just a mere 2,475.  Discuss causes for this dramatic decrease.  Compare this to your area's population.  Has the population of your area increased or decreased since city/county's founding?  What factors contribute to population growth? 

Show students photo taken in Cimarron County in 1936.  This photo will give them a sobering visual of what some of the homes in the area might have been like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Farmer_walking_in_dust_storm_Cimarron_County_Oklahoma2.jpg

While reading Winter 1934, we learned a lot about Billie Jo.  Ask students to describe Billie Jo and her life.  Some may describe her as: only child, piano player, her father wanted a son, living during dust bowl, hard worker, etc.  Have students think of words and phrases that would describe them. 

Have students make a self portrait with words describing their unique personality and characteristics.  Instructions follow.

Self Portrait Line Drawing with Watercolor
This project will take two sessions if class is only one hour long.

The idea for this week's supplementary art lesson comes from one of my new favorite art for children blogs.  It's called Art Projects for Kids and the creator posts fabulous art projects daily.  You can subscribe to her blog for emailed projects.  I've definitely been inspired and our kids are benefiting from her creativity!

For this project you need to purchase some nice watercolor paper and a nice set of watercolor paints.  I saved my 40% off coupons for Michaels and purchased the watercolors over a couple weeks.  I like the set we purchased because it has vibrant colors along with colors great for skin and hair options.

1)  Give each student a sheet of paper.  Our paper measured 12" x 9".  Have the kids draw a light line dividing the paper in half lengthwise and again in half widthwise.  This can be a challenge.  Show the kids to measure two points at 6" on the length of the paper.  Line the ruler up and draw the straight line.  Do the same at 4.5" for the width.

Paper with four quadrants

Beautiful Watercolors

2)  The paper should now have four equal quadrants.  Have students draw an oval outline designating their head.  I found that the top of the head should be at about the top 1/3 of the upper vertical line and the bottom should be at the bottom 1/3-1/2 of the bottom vertical line.  Next add neck and shoulders.

3)  We then started with the nose with light pencil.  The top of the nose is just to the right of the perpendicular intersection of the two lines.  The horizontal line should go right through the eyes.  Add the mouth.  I made mine smiling, but it's up to the kids how they want their self-portrait to appear.  Next add ears.  They're right at/below the horizontal line.  Add hair and other details like earrings, glasses, etc.

4)  Go over finished face with black Sharpie pen.  Erase vertical and horizontal lines along with any other pencil marks.

Remind kids not to use Sharpie to outline the top of the original head.  That line will be covered by hair.  We found we could white out an accidental Sharpie mistake.

See the one head in upper right corner accidentally had the head outlined.  We whited out the lines before painting on the hair.

Here we are...in progress.

5)  Paint with watercolor.

Words describing Me

My Girlie

The Momma

The Girlie

My Brown-Eyed Boy

The Cool Hair

My Big Boy...who as of this week wears the same size shoes as his dad

This is a student in my class.  She was intimidated by the drawing process.

At the end of this project, I think she was proud of her work.  I was VERY proud of her!  Well Done!

Beautiful work!

Another completed project

My boys

My Girlie and Me

In addition to beginning the self-portraits, I printed out the Bible verses from this section for each student.  I encouraged them to memorize at least one of the verses.  I was happily surprised to learn there was one student who committed some of the scripture to memory.  The verses were:

Bible Verses: Out of the Dust Winter 1934



Proverbs 29:11

11 Fools give full vent to their rage,

but the wise bring calm in the end.

Romans 12:18

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Ephesians 4:26-27

26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

James 1:19-20

Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Luke 21:1-4

The Widow’s Offering

1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Until next lesson...Read On!

Post Root Canal Update

I know many of you are probably thinking, "Root Canal, Shmoot Canal!  What's the big deal?"  I've talked to people who say, "Yeah, I've had four of them."  Maybe everyone in America has had a root canal, and to them this is no big whoop-de-doo, but it's my first! So, I'm going to continue to bore you with my step-by-step-behind-the-scenes report.

I was told to take it easy today.  I was able to sleep 11 hours last night!  Haven't done that in FOREVER!  Usually I'm happy to get 6-8 hours.  With three kids at home to school there's not much taking it easy.  We're still doing school.  I'm still doing laundry.  But, unlike most days, I'm escaping to blog in the afternoon.

