R.F. Whong – Recipe for Romance – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: R.F. Whong shares a recipe for Black Sesame Soup and shares insight into her new Mystery release, Allure of Elegance. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter Monday’s drawing. Deadline: July 19th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s R.F.:

Sweet Mud Soup

In my work-in-progress novella, Zen of Tea, Mrs. Chao treats her guests with a famous Cantonese dessert known as “sweet mud soup” (more properly called Black Sesame Soup, 芝麻糊, zhī má hú). This humble yet luxurious treat is a beloved comfort food in southern China, particularly in Guangdong, where it’s enjoyed as a warming dessert or a snack. When one of my critique partners admitted they’d never heard of it, and asked for the recipe, I was delighted to share it.

The name “sweet mud soup” might sound odd, but it perfectly describes the silky, dark, almost volcanic appearance of the dish. Its flavor, however, is unforgettable: nutty, fragrant, sweet, and soothing. If you’ve never made it yourself, it’s surprisingly simple and can be done at home with just a few basic ingredients.

Black Sesame Soup (Cantonese Sweet “Mud” Soup): Serves 4–6

Ingredients:

• 1 cup black sesame seeds
• 2½ cups water
• 4–6 tablespoons sugar (to taste)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
• Pinch of salt (optional, for depth)

Instructions:

1. Grind the seeds: Put the black sesame seeds into a spice grinder, coffee bean grinder, or high-speed blender. Grind to a fine powder—almost like flour. The finer the grind, the smoother your soup will be.
2. Prepare the base: In a medium saucepan, combine the black sesame powder and 2½ cups of water. Whisk to combine. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Stir frequently to prevent lumps.
3. Sweeten: Add the sugar (start with 4 tablespoons; you can always add more to taste) and a pinch of salt if desired. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5–8 minutes. The mixture should become darker and aromatic.
4. Thicken: In a small bowl, dissolve 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the simmering sesame soup, stir and cook for another 2–3 minutes until the soup has thickened to a texture similar to thick cream or gravy.
5. Serve: Ladle the hot soup into small bowls. Traditionally, it’s enjoyed steaming hot and eaten with a spoon. If you wish, garnish with a drizzle of coconut milk.

Notes:

• The sugar can be white, rock sugar, or even brown sugar for a deeper caramel taste.
• Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated with a splash of water if the soup thickens too much.

This comforting, aromatic soup is perfect for bringing warmth to a rainy evening—just ask Mrs. Chao’s guests in Zen of Tea!

Question for Readers: Will you try this black sesame soup recipe? If you do, please let me know how it turns out for you.

About R.F.: Dr. Ruth Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books under R. F. Whong. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city.

She currently runs a small biotech company (www.vidasym.com) and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym.

In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.

The Minnesota Anoka County Library has chosen her as a 2025 Featured Author. Learn more & connect:

Ruth’s Facebook         Ruth’s Twitter         Ruth’s Website

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Allure of Elegance (Paradise PA Mystery Book 3):

Luxury, lies, and danger in the unexpected places…

In tribute to Agatha Christie, this modern mystery series weaves together atypical tales set in the idyllic Amish country of Paradise, PA.

Two years ago, still haunted by the tragic events of September 11, Tina Sheng reluctantly served as a Christian summer camp counselor in Paradise. Now, she works as an insurance fraud investigator in nearby Lancaster and is pulled into a web of lies and luxury when a bold theft targets expensive designer items. Despite her training, she struggles with self-doubt and is swayed by the allure of the opulent world.

Tina’s company assigns her to look into the insurance claim. While she navigates the treacherous path between justice and desire, temptations taunt her. After a tragedy strikes a friend with whom she tries to share the gospel, her intensified search traps her in a secret network involving the mysterious Baroness Hermès, who specializes in procuring Birkin bags for wealthy clients.

Facing tough choices, can Tina break into a dangerous underground operation and emerge as a beacon of resilience?

Allure of Elegance (Paradise PA Mystery Book 3; mystery/suspense/thriller): atypical mystery tale in Amish Country by Whong, named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library. 

Interested in Ruth’s titles? Get your copy/copies now!

Allure of Elegance           Ruth’s Books

Come Back July 12th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!