Every day after school, my mom would feed me the same thing: juk—Korean rice porridge—with kimchi and Spam. It was my afternoon snack of choice, a simple bowl I often opted for even over a McDonald’s Happy meal. I called my mom’s rice porridge “water-bap”—bap is Korean for “rice”—as it was a dish of merely…

Serves 4 For the Rice Porridge 1 cup short grain rice 4 1/2 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, plus 4 extra for garnish, stems removed 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 8 cups chicken stock (preferably homemade) To Serve 6 ounces roasted chicken meat, skinless and boneless, store-bought or leftovers 1/2 packed cup drained cabbage kimchi Pinch…