Here's the Root Scoop:  It went GREAT!

I visited the bathroom three times upon arriving to the endodontist's office.  I was not going to have an "accident" in the chair.

The anesthesiologist arrived.  Surprisingly, he wasn't 17!  He might have even been a little older than me.  He did have gray hair.  He was almost an hour late because his previous patient was a 27 year old heroin addict with no visible veins.  It took the doc a super long time to find a vein in this guy.  One glance at my hand and he openly expressed great joy at my strong, all powerful veins.  I'm so proud!  Apparently, I informed him they were weight lifting veins.  I'm a dork!

He soon told me the margaritas were coming.  That's the last thing I remember.

The next thing I know they were saying, "Time to wake up."

"Huh, what."

I didn't even know where I was.  It took me a second.  How in the world Michael Jackson was able to function after doing whatever he did is beyond me.  (Dr. Murray is in the news big time with the trial going on and I couldn't help but think of that situation when I was going in.)

The rest of my evening is a blur.  It is kind of like having a dream and remembering bits and pieces, but not quite sure what really happened.

One thing I found interesting was my continued subconscious obsession with rootbeer milkshakes.  About 14 years ago, I was put under during an IVF procedure.  Apparently, as I was drifting off I told the doc, "If I make it through this, I'm going to have a rootbeer milkshake." 

After that appointment, my hub told me what I said and we went to fulfill my last pre-op request.

Yesterday, I guess as I was drifting off I mentioned the rootbeer milkshake again.  I haven't had one in 14 years.  Weird.  I would love to have one, but calorie concern has prevented it.

Hmmm...Guess what I think?  I think Heaven has rootbeer milkshakes and I will have as many as I want for eternity.  Until then, I will fantasize about them as I drift off, or perhaps I will have a fantastic date one evening at a malt shop and my sweetheart will surprise me with my dream treat.  Hint, hint...

I'd like to send big thank you to the anesthesiologist and my wonderful family for taking such good care of me!  I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU!!

Anything to Get My Mind Off the Appointment- An Appointment with My Personal Hairdresser

I'm extremely distractible today as I await my appointment for the root canal.  The kids are working on their school work.  I'm escaping to blog.

My girlie loves to style my hair ALL the time!  With my upcoming dental appointment she's decided she would get me ready.  She braided all my hair last night and I must say my sweet hub most certainly loves falling asleep beside his bride with 9 braids in her hair.  This is a patient man who sees beyond the outward appearance.  He's married to a goofy girl.

So, throwing aside all sense of personal style and pride, I'm going to share a glimpse of what this momma looks like while inside the confines of our home.  I may regret this post, but for the moment, our personal craziness makes me smile.

The REAL Momma!

Brows are OUT OF CONTROL!



She just said she should have done my make-up too.  Maybe next time.



I'm a Dental Scaredy Cat- Let's Pray

Ecclesiastes 9:11
11 I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.

If I were Solomon, I would have added, "nor does good dental health come to those who care for their teeth;"

I'm getting a root canal today.  It's not just the regular run-of-the-mill root canal.  It's the one where the endodontist has to call in the anesthesiologist and he has to put be to sleep because I'm a scaredy cat, or a pained cat, or a claustrophobic cat, or...

I know there are people who get root canals, surgeries, and anesthesia everyday, but I'm very nervous about this whole thing.

Yesterday, I went to my dentist for a crown prep.  She's GREAT!  She's done other work on my teeth and I've been thoroughly impressed.  Because I have dental phobia I usually have to take something to relax me before an appointment.  Then, if it's more than a cleaning, I've opted to have a little nitrous, as of late.  Even with all the assistance in relaxation, when she began the procedure, but I could still feel some of the drilling and the cold air. 

She stopped, leaned back and said, "I think you need a root canal."  Those words stung.  I've never had a root canal, nor did I ever plan to have one.  I want things like a new computer or camera, not a root canal.

She instructed me to immediately go to the adjacent building where and endodontist was waiting for our arrival.  So with my numb face, my sweetheart and I walked over.

