Sizzling Rice Soup

One of the most popular foods in our home was not an expensive item but, rather, an imaginative dish made of leftovers. My mother would cook rice the Chinese way, then leave the rice to cook longer and allow a crisp brown crust to form on the bottom.

We all lusted after the crust; it was so toasty and crunchy, almost like popcorn. Sometimes we would have it with just hot water, which would make a crackling porridge dish that was quite dramatic and exciting. In fact, my mother liked