As a Thai chef, I've been making Tom Yum Soup for over twenty years now, tweaking the recipe to make it better and better. When I first sipped this incredible soup, I was overcome by the almost intoxicating flavors of lemongrass, garlic, lime, coconut milk and chili combined in a chicken stock base and topped up with shrimp. Lately I've been adding a few more vegetables that i find work beautifully in the soup and add even more flavor. If you like spicy, I recommend either fresh red chilies or getting yourself a bottle of chili oil and adding anywhere from a few drops to a few teaspoons. Or leave the chili out for a terrific mild Tom Yum. Once you've made this special Thai soup, I promise it will stay on your family favorite list forever.