I was beyond nervous to meet this next doctor, or endodontist, which probably made matters worse.  She's not as friendly as my dentist.  She was matter-of-fact bordering on abrupt.  She explained the procedure and showed me the "rubber dam."  I don't do rubber dams.  She insisted on the rubber dam for safety.  Pulling out the needle-like instrument she was planning to use, she said if she dropped it down my throat it would be hard to retrieve.  I could choke.  It would be bad. She basically freaked me out.

I gave consent for the rubber dam. 

Sitting in the chair, clicking my upper and lower jaw together, I told her I could still feel my teeth a bit.  She said she was concerned to give me any more Novocaine as it's harmful to my liver.  Again, she freaked me out.  I sensed liver failure in my near future.  Nothing like freaking out a freak out.

Honesty, must be her policy.

She said, I may feel the drill, but I should endure.  There might be temporary pain (if I were in a torture chamber).  Yikes!  But it had to be done.  The root was dying.

Wearing headphones and listening to Dave Crowder Band playlist on Pandora I tried to drown out the sound of the drilling.  Lord, please get me through this!

She started working on the root.  I felt it.  I raised my hand.  I could feel the surge of adrenalin through my arms and legs.  I asked them to remove the dam.  I felt like I might suffocate.  I'm a drama queen.

Halfway into a panic attack, I stopped them and said, "We need to pray."

The doctor and assistant nodded.  I think they sensed the need to pray.  I began praying for the procedure and that I'd have some sort of peace.

Then, I started crying.  I'm a wimp!  I'm a scaredy cat.  I don't mind pain if I'm in the middle of a workout and my skin splits open on my hands from doing pull-ups.  I didn't cry when I tore my calf muscle while trying to play soccer and had to be carried off the field.  But, when someone is messing with my teeth...I can't bare it!

Gaining a bit of composure, they replaced the rubber dam and began again.  I couple seconds into it I felt it again (I have to mention, just typing this account is causing my hands to sweat uncontrollably).  I then placed each leg on the sides of the chair, instructed them to take off the rubber dam, and gave them the "I'm out of here" sign!

So, all that leads us to today.  The tooth has had a partial root canal.  It hurts pretty bad, as does my jaw.  They're calling in an anesthesiologist to put me to sleep (hate that phrase, as it refers to what just happened to my poor Lukey, but I don't know what else to call it).

The anesthesiologist called me last night.  He sounded like he was a cool, hip, be-bopping 17-year old.  It'll be interesting to meet him today.  He instructed me no food after 7:30am.  Water, black coffee, or apple juice until noon.  Then nothing other than a sip.  He said he'd run an IV.  After setting it it'd be nighty night.  Actually he compared it to margaritas and said I'd be relaxed.  He commented the next thing I'll know they'll be waking me up.  I hope it goes so smoothly.

He did give me one more thing to be paranoid about...peeing my pants!  Oh Great!  Why'd he have to mention that?

Apple Cake w/ Brown Sugar Glaze

September 26th is a day for celebration.  It happens to be Johnny Appleseed's (a.k.a. John Chapman) birthday!  We always love a reason to celebrate and what else would Johnny want for his birthday but an Apple Cake?

I found a GREAT recipe for a scrumptious apple cake at http://www.lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/  Just a couple glances at this website and you'll definitely be drooling uncontrollably.

In addition to it being Johnny's happy day, we're also baking this cake to compliment some of the book studies we're currently doing, namely Out of the Dust and Ox Cart Man.

Without further ado...

Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze
Makes 9 X 13 Cake

Apple Cake Ingredients:


3 cups all purpose flour
2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups finely chopped apples
1/2-1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)

Brown Sugar Glaze:

1 cup packed light brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoon heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 9 X 13 rectangular pan  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  Stir with a whisk to mix everything together.

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs until light in color and foamy.  Add the oil and vanilla and mix well.

Add egg mixture to dry ingredients and stir until flour disappears.  Do not over mix.  Add apples and nuts (if using).

Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake 40-45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

After removing cake from oven, make glaze.

Cake fresh from the oven.  Time to make the glaze

Ready for Glaze

See those apples?

Brown Sugar Glaze

Combine brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and heavy cream in saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Cook 3-5 minutes.

