House of Cards: Politics, Power, and BBQ Ribsfeatured
Hi long lost friends! Sorry I’ve been MIA lately. I’ve been buried under a House of Cards. Have you watched this? Don’t start unless you want to ignore social engagements until you’ve steamrolled through the entire season.
Sorry, this post isn’t about food. The characters in House of Cards prefer to sustain themselves on steady diet of power and late night smokes. And Freddy’s BBQ of course – the best in town.
Not to worry though, we will return to our regular programming soon!
For now, I’m going to continue shirking my responsibilities and sacrificing sleep for one. more. episode.
Maybe I’ll pull an all-nighter and prep a rack of ribs for breakfast.
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Home Is Where the Heart Isfeatured
The very first Valentine’s Day Hua and I spent together, he invited me over to his apartment and cooked for me for the first time. I still remember, he made me teryaki salmon and baby bok choy (yeah, knew he was a keeper then). We ate at his coffee table, sitting on big throw pillows, and tried to be coy as one does only a few months into a relationship.
We’ve certainly come a long way. We survived a cross-country relationship. Flew way past the nervous flirting stage and dove right into the good stuff. The lovey dovey-ness. The learning to communicate-ness. The never forgetting to cherish and appreciate one another-ness.
There is no one I enjoy sharing a delicious meal with more than my love. And no matter how much we enjoy going out to eat, there is always something special about staying at home and cooking for one another. After all, home is where the heart is.
For a special Valentine’s Day meal, we start with this irresistibly pretty dish I like to call Heart Beet Salad. It’s a dramatic, heart-shaped, layered Napoleon of beet slices and goat cheese. Blood orange and cara cara segments adorn this arugula salad, and toasted hazelnuts are the finishing touch.
For our main course, we’re bringing it back to salmon. Hua knew what he was doing back then. Salmon is a great special date night choice because it’s almost impossible to mess up. Because it’s naturally high in fat, it’s pretty forgiving if you accidentally overcook it. It also cooks really quickly, so let’s get to our side dish first: Braised Fennel with Pancetta.
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Homemade Nutella Soufflésfeatured
Valentine’s Day can be kitschy overkill. Still, there are some things that just never go out of style. Like chocolate. Sure, a box of chocolates is great, but you’re looking to impress, right? Step it up with Homemade Nutella Soufflés and bask in the adoration.
Soufflés are one of those dishes that sound fancy and intimidating, but they’re actually not too difficult. Best of all, they can be made ahead of time, so come dessert, it won’t matter if you’re a bottle of wine in, all you have to do is turn on the oven and pop them in (and set a timer…you know, in case you get carried away with your wooing).
This particular soufflé recipe goes the extra mile with homemade Nutella as the main ingredient. I made my first batch of this heavenly chocolate-hazelnut spread this past Christmas, and I must say, it has changed my life. No melting chocolate, no heating milk, or double boilers. Literally, this recipe is just six ingredients blended to smooth, creamy decadence.
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High Five Fridays: Weekly Meal Plan, Gung Hay Fat Choy!featured
Chinese New Year is a special time of year for us. It’s a time to celebrate with family and friends, and of course, EAT! Usher in a prosperous new year full of good fortune and plentifulness by making sure there is an abundance of good food on the table. No really, you are actually supposed to have so much food that there are leftovers because it’s good luck! Now that’s my kind of holiday.
These Chinese New Year recipes will have you starting the Year of the Snake off to a sssensational sssstart:
- Scallion Pancakes. These are a favorite of mine – crispy, flaky, and full of aromatic scallions. Impress your guests (or yourself) and try your hand at making these at home.
- Whole Steamed Sea Bass. Whole fish is a classic Chinese New Year dish because it is supposed to bring good luck and abundance from the beginning of the year all the way to the end, from “head to tail.”
- Jiao Zi. Dumplings are also good luck because they are said to resemble purses, thereby hopefully making it rain fortune and riches all year long! The pork and shrimp recipe here is a Hua family favorite.
- Homemade Dim Sum. While these may not necessarily be traditional Chinese New Year dishes, they are some of my favorite, and remind me of home (especially that Lo Bok Go). And in the end, that’s what it’s about right? Traditions, family, home. Plus, these dishes will definitely start your new year off on a delicious start. What’s more auspicious than that?
- TREAT YO SELF: Almond Cookies. These are a classic treat – crumbly and buttery, almost like a shortbread, but with that lovely almond aroma. My favorite way to enjoy these? With a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
More on Chinese New Year Recipes and Food Traditions:
- A Lucky Feast: Chinese New Year Foods & Significances
- [Video] My TV segment on Chinese New Year Traditions
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