tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52376789730296331362024-03-13T11:09:34.494-07:00busychopsticksMostly about Korean cuisine....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-2447212994753191782011-09-16T08:34:00.000-07:002011-09-23T10:52:51.770-07:00Green beans with soy bean hummus I would love to learn new techniques and perfect the skills. However, at times, I feel like to retreat myself from "being too much". That's when I take out a thick earthenware pot to cook rice and pay attention to the simplest and easiest things which I do everyday without thinking. It is just as valuable and rewarding as learning a difficult skill. I achieve infinite feeling of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-70492536855754909722011-09-05T17:23:00.000-07:002011-09-05T17:36:35.104-07:00Yeol-Moo summer noodle 열무김치비빔국수Summer is officially almost gone. I think the debate about "wearing white clothe after Labor day" is very funny. Although I don't care much about the proper dress code after Labor day, I do care about eating summer foods before summer becomes past. And Yeol-Moo-Gook-Soo is one the summer foods I have to eat timely. As some of you might already know from my previous blog post, I made some Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-1312861915182534602011-08-31T18:05:00.000-07:002011-09-01T17:44:28.730-07:00Cold soba noodle salad Try this salad for your next summer potluck. I will guarantee this will be one of your favorite summer time repertoires. It's easy to prepare, looks pretty and tastes delicious.
It is a versatile salad. You can use any kind salad vegetables you have in your refrigerator. I like to use use some spicy vegetables like radishes and arugulas with sweet tomatoes.
Prepare the salad Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-39464761499450297392011-08-28T14:04:00.000-07:002011-09-16T09:16:59.784-07:00Cold soy bean noodle (콩국수)
Soy bean noodle, (콩국수 [Kong-Guk-Su]) is accompanied with Yeol-Moo-Kimchi (열무김치).
I mixed soy beans with peanuts to make it even more nuttier.
The consistency is like heavy cream. It has to be really silky.
Don't forget to drink fresh warm soy bean milk (콩국) with a pinch of sea salt. mmmm-good!
Unfiltered soy bean milk (콩국) makes 4 serving
2 cups dried soy beans
1/2 peanuts
8 cups Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-82899100945137055042011-08-27T17:03:00.000-07:002011-08-29T11:18:17.011-07:00A day in SudburyI've been to Sudbury to visit our friends, more precisely friends of parents. The wife is an artist who works with clay. Her backyard is where her works of art and nature meet-her potteries and the clay arts mingle together harmoniously with the flowers, vegetables and fruits. She made a basket full of freshly picked vegetables for me.
The ripe melon is waiting to be Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-23128891654953607102011-08-22T20:23:00.000-07:002011-08-25T10:18:44.908-07:00식혜 ([shikhae], Korean malted punch)
Shikhae (식혜) is a cherished drink by Koreans. Koreans prefer light desserts to finish their meals. Shikhae is one of the most common desserts, often served with some fruits. Making Shikhae takes time, although time itself does the most of the work.
Malt flour (germinated cereal) is the main ingredient.
You need 2 cups malt flour.
Mix the malt flour with 10 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-51202662296604293092011-08-10T09:16:00.000-07:002011-08-11T14:11:00.770-07:00"Enter the Dragon" Hwei (sashimi) House in Jeju Island, KoreaI recently have been to Jeju Island for a vacation with my family and friends. I had an unforgettable meal at Yong-Chul-Hwei-Jib (용출횟집 : could be translated "Enter the dragon sashimi house"?) It is located near Yong-Du-Ahm (용두암: Dragon-Head-Rock) which is 10 minutes away from Jeju international airport by car. Indeed, formed by volcanic activity, the rock looks like a dragon Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-75394484260649618322011-08-07T07:03:00.000-07:002011-08-07T07:03:57.861-07:00shaved ice with red bean paste (팥빙수)If I had to choose just one food item from all my cravings from Korea, I would say it is Shave iced with red bean paste (팥빙수 [pat-bing-su]). This is basically made of four ingredients-shaved ice, condensed milk, red bean paste and sticky rice cake (떡[ddeuk]). I usually eat this three times a week, regardless of the season. Yes, even on the snowy days. The place called "Mill-top" is theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-46451224562304093762011-07-06T23:00:00.000-07:002011-07-07T15:38:07.713-07:00Cold soy bean noodle (콩국수)I have been to Boon-dahng which is not far from Seoul. A 30 minute-drive when traffic is not bad. My foodie friend who is a local there brought me to a place where you see just a few things on menu. They basically do Cold soy bean noodle (콩국수 [kong-guk-su]) and noodle soup ( 칼국수 [kal-guk-su] : direct translation is "kinfe noodle" which means hand-cut noodle.) They look so plain and simple, but itUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-72317562990368525762011-07-05T01:46:00.000-07:002011-07-05T01:46:58.298-07:00my current addictionsSomething sweet and salty, soft and chewy...Freshly baked Angpang's cream cheese-white bean paste buns.
