BUTTERMILK SUBSTITUTE: Warm 1 cup milk slightly (30 seconds) then stir well, repeat until warmed through, and add 1 tbsp cider vinegar. Allow this mixture to set while putting the rest of the ingredients for the recipe together; and use the same amount of soured milk as is called for buttermilk in the recipe.

from cook’s illustrated: To make slicing the pork chop easier, freeze it for 15 minutes. We prefer the distinctive flavor of Chinese black vinegar; look for it in Asian supermarkets. If you can’t find it, a combination of red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar approximates its flavor. This soup is very spicy. For a less spicy soup, omit the chili oil altogether or add only 1 teaspoon.

The vegetables used in this soup are flexible. Any orange vegetable can be combined with any green … For example, peas or green beans could replace the peppers. Carrots can be used instead of or in addition to the squash or sweet potatoes, etc.