INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Add 5 ounces (142 g) of boneless pork loin that's been cut in -inch (6-mm) thick strips and 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of dark soy sauce to a bowl. Mix the two together well so the pork is fully coated and let the meat sit for 10 to 15 minutes. You can omit the pork from the soup if you want to make a vegetarian version. Add 4 small Chinese dried black mushrooms and 12 dried tree ear mushrooms to a large bowl or pot. Pour 3 cups (710 ml) of boiling water over the mushrooms, and let them soak for until they are softened, which should take approximately 30 minutes. You can usually find Chinese dried black mushrooms and dried tree ear mushrooms at Asian grocery stores. Make sure that the water completely covers the mushrooms. Use a large bowl or pot that has plenty of extra space because the tree mushrooms will expand significantly as they soak. While the mushrooms are soaking, turn them over every so often to ensure that they soften all over. After the mushrooms have softened, use a knife to remove the stems from the black mushrooms. Squeeze the mushrooms over the bowl to extract the excess liquid, and slice them thinly. Set them aside on a plate for the moment. If there are any hard portions of the black mushrooms, remove them with the knife. After you've removed the black mushrooms from the bowl, lift out the tree ear mushrooms. Use a knife to remove any hard portions, and set them on the plate with the black mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid. If the tree ear mushrooms are very large, you should cut them into bite-size pieces. Once you've removed the mushrooms, mix cup (59 ml) of the liquid that the mushrooms have soaked in with 1 tablespoons (12 g) of cornstarch in a small bowl. Whisk the two together until they're fully blended and smooth. Set aside the mixture for the moment.

SUMMARY: Toss the pork loin with the dark soy sauce. Soak the mushrooms in boiling water. Trim and squeeze the excess moisture from the black mushrooms. Cut any hard bits from the tree ear mushrooms. Combine some of the mushroom soaking liquid and the cornstarch.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Choose your favorite movies or television show. Find a free weekend and get your friends together for a spot of binge watching. In between viewings you can discuss what you love about the entertainment and they're your favorite. Make sure you have lots of food on hand. Snacks make a binge watching weekend more fun. Make sure to take breaks now and then to stretch or take a walk outside. Amuse yourselves watching a bad movie, especially a cult classic. You can also do this with a poorly written book. Take turns reading it out loud and see how far each person gets before they are laughing too hard to keep reading. You can even turn it into a game (a drinking game for those over the legal drinking age, or using chocolate/candy as prizes otherwise). Everyone will thank you. This is especially fun if you've been friends for a long time. Talk about things you did together a long time ago. Often your friends will remember things that you don't so you can exchange stories about things you did together. Try to find things from that time. Look for old notes you passed back and forth or a journal you wrote together. Maybe you made dolls, or played football together. The objects will help you recall more of the times you spent together. Invite your friends to come over to give each other manicures, facials, and try out new hairstyles and makeup looks. Mimic spa fare by serving your guests hot tea, fresh fruit, and water with cucumber slices and lemon. Play quiet, relaxing new age music in the background and light a few scented candles to create a relaxing atmosphere for your friends.

SUMMARY:
Have a movie marathon. Reminisce about old times. Host a spa day.