tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7724462189546561732024-03-14T01:15:58.870-07:00Living In, Out, and Aboutjnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772446218954656173.post-19838397910318116622014-05-25T12:40:00.001-07:002014-06-14T07:21:03.041-07:00In: Easy wrap lunch<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I had been packing sandwiches for lunch for a while and started wanting some more variety. But what could I do with all of the meat and cheese and other sandwich-y ingredients that I had already purchased? The solution: wraps.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 1: Gather your ingredients</span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EBR6cLN62P4/U4JHMPfi5TI/AAAAAAAAAVg/ovwut5rm9jw/s640/blogger-image-721430953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EBR6cLN62P4/U4JHMPfi5TI/AAAAAAAAAVg/ovwut5rm9jw/s400/blogger-image-721430953.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-tortilla</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-sauce (e.g., honey mustard, mustard, BBQ sauce, ranch, hot sauce)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-ham/turkey slices (optional and substitutable)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-cheese slices</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-lettuce</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-tomato</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-avocado</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-etc.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 2: Add ingredients to tortilla</span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zENnCxclAs8/U4JHMtqf02I/AAAAAAAAAVo/oZdxcsP57D8/s640/blogger-image-779091444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zENnCxclAs8/U4JHMtqf02I/AAAAAAAAAVo/oZdxcsP57D8/s320/blogger-image-779091444.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pTv2eQGMaMY/U4JHNdZZWoI/AAAAAAAAAVw/RMO_2d9PtnI/s640/blogger-image--1610385062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pTv2eQGMaMY/U4JHNdZZWoI/AAAAAAAAAVw/RMO_2d9PtnI/s320/blogger-image--1610385062.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Spread your sauce on the tortilla, and then add your other ingredients to the middle of the tortilla. I put the ham and cheese on first and then added the vegetables.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 3: Fold the tortilla into a wrap</span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cMTmiGT3dHg/U4JHK993aTI/AAAAAAAAAVY/CyDvtwBg7no/s640/blogger-image--1771128660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cMTmiGT3dHg/U4JHK993aTI/AAAAAAAAAVY/CyDvtwBg7no/s320/blogger-image--1771128660.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fold the two sides of the tortilla (that are not covered with ingredients) into the middle and skewer in place with a toothpick. Cut diagonally in half and serve.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Easy peasy way to add some variety to your lunch! Bon apetit!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*J*</span></div>
jnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772446218954656173.post-90926162690545322242014-04-27T12:39:00.001-07:002014-06-14T07:22:41.133-07:00In: Classic spaghetti and meatballs<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Growing up as a Korean American, my family didn't really have spaghetti and meatballs all that often. In fact, I can't recall ever making meatballs... But the boy wanted to make meatballs so here I am, figuring out how to make a good meatball. I found a recipe, tried it once, and decided to provide my modified instructions. If you want to see the original recipe,click <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Meatball-Nirvana/?prop24=hn_slide2_Meatball-Nirvana&evt19=1">here</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 1: Gather your ingredients</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7DbI_PN6T4g/U2_hCgk_epI/AAAAAAAAAUA/Vv6JdH9YY9c/s640/blogger-image-14849223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7DbI_PN6T4g/U2_hCgk_epI/AAAAAAAAAUA/Vv6JdH9YY9c/s400/blogger-image-14849223.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1 lb lean ground beef</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1/2 tsp salt</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1/2 small onion (or about 1/2 cup), diced</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1/2 tsp garlic powder</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-3/4 tsp oregano</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1 dash hot sauce</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1 1/2 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1/3 c milk</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1/4 c grated Parmesan</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1/2 c Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (or add 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-1 egg</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 2: Prep the oven</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 3: Mix ingredients</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pjwqMtAqDds/U2_hGMx9nII/AAAAAAAAAUg/ZxXp7j4kvuE/s640/blogger-image--1605677680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pjwqMtAqDds/U2_hGMx9nII/AAAAAAAAAUg/ZxXp7j4kvuE/s200/blogger-image--1605677680.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yGoj1WkDFFQ/U2_hKtvufNI/AAAAAAAAAUw/yGP49tMsQ4g/s640/blogger-image--1209344113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yGoj1WkDFFQ/U2_hKtvufNI/AAAAAAAAAUw/yGP49tMsQ4g/s200/blogger-image--1209344113.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
In a large bowl, mix together the beef, salt, onion, garlic powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and Worchestershire sauce.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F9AJbnuBdXY/U2_hEmmRWaI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/QblpBlIvJes/s640/blogger-image--1880727358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F9AJbnuBdXY/U2_hEmmRWaI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/QblpBlIvJes/s200/blogger-image--1880727358.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Add and mix in the milk, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-068dmCPRGE4/U2_hFeZ2-JI/AAAAAAAAAUY/FtXs6zjgUYI/s640/blogger-image--1500680088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-068dmCPRGE4/U2_hFeZ2-JI/AAAAAAAAAUY/FtXs6zjgUYI/s200/blogger-image--1500680088.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I also added in an egg to hold the meatballs together.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 4: Form the meatballs</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VqbaTXCoKOU/U2_hJ8i5ryI/AAAAAAAAAUo/utRi4KAP5cc/s640/blogger-image-1445220902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VqbaTXCoKOU/U2_hJ8i5ryI/AAAAAAAAAUo/utRi4KAP5cc/s320/blogger-image-1445220902.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">U</span>sing your hands, two spoons, or an ice cream scooper (make sure to wash thoroughly if you use the scooper!), create your meatballs, mine ended up being about 2" in diameter, but make then whatever size you prefer.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 5: Bake</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-80dwNhJGqI4/U2_hDoGzGKI/AAAAAAAAAUI/3F451w2SEqM/s640/blogger-image-217158896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-80dwNhJGqI4/U2_hDoGzGKI/AAAAAAAAAUI/3F451w2SEqM/s320/blogger-image-217158896.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Put the meatballs on a baking sheet or in a baking dish. I chose to drench mine in some pasta sauce so those tomato juices would get absorbed into the meatballs. Bake the meatballs for approximately 20-25 minutes, checking to make sure they are not pink in the middle. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 6: Serve</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oImd2PnghUo/U2_h9SL0xYI/AAAAAAAAAU4/zHl_k85N8ow/s640/blogger-image--180308708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oImd2PnghUo/U2_h9SL0xYI/AAAAAAAAAU4/zHl_k85N8ow/s320/blogger-image--180308708.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Serve atop a bed of spaghetti and pasta sauce or really any other type of pasta! You can also serve them with some mashed potatoes, mac 'n cheese, or polenta. Try it, and let me know if you have any suggestions!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Enjoy!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*J*</span></div>
jnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772446218954656173.post-89414819441299466342014-04-03T18:41:00.004-07:002014-11-02T18:01:09.574-08:00In: Minty ganachey brownies<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After a two month hiatus (caused by a busy work schedule + 2 week vacation), I'm back on Blogger. And I'm back with a bang.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After reading this post, you'll either (1) love me for introducing you to a delicious dessert recipe, or (2) curse me for all the cavities you've gotten from baking and eating too many of these.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Minty ganachey brownies, or as <a href="http://www.momontimeout.com/">MomOnTimeOut </a>calls them "<a href="http://www.momontimeout.com/2012/03/chocolate-mint-brownies-recipe/">Mint Chocolate Brownies</a>" are a quite heavenly dessert that will guarantee happy taste buds and aching teeth. I basically followed the recipe linked above, so feel free to check out the original site as well.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Step 1: Gather your ingredients</b></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Du1huQFN55g/Uz4Jr0B5ilI/AAAAAAAAAR8/w12GbN8u6QI/s640/blogger-image-1226355354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Du1huQFN55g/Uz4Jr0B5ilI/AAAAAAAAAR8/w12GbN8u6QI/s400/blogger-image-1226355354.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R-mJ2FJPxkg/Uz4JowSzY6I/AAAAAAAAARY/GYdiF4CeN1o/s640/blogger-image-955854834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R-mJ2FJPxkg/Uz4JowSzY6I/AAAAAAAAARY/GYdiF4CeN1o/s400/blogger-image-955854834.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Brownie:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">½ cup butter (unsalted, chopped)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">4 oz semisweet chocolate (chopped or chips)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">¼</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> c Andes chocolate (chopped or baking chips)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 ¼ c sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 tsp vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">½ </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">tsp peppermint extract</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 eggs (room temp)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">½ </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">c all purpose flour</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">¼ tsp salt </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Mint frosting:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">½ </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">cup butter (unsalted, softened)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 c confectioners sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 Tbsp water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">½ </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">tsp peppermint extract</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3-4 drops green food coloring</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Chocolate Ganache:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 c heavy whipping cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 c semisweet chocolate (chopped or chips)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">¼</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> c Andes chocolate (chopped) [optional]</span></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Step 2: Prepare the brownie layer</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Meanwhile, line an 8x8 or 13x9 pan with aluminum foil. Then, start working on the brownie mix.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O9cCGKSXMfk/Uz4JqoWBqaI/AAAAAAAAARw/os2KDrqobkc/s640/blogger-image--430281299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O9cCGKSXMfk/Uz4JqoWBqaI/AAAAAAAAARw/os2KDrqobkc/s320/blogger-image--430281299.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mam2f24LApU/Uz4JpXJ6B1I/AAAAAAAAARg/-2SBmcw_RtI/s640/blogger-image-1344718627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mam2f24LApU/Uz4JpXJ6B1I/AAAAAAAAARg/-2SBmcw_RtI/s320/blogger-image-1344718627.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />Use a double boiler (or metal bowl that sits on top of a pot of water) to melt the butter and chocolates.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oZktXfPFTVk/Uz4JrZou8AI/AAAAAAAAAR4/XGm_X0gXsEU/s640/blogger-image--44103225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oZktXfPFTVk/Uz4JrZou8AI/AAAAAAAAAR4/XGm_X0gXsEU/s320/blogger-image--44103225.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8YYW8FpuXuQ/Uz4Jp8DXWmI/AAAAAAAAARo/ACvXueeX5VQ/s640/blogger-image--643357898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8YYW8FpuXuQ/Uz4Jp8DXWmI/AAAAAAAAARo/ACvXueeX5VQ/s320/blogger-image--643357898.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Remove from the stove and mix in the extracts, sugar, and eggs. Then add the flour and salt, mixing until smooth.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qqoT79PD2ng/Uz4KijLRgMI/AAAAAAAAASg/fKhhQIsDFaY/s640/blogger-image-114526237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qqoT79PD2ng/Uz4KijLRgMI/AAAAAAAAASg/fKhhQIsDFaY/s320/blogger-image-114526237.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pour the mix into the lined pan and bake the brownies for about 25 minutes or until set. Set aside on a cooling rack or in the refrigerator until the brownies are cooled down.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Step 3: Prepare the mint layer</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jh7XG0rDMT4/Uz4KgiOTqBI/AAAAAAAAASI/JdJB4fWHwqM/s640/blogger-image--1181820306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jh7XG0rDMT4/Uz4KgiOTqBI/AAAAAAAAASI/JdJB4fWHwqM/s320/blogger-image--1181820306.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Put softened butter in a mixing bowl and whip (I hand-whipped with a spatula) until the butter is soft and airy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PisjBMGcR0E/Uz4KhCNiF0I/AAAAAAAAASQ/V-zJcmE6MEY/s640/blogger-image--206747154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PisjBMGcR0E/Uz4KhCNiF0I/AAAAAAAAASQ/V-zJcmE6MEY/s320/blogger-image--206747154.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Add the remaining ingredients, stirring until fully mixed in.</span><br />
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gOQQlI7KWz8/Uz4KjPZ9sSI/AAAAAAAAASo/lYRuc7K4nTo/s640/blogger-image--271157199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gOQQlI7KWz8/Uz4KjPZ9sSI/AAAAAAAAASo/lYRuc7K4nTo/s320/blogger-image--271157199.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Spread the mint frosting on the cooled brownies. Place pan back in the refrigerator to cool.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Step 4: Prepare the ganache layer</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a59BllFkFRg/Uz4Kh5F-_cI/AAAAAAAAASY/0NksHSTwJQ0/s640/blogger-image-461958795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a59BllFkFRg/Uz4Kh5F-_cI/AAAAAAAAASY/0NksHSTwJQ0/s320/blogger-image-461958795.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Simmer the whipping cream (this may take a while, but make sure to keep an eye on it to avoid boiling or burning the cream!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zYiVYUbdBGc/Uz4LCHpJl7I/AAAAAAAAAS4/So6WdTxmIM8/s640/blogger-image--199757251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UEZmttwuJhw/Uz4LCkLGFtI/AAAAAAAAATA/jEJUXboW494/s640/blogger-image--2066604426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UEZmttwuJhw/Uz4LCkLGFtI/AAAAAAAAATA/jEJUXboW494/s1600/blogger-image--2066604426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UEZmttwuJhw/Uz4LCkLGFtI/AAAAAAAAATA/jEJUXboW494/s320/blogger-image--2066604426.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zYiVYUbdBGc/Uz4LCHpJl7I/AAAAAAAAAS4/So6WdTxmIM8/s1600/blogger-image--199757251.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zYiVYUbdBGc/Uz4LCHpJl7I/AAAAAAAAAS4/So6WdTxmIM8/s320/blogger-image--199757251.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Put the chocolate in a mixing bowl. Add the whipping cream and mix until smooth.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jxRKvE8NCgk/Uz4LBZfSOVI/AAAAAAAAASw/sRPyR87A6nU/s640/blogger-image-448500069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jxRKvE8NCgk/Uz4LBZfSOVI/AAAAAAAAASw/sRPyR87A6nU/s320/blogger-image-448500069.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s3VbU9znCmw/Uz4LDRn31rI/AAAAAAAAATI/w8cQQasv-Tk/s640/blogger-image-1324373199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s3VbU9znCmw/Uz4LDRn31rI/AAAAAAAAATI/w8cQQasv-Tk/s320/blogger-image-1324373199.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Let the ganache cool down for about 15 minutes. Then pour the ganache on top of the mint frosting + brownies.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QS_QXIm59p8/Uz4LENyDCQI/AAAAAAAAATQ/CVm0vwaNW1Q/s640/blogger-image-1793220112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QS_QXIm59p8/Uz4LENyDCQI/AAAAAAAAATQ/CVm0vwaNW1Q/s1600/blogger-image-1793220112.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Let the ganache set for about 5 minutes. Then feel free to sprinkle the extra Andes mint chocolate on your minty ganachey brownies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Enjoy! And don't share too much, or else you'll be sorry when they're all gone!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*J*</span></div>
</div>
jnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772446218954656173.post-80652873224897593222014-01-19T10:56:00.001-08:002014-04-02T20:28:47.657-07:00In: Butter Chicken Curry with Rice and Spinach<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The boyfriend and I made this low-FODMAP butter chicken curry recipe, and it was quite good. We made a couple of modifications by just tasting and adding things, but the recipe was a good base. A few notes:</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(1) We didn't have cardamom pods, so we substituted the 1tsp of cardamom with 1/2tsp of cinnamon and 1/2tsp of nutmeg.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(2) Our dish turned out looking redder than in the linked recipe, so you may want to play around with the amount of tomato you put in</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(3) The linked recipe suggests marinating the chicken overnight--we weren't patient enough so we just let it marinate for 20 minutes.</span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Check out the original recipe <a href="http://www.fodmapfun.com/butter-chicken-curry-low-fodmap-recipe/">here</a>.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 1: Gather your ingredients</span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mSWR3DMU9Ic/Utwfl3V0f3I/AAAAAAAAAPo/3tbKNAVQ8SQ/s640/blogger-image--1850145325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mSWR3DMU9Ic/Utwfl3V0f3I/AAAAAAAAAPo/3tbKNAVQ8SQ/s320/blogger-image--1850145325.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 chicken breasts (or 4 tenders)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">5 roma tomatoes (or 500g of any other tomato, fresh or canned)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">5cm ginger</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 jalapeño</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">160ml coconut milk (we used the whole can instead)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2tsp nutmeg</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3Tbsp lemon juice</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1tsp cinnamon (1/2tsp for the marinade, 1/2tsp for the curry)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2tsp cumin</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1tsp chili powder</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3tsp coriander</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3Tbsp olive oil (1Tbsp for the marinade, 2Tbsp for the curry)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1tsp black pepper</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2tsp salt (we used 2tsp but thought it tasted too salty--I suggest putting in less and maybe adding more later)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 2: Prepare the chicken</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Combine the the marinade spices (lemon juice, 1/2tsp cinnamon, cumin, chili powder, coriander, 1Tbsp olive oil, black pepper, salt) in a medium-sized bowl.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s-cl504d1VE/UtwfmirYigI/AAAAAAAAAPw/ns1ZtIbQi90/s640/blogger-image-1076780364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s-cl504d1VE/UtwfmirYigI/AAAAAAAAAPw/ns1ZtIbQi90/s200/blogger-image-1076780364.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Then, cut up the chicken into bite-size pieces and add to the marinade.</span><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-38wc9FhBOf4/Utwfk9hEWwI/AAAAAAAAAPg/ju8qyRnD3b0/s640/blogger-image-1727349659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-38wc9FhBOf4/Utwfk9hEWwI/AAAAAAAAAPg/ju8qyRnD3b0/s200/blogger-image-1727349659.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Marinate for as long as you can/want, but either way, make sure to cover and put in the fridge.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 3: Begin preparing the curry sauce</span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Note: The instructions in the linked recipe were a little unclear about the order of these steps. I've laid it out a bit more clearly.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Before you start preparing the curry sauce, set the oven to 200degrees. You'll be using it soon.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5GKz3qUHk8U/UtwfjZWgZwI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/ZBz2CfcOo4Y/s640/blogger-image--1863032228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5GKz3qUHk8U/UtwfjZWgZwI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/ZBz2CfcOo4Y/s200/blogger-image--1863032228.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So first things first, chop up the tomatoes, jalapeño, and ginger (Note: you may want to remove the seeds from the jalapeño before chopping it up, but if you like it super spicy, you may dare to leave them in!) The vegetables don't need to be chopped finely--the blender will do that for you later.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7D2TouyvWAI/UtsfPudWUwI/AAAAAAAAAOk/tdEnAohOSms/s640/blogger-image--2063883763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7D2TouyvWAI/UtsfPudWUwI/AAAAAAAAAOk/tdEnAohOSms/s200/blogger-image--2063883763.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cook the vegetables down in a large saucepan using the remaining 2Tbsp olive oil. Here I fudged the recipe a bit--I accidentally added the coconut milk before blending the cooked vegetables. Either way, you basically need to cook down the vegetables (in olive oil only or in the coconut milk) until they are pulpy. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 4: Bake the chicken</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">While the vegetables are cooking on the stove, you should put your chicken in the oven. It only needs to cook for about 12-15 minutes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UIGUL70oOdA/UtsfOgIPEoI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/GOcwqkkS02g/s640/blogger-image--637264443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UIGUL70oOdA/UtsfOgIPEoI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/GOcwqkkS02g/s200/blogger-image--637264443.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 5: Finish cooking the curry sauce</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4_HD_Ze-Pwo/UtwfnZF9R6I/AAAAAAAAAP4/QDv2cL8V65U/s640/blogger-image--1741905184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4_HD_Ze-Pwo/UtwfnZF9R6I/AAAAAAAAAP4/QDv2cL8V65U/s200/blogger-image--1741905184.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Once the vegetables are cooked down, let it cool down a little and then throw them in the blender until there are few to no chunky pieces. Return the blended vegetable mixture to the saucepan.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1G3pkhF6NBA/UtsfQPms6FI/AAAAAAAAAOs/qCDSG2EVCss/s640/blogger-image--1901844608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1G3pkhF6NBA/UtsfQPms6FI/AAAAAAAAAOs/qCDSG2EVCss/s200/blogger-image--1901844608.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At this point, if you haven't added the coconut milk, please do so. Also add the remaining 1/2tsp nutmeg and 1/2tsp cinnamon to the saucepan.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6xgShfz3dsU/UtsfOOkU4sI/AAAAAAAAAOM/jpkRtzeC-zQ/s640/blogger-image-1087986760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6xgShfz3dsU/UtsfOOkU4sI/AAAAAAAAAOM/jpkRtzeC-zQ/s200/blogger-image-1087986760.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you've timed it right, the chicken will have cooked for about 12-15 minutes at this point, so you can add that to the sauce now as well.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gMeUu1ymLls/UtwfkWNw1VI/AAAAAAAAAPY/Rui_dTujCSw/s640/blogger-image--205264470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gMeUu1ymLls/UtwfkWNw1VI/AAAAAAAAAPY/Rui_dTujCSw/s200/blogger-image--205264470.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Let everything simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 6: Enjoy!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Serve with some rice or other sides. We quickly made some spinach with almonds and dried cranberries.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_1X5lofW3hc/UtsfPEIWeDI/AAAAAAAAAOY/8i5_24Lkk38/s640/blogger-image-412823254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_1X5lofW3hc/UtsfPEIWeDI/AAAAAAAAAOY/8i5_24Lkk38/s200/blogger-image-412823254.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is a quick and easy side: just wilt a bunch of spinach in some olive oil, and add chopped almonds and some dried cranberries (or raisins). That's all there is to it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aIMLrck8Lck/UtwlC3GbXHI/AAAAAAAAAQY/ebDt6_fkR-U/s640/blogger-image--574683641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aIMLrck8Lck/UtwlC3GbXHI/AAAAAAAAAQY/ebDt6_fkR-U/s200/blogger-image--574683641.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bon appétit!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*J*</span></div>
</div>
jnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772446218954656173.post-51130582120272528682014-01-13T19:49:00.001-08:002014-01-24T13:48:04.505-08:00Out: Dinner and a movie ("Her" and Absolute Noodle)This post is a bit late, but I wanted to share about my dinner and a movie night with the boyfriend.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We caught the 3pm showing of the movie "Her" at E Street Cinema (cool theatre in downtown DC that shows indie films and serves beer!). The movie was quite entertaining, albeit awkward and inappropriate for kids. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it's basically about a guy and his unconventional girlfriend in futuristic Los Angeles. Something I noticed in the movie that I thought was funny is that all of the men's pants are worn really high...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyways, after the movie, we went to Absolute Noodle, a Thai noodle place in Chinatown. We checked in on Yelp and got free veggie spring rolls:</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zizC10E1fG0/UtSz1RL386I/AAAAAAAAAN0/KCY9U27nj_M/s640/blogger-image-1665379969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zizC10E1fG0/UtSz1RL386I/AAAAAAAAAN0/KCY9U27nj_M/s200/blogger-image-1665379969.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
which were delicious. The outer layer was super crispy and not greasy, and the inside filling was piping hot and flavorful. I got the Pad Thai with beef (recommended by the waiter):</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OktUwO8d8P0/UtSz03x7cqI/AAAAAAAAANs/WFyTEaSxLGo/s640/blogger-image--1715028252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OktUwO8d8P0/UtSz03x7cqI/AAAAAAAAANs/WFyTEaSxLGo/s200/blogger-image--1715028252.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
and the boyfriend got the lemongrass soup with chicken:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9LaC2NknIBQ/UtSz1wJB7HI/AAAAAAAAAN8/qTaXVsZS6Qs/s640/blogger-image-775263200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9LaC2NknIBQ/UtSz1wJB7HI/AAAAAAAAAN8/qTaXVsZS6Qs/s200/blogger-image-775263200.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I usually don't feel too strongly about Pad Thai, but I would go back there just for the dish! I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">won't profess that it's the best thing in the world, but </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">it's great to find a decent low-/average-cost restaurant that serves pretty decent food, e</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">specially in "Chinatown," which is full of chain restaurants (e.g., McDonald's, Chipotle, Nando's, Chop't, California Tortilla).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Overall, it was a successful date night (that ended with a trip to the grocery store--another one of my favorite places)! </span></div>
jnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772446218954656173.post-27325090546197796612014-01-06T21:19:00.001-08:002014-01-07T14:47:58.254-08:00In: DIY summer rolls<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tonight I made one of my favorite "DIY" meals--summer rolls. If you don't know what a summer roll, it is like a lettuce wrap but with a rice paper wrap. I'll show you what I mean.</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 1: Gather your ingredients (Note: yields 2 servings).</span></b></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d9VMGzg3zhI/UsuOc2aPZqI/AAAAAAAAAMo/p7H72eEWVBI/s640/blogger-image--590419492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d9VMGzg3zhI/UsuOc2aPZqI/AAAAAAAAAMo/p7H72eEWVBI/s320/blogger-image--590419492.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You can really put whatever you want in these summer rolls. If you're lacking the inspiration for your first attempt, here is my list.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ingredients:</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 chicken breasts, shredded or chopped</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 carrot, thinly sliced or julienned</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 cucumber, julienned</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 bell pepper, julienned</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 avocado</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 cup spinach</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rice paper</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rice noodles</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sweet chili sauce (or ponzu sauce, if you prefer salty over sweet & spicy)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I sometimes add some other interesting ingredients, like apple, mango, crab meat, cooked shrimp, bean sprouts, and cilantro. I also prefer getting rotisserie chicken instead of cooking the chicken, but the store didn't have any so I had to improvise.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 2: Prepare your ingredients.</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The boyfriend cooked the chicken with some soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. These aren't absolutely necessary since you'll have the chili sauce, but it does give the chicken more flavor!</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j9CpXjg3jUU/UsuObALCWLI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/zvP_Gtx5giw/s200/blogger-image--1297138489.jpg" width="200" /> <img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2NcbN2j4AJ8/UsuOeI72PgI/AAAAAAAAAM4/6TGc3bbXpV8/s200/blogger-image-405313301.jpg" width="200" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I also started soaking the rice noodles. I typically soak them for 10 minutes, but you can soak for as long or little as you'd like, based on how al dente you like your noodles.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vEq1oyBdz44/UsuOYBIB4EI/AAAAAAAAALg/De7G5hlwQsQ/s200/blogger-image-1465307574.jpg" width="150" /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the meantime, I chopped the vegetables. If you don't know how to cut an avocado, please read on. If you do, skip ahead to Step 3!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I decided to include a quick avocado cutting tutorial. I was inspired to do so after seeing my mom try to cut one. She peeled the skin and tried to scrape off as much of the meat as possible. Don't do that! Instead, cut the avocado (skin on) in half longways.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hUDYLSJ0