Freshly baked sweet and salty cheddar cheese bagel balls.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-8341961088328830712011-07-04T06:10:00.000-07:002011-07-04T06:16:36.098-07:00Koreanized pastaI was happy to eat some Koreanized pastas-hot pot style (Jjigae 찌게)- in Seoul. They are somewhat soupy, spicy and very very hot. Seafood pasta (Frutti di mare)Paella. I was satisfied to find rice crust on the bottom.Noo-roongy-pasta in a hot earthenware has sizzling rice crust on the bottom. The rice crust has nicely browned and developed a chewy, crunch texture. The pasta is Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-42134953071840306802011-07-02T06:27:00.000-07:002011-07-02T06:27:47.156-07:00Artisee bakery in SeoulUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-61878498083803034932011-06-26T03:34:00.000-07:002011-06-26T03:46:49.807-07:00Seol-lung-tang (설렁탕)I had dinner at Duh-keun-jib ( means "bigger house"), yes, the place was huge and busy too. The major dish there is Seol-lung-tang. It is a basically boiling hot soup made with all sorts of beef products, including bones and ox tails. It is boiled many hours to reach a milky and rich consistency. Seol-lung-tang is served with some meat and noodles (somen type) in the soup with some Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-10082580463646964902011-06-24T22:27:00.000-07:002011-06-24T22:29:24.141-07:00supermarkets in Seoul sun dried fishfreshly baked walnut pans, which doesn't necessarily taste like walnutI like the one with sunny-side-up egg in the middlea common scene of supermarket in Seoul, very clean and organized these yeasty breads are fantastic, have bean paste filling inside one of the tasting tables-roated and caramelized duck breasts, yum!a showcase of traditional Korean banchan-Jeoneven Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-62156753249544891892011-06-24T17:42:00.000-07:002011-06-24T22:30:21.516-07:00food court in SeoulI've been to a food court in Hyundai department store which is in walking distance from my house this afternoon. Most of the big supermarkets and shopping malls have food courts in Korea. The food courts in Seoul is phenomenal! The selections are huge and trendy! I love to look around the show cases of patisseries and boulangeries. If you are lucky, you could do full course sampling, from Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-5005794499927446112011-06-22T15:12:00.000-07:002011-06-24T22:31:02.106-07:00things I love in KoreaI have been to a local supermarket ( not the traditional kind, which is even more fun) near my parents house in Seoul. I am always amazed to see refrigerator section here. The picture below shows "Just" Tofu section. We can find whole varieties of tofus, for any kinds of cooking or even fresh warm tofu if you are lucky. It is such a staple ingredient on Korean table that I can't think of any Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-46064430804596401622011-06-04T20:27:00.000-07:002011-06-09T15:39:47.580-07:00O ya in BostonIt was very fun to watch the chefs work. They were unbelievably organized and immaculate, something I can't learn....