Glaze bubbling

Spoon hot glaze over the hot-from-the-oven cake.  Let the glazed cake cool completely before serving.

So incredibly moist and yummy!

A Fall Beauty!  Enjoy!

Homemade Beef Broth & Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup: Pho

Beef Noodle Soup- Pho

I've gone a little crazy for Vietnamese and Thai food in the last couple weeks.  The cravings started when my mom was visiting and wanted to take us out for Vietnamese.  The kids had pho and my mom and I had noodle salad.  The flavors of mint, Thai basil, cilantro and rice noodles continued to linger on my mind long after the lunch. Fortunately, we are blessed with a family of adventurous eaters so they'd welcome an Asian cooking spree.

After that lunch outing, I went home and chose a couple recipes from one of my favorite Thai cookbooks and a Pho recipe from another favorite cookbook, wrote up a shopping list and headed to our local Vietnamese/Asian grocery.

Shopping in an Asian grocery store can be a bit intimidating, but it can also be a great learning experience.  When you're on the search for food you've never heard of packaged with labels you can't read, it can get a bit frustrating and overwhelming, but be open to asking questions.  I've learned so much asking fellow shoppers or grocery employees questions.  There was one Asian grocery I frequented and every time I went to check out the sweet employee would ask me what I was making.  She'd then look at my basket and remind me of ingredients I was missing.  Love that help.  I've also learned so much by asking Vietnamese friends how to prepare their favorites.  They offer me tips I haven't found in books- tips that actually work!  I'm always searching for a cultural education in food preparation.

The first menu item on my list was Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup, also known as Pho, pronounced "fuh."

Beef Noodle Soup
(Recipe from Extending the Table...A World Community Cookbook)

Combine in a large saucepan:
3 quarts water
1/2-1 1/2 pounds beef or beef soup bones
2-4 beef bouillon cubes
1 onion, cut in half
1 teaspoon salt

Beef Soup Bones

Huge pot ready for soup. 

I double most recipes to have extras for lunches in the week.

Cover and simmer 2-3 hours until broth is flavorful.  Skim residue so broth is as clear as possible.  I skim the broth a few times and then finally strain it to ensure it is as clear as possible.

Skimming off the residue...this is the residue.

Broth cooking

I will often strain the broth to get it as clear as possible.

The broth is ready for next step.

The soup bones and onion are removed from the broth.  These look great for a dog.  Too bad we don't have one.

1 hour before serving the soup, add:

4 whole anise stars

Continue to simmer.



Anise stars- beautiful!

 While broth is simmering, prepare separate bowls with the following:

Cilantro, chopped
Thai basil (Thai basil is different from regular basil.  It has a purplish stem).
Green onion, thinly sliced
Beef tenderloin, thinly sliced (Our Asian market will slice beef thinly.  If you don't have this luxury, partially freeze beef and then slice)
Tripe, optional.  Many people don't like tripe, but I was raised on it, so we add it.  My hub doesn't like it, so he doesn't add it to his soup.  Boil the tripe to cook.
Thin rice noodles  I buy fresh or semi-fresh noodles, but if you purchase dry noodles, place noodles in a saucepan of boiling water and cook until soft, about 3 minutes.  Do not overcook- they will start to fall apart.  Rinse in cold water and drain thoroughly in strainer.

Tripe cooking- If it's not your thing, don't add it.

This is a very large bag of rice noodles.  I'll also make Pad Thai with it.

Just before serving add:
1 tablespoon sugar
2-3 tablespoons fish sauce
salt to taste

Broth should be a bit saltier than you might normally prefer, because rice noodles are bland.  To serve, place portions of rice noodles, cilantro-onion-herb mixture, and raw beef  slices in large soup bowls.  Cover with very hot broth.  The hot broth will cook the meat in the bowls.

Have another plate of bean sprouts, mint leaves, hot chili pepper slices, and lemon/lime slices for people to add as desired.  We also serve with Hoisin Sauce and Sriracha Hot Sauce.

The beef purchased at the Asian store is VERY thin, so it cooks in the broth.  If your meat is thicker, you can add it to the broth and allow to cook prior to placing in bowl.

Beef, Tripe & Noodle

Covered with broth and herbs

So good!  Enjoy!