Vietnamese dishes in thought

So the culinary adventure continues. A few months ago, I tried my hand at Banh Cuon. Being the first time ever, I was a little intimidated. Collecting all the necessary ingredients was only the first step, and usually the hardest part to cooking Vietnamese food. I roughly followed this recipe, but basically threw together the filling items, added fish sauce to taste, and followed the banh cuon batter mix's instructions on the bag. The filling turned out great and tasty (now I understand why Viet use ground pork in everything). The most difficult step by far was turning the banh cuon batter over in the pan. Otherwise, the steps weren't too bad and in the end we got to enjoy one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes.

Churning out banh cuon gave me the courage to try more dishes. Next on the list was Banh Xeo, the hubby's favorite. Once again, just getting all the essential ingredients was half the battle. I followed the recipe on the flour mix bag. This one is actually much easier to make than banh cuon, the hardest part here being getting the crepe nice and crispy. I'm no expert by any means, but the more oil, the more crispy (think deep-fried foods), though I'm not a fan of using lots of oil. So I ended up covering the pan with some cooking spray to prevent the crepe from sticking, and turning up the heat. This crisped it up decently, but for extra crisp, I put it in the toaster/convection oven for a few minutes to 1. keep it warm, and 2. did I mention how important the crisp is?? :) All in all, it was pretty good, though I would pre-cook the pork less next time so it doesn't overcook once I put it in the banh xeo. This one I wouldn't mind making from time to time, since it's much less labor intensive than banh cuon (though that is still my favorite!). If you're curious about the recipe, but don't want to run out just to look at a bag of the flour mix, check this recipe out (with great pics too).

And here's two more things I tried and liked (I have a big chunk of taro in my fridge right now for the next che batch).

Pandan Waffles-

the aroma of the pandan and coconut milk that
fills the kitchen is simply amazing

Che Khoai Mon-
taro dessert soup (another hubby favorite); it's the same as my
Che Bap recipe but replace the corn with cubed taro;
click on the name for the revised recipe

So what to try next?? :)

Food in thought

I don't know how many times I've thought that I really need to learn how to cook the food of my native country. The problem is Vietnamese food is one of the most complex cuisines, with no less than 10 ingredients needed to cook any given dish. I am not the type to have every ingredient on hand, nor want to drop by the store for one thing. But watching "Luke Nguyen's Vietnam" on the Cooking Channel motivated me to start cooking.

The first thing I tried was Banh Bao, which for those of you unfamiliar, is a steamed pork bun. I gotta say, the recipe I looked up and used was a flop - I should've known when they said to pre-cook the meat filling. I also didn't have any milk on hand for the dough (essential). But it didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would. Definitely need a take two on this one (might try this one).

Today I watched Luke's show where he made Che Bap, or a sweet corn dessert soup. His recipe makes a stockpot full, so I quartered it, decreased the amount of corn and added some taro-flavored tapioca balls (my result to the left; my modified recipe is below). Super easy, and turned out well! My first successfully made Che. Yay. Maybe I can get a handle on cooking the food of my culture after all. :)

Next up: Goi Du Du.







Che Bap

2 medium-sized ears of corn, kernels cut off, uncooked
1 cup dried yellow mung beans
1 can coconut milk (~14 oz)
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup instant tapioca balls (optional)
toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

Soak mung beans in water for 1 hour, then drain. Put coconut milk and mung beans in a pot, simmer for 20 minutes (do not boil, this will curdle the coconut milk). Add in corn and sugar (and tapioca if desired) and simmer for 10 more minutes. Let cool a bit. Serve in a bowl and garnish with toasted sesame seeds. :)

Beginnings in thought

12 years at the same thing. Is it possible to start something new after that long? I have much respect for the old days, when people held down a particular job for 30 years. At the same time, the progression of now is more me, more about changing interests, or just about finding the perfect gig. Is 12 years too long, too much of an investment already?

12 years can quickly turn into 30. If it's the right thing, what you always hoped for, 30 years goes by quickly. What if it's something you enjoy, but not a passion, and carries with it a lifetime of careful balances and intensity? The quote unquote "fun" jobs where artistic expression is the focus seem to bring a certain fulfillment anyone would be envious of. Beginnings there hold their own trials and tribulations, and difficulties of just getting a start. But it is done, how is it done, and is it always worth it...

12 to 30- hope by 30 it's been a life full of satisfaction, accomplishments, and pure enjoyment, for not just me, but everyone.


Here's a music video made by former UCSD students, who made videos in their spare time and decided to make it their full time thing, despite limited resources. This video is a great example of a beginning no one would question. Also for the artist, in a time when Asian singers haven't quite made it mainstream here, yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDTKAHk_T5k

Home in thought

Where do you call home? It took me a while to feel like I wasn't just a temporary visitor out here. You know that feeling you had in college, when you lived in random apartments, where the white walls and old mismatched furniture made it difficult to feel like home - it was just where you lived.

I felt like that, that is, until I took to painting a couple walls. I finally stopped using my umich address, and started settling in. Now we talk about staying. But something's still missing. So many sentences still end with 'when we go back.' It seems we have to make the same decision so many other transplants have to make. How can you not like California? People move on all the time, but is it the right decision for us? Regardless, deep down my heart is where I spent all those years growing into who I am today.

I may live in California, but I still call Michigan my home.

Music in thought

Music got me through my childhood. Good times or bad, there was always a tune that suited the occasion. Whether it be Boyz II Men or Vivaldi, I always had something to depend on. I remember unskillfully trying to figure out the 30-odd keyed synthesizer I had, and the fact that I always ran out of keys when playing it. I fiddled out the most elementary of songs on it, compositions Mozart would shake his head at. But regardless, those were some of the best times I had.

I am still easily awed by a good song, those so well-written it just makes you wonder. Right now, I'm fascinated by the works of Michael Giacchino, the songwriter for "LOST." Take a listen to "There's no place like home" and you'll notice two concurrent melodies, that together amazingly sound like relative harmonies.

Finding a good song means you'll never get bored of it on repeat. But there is something special about actually being a part of the music. The only thing better to listening to great music is actually playing it.

Life in thought

I'm not the first and I won't be the last to ponder the meaning of existence. Life seemed more uncertain as a child, with only dreams of how things would turn out. Now as an adult, dreams are there to be shaped and brought to life. But why, still, do so few of us have the ability to do just that? How many times will 'life' and the demands of society overtake how we spend our days? Consider yourself one of the few lucky ones if you can stop and think at least once each and every day that yes, you are indeed truly happy - with how your life has gone, and where it is going. The rest of us are left to figure it out on our own.

Oftentimes we let the fear of not achieving happiness guide us through life. If we can learn to let go, leave behind the worries, and just be, be a good husband, be a good wife, be a good daughter, be a good son, be a good citizen and just maybe we wouldn't have to worry anymore.

LOST in thought

Can't quite grasp the intensity the finale had on me. Such a thing of beauty. In a world where death is so feared, it takes a television show to literally show us that yes, death is inevitable, and no, it doesn't have to be scary. Just think, if life after death meant that those who you are meant to be with wait for you to join them, then death can be such a beautiful thing.

Most of us already know who those people will be, and this knowledge can't help but make you feel a certain inner peace. If this is telling us that what is most important in life is not what you do or what you have, but rather the relationships you cultivate, then most of us have life all wrong.

As I watched, flashbacks of my own life ran through my mind, thoughts that made me happy, sad, and thankful for where I am now. Then my life's questions unraveled, and I began to wonder if so far, have I done things right. But then I knew, something must have gone right, because I know there's at least one person I'm meant to be with in the end.