Kumamoto oyster with watermelon pearls, cucumber mignoettetaste clean and delicate Hokkaido sea urchin & black river Ossetra caviarone bite melt in my mouth in no time Hamachi with spicy banana pepper mousseit was a interesting piece of sushi, so tasty! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-1469962790397216502011-03-27T07:58:00.000-07:002011-03-27T20:29:25.714-07:00tofu salad with radish and sproutsTofu making is my recent passion. Some people might say it is not worthy to spend so much time just to eat a block of tofu but I found it very pleasant, even therapeutic.
freshly made warm tofu is delicate and fragile
I just don't want to disturb its purity
tofu is subtly sweet,
smokiness of bonito flakes add a new demention to it
ingredient1 block salad quality tofu3 radishes/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-45942501468852473002011-03-24T11:07:00.000-07:002011-03-24T11:08:32.948-07:00forked blood orange iceAbout this time of year always brings me great joy as blood oranges come into season. I especially like their mysteriously intense flavor with hints of raspberry and grape. Making blood orange sorbet couldn't be more simple; juice blood oranges and sweeten with agave nectar. Sweeten to taste just a little bit beyond your preference if you were going to drink the sweetened juice as when the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-11718772321204289222011-03-22T12:58:00.000-07:002011-03-22T17:44:16.301-07:00pork belly ssam party at Hyunju's houseHyunju had promised us the unlimited refill of pork belly on her Bo-Ssam party invitation, and the promise was kept well.
lettuce-pork belly ssam with pickled radish, scallion salad, ssam-jang(fermented soy bean paste) and jalapeno
aged kimchi -pork belly ssam
pickled radish-pork belly ssam
Hyosun's pickled radish tasted sweet, sour and clean
simple scallion Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-91395127637984574962011-03-20T09:35:00.000-07:002011-03-20T11:06:37.478-07:00finger lickin' good Korean fried chickenKoreans consume enormous amount of this specific kind of fried chickens, yang-nyum chicken, during World Cup Soccer seasons. People usually get together and order fried chicken. The chicken vendors deliver the chicken to your house no matter where you live. While cheering up our team in front of TV, we drink beer and eat fried chicken with radish pickles. It's all sticky, gooey and messy. HoweverUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-32710087780334635532011-03-18T16:21:00.000-07:002011-03-22T16:27:40.767-07:00chicken Dak-gal-bi at Bokyung's houseI ate very decent Dak-gal-bi at Bokyung's house. The sweetness of yam makes good counter-balnace to the spicy chicken. It was so spicy that we needed lots of napkins.
layering the flavors
yam, cabbage, spicy chicken...
then onions, scallions, rice cakes ,wild sesame leaves and gim (Korean dried seaweed)
to finish, we fried plentyof rice with the left over sauce in the pan with chopped Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-50174089902443139922011-03-15T12:36:00.000-07:002011-03-17T10:31:56.034-07:00Passion fruit ice creamI think passion fruits and chocolates are match made in heaven. passion fruit ice cream is tangy, custardy and slightly flowerlydark chocolate ice cream is rich and intense2 parts of passion fruit ice cream ad 1 part of dark chocolate ice cream make good proportionI also sandwiched passion fruit ice cream with chocolate macarons shellsI found eating this is quite messy job, but somebody's gotta Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-76929827765467385672011-03-14T17:01:00.000-07:002011-03-21T16:57:39.290-07:00Bee-jee hot pot with pork bellyAfter straining soy milk from cooked soy bean-water, you will get some white grainy stuff. That is called Bee-jee (aka Okara, the picture can be found here). Bee-jee is known as a nutritious (rich in protein and fiber) and delicious ingredient. We can use Bee-jee in many ways, from savory dishes to desserts. It is well kept frozen in the refrigerator. So if you have left over Bee-jee, don't throwUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237678973029633136.post-88754848484958331222011-03-14T15:49:00.000-07:002011-03-20T17:02:59.292-07:00home-made TofuI grew up eating tofu from the street vendors in Korea. It was warm, pure and fragrant. Now, even in Korea, it's getting rare and rarer to find freshly made tofu. Although we can get a lot of varieties of good tofus in supermarkets, but not like freshly made kind. It doesn't have soul....as always, my first attempt was lucky the tofu was soft, creamy and fragrant
I started from scratch-making Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0