February 2010
2 posts
5 tags
Easy Breezy Meal
Gnocchi in Creamy Lobster Ricotta Sauce
There are nights when I come home exhausted to my core but the hungry beast in me still want something tasty, quick. Leftovers to the rescue! I’m the “variety type” so I rarely eat the same meal more than once within a short period of time. Privileged anyone? I know, I know. However, I never throw out perfectly edible leftovers....
5 tags
Lovin' My Roots
Fujianese Sweet Mashed Taro
1 Christmas, 2 New Year’s, and 1,224 hours of procrastination later, I am back. I got dangerously comfortable with not updating the blog. The holidays were a ready excuse but the real reason is that I was afraid to write, afraid of unable to write an interesting post. I know it sounds silly but this procrastinating perfectionist ghost of mine has always...
December 2009
1 post
6 tags
Got Shot by Christmas
Although my family has lived in the States for almost two decades by way of China, we are still “f.o.b.” - fresh off the boat - when it comes to celebrating Christmas. I don’t remember the last time my parents gave me a Christmas present. As someone who is unfamiliar with the family gathering/reunion aspect of Christmas, I find the whole Christmas “spirit” dominated...
November 2009
3 posts
5 tags
The Spell of the Macaron
My recent trip to Paris incited another food obsession - macarons. I dragged my friend Ari all over Paris, from one patisserie to another, in my quest to find the best… I just couldn’t get enough of ‘em.
Macaron is a French wafer pastry sandwich made of egg whites, almond powder, icing sugar, and sugar. Nowadays, macaron flavors range from the usual suspects like vanilla and...
7 tags
Dear Kabocha, I
Five Spice Braised Beef and Kabocha, Gnocchi in Chestnut Butter Sauce, and Sauteed Shimeji Mushrooms.
I love all things squash. Squash in general is such a versatile and complimentary ingredient. Its mild flavor and malleable texture make it a great choice to use in desserts like pies, muffins, Chinese dessert soups, and soufflés, as well as savories such as fritters and tempuras, raviolis,...
4 tags
The Pig and the Egg
CHINESE SALTED EGG AND GRILLED PORK SALAD
I found a bag of about a dozen brown eggs sitting on my desk at work yesterday. They were from my coworker Mr. Fang. Instead of the homemade cookies and banana breads that coworkers exchange at “regular” offices, we share homemade white-wine marinated chicken feet, pickled radish, and of course salted chicken eggs.
Salted eggs are...
October 2009
6 posts
5 tags
Pork the juice, please.
Grilled Pork Chops, Berry Confit, Baked Pistachio-crusted Potato Balls
Many of my cooking inspirations come from- leftovers. A jug of tart cherry juice with only 1 cup remaining has been sitting lonesomely in my fridge for quite some time. I finally decided to give it some love with my other love- p.o.r.k.
I rubbed the pork chops with ginger powder and dried thyme (would have used fresh...
7 tags
You can never Ba(h)n Mi
Roasted Lamb Bahn Mi.
I had some leftover pickled cucumber and lamb in my fridge and fresh cilantro from my CSA, and so it was decided: bahn mi time!
INGREDIENTS
Roasted S.E. Asian-Style Lamb (sliced)
Peanut butter
Roasted peanuts (crushed)
Cilantro leaves
Pickled cucumber (salt and lime or lemon juice, sliced)
French Baguette (Toasted)
Sriracha Hot Sauce (Optional)
ASSEMBLE
1....
5 tags
Roasted S.E. Asian-Style Lamb Chops
I used to be intimidated by meat. The process of handling meat, cleaning the pink wet cutting board, preparing the marinade was a nuisance to me. For as recent as a few months ago, I only cooked with vegetable. Vegetables were easy. There are no dripping juices. You just have to cut them and sautee, roast, grill, etc. But thanks to the cooking class at the French Culinary Institute , I now...
3 tags
3 tags
Food Glossary
Top to bottom:
Dried Jujube Red Date (Hoong Zao) : less wrinkles = more plump. (Even food are subject to ageism.) *Plumpness is not a concern if you are using it in a soup recipe.
Cane Sugar Bar (Hoong Bin Tan): made out of sugarcane and water. Usually labeled as “Brown Candy.”
Honey Date (Mi Zao): can be found in most Chinese grocery stores.
6 tags
Autumn Sweet Azuki Bean Dessert Soup
Ever since I was about yay big, the one thing I look forward to more than the main entrees when going to a Cantonese restaurant is the dessert soup. Arguably, it could be the reason I choose Cantonese restaurants over a dozen of other Chinese regional cuisines most of the time. Cantonese dessert soups come in all different forms, colors, shapes, faces, you name it. There’s ground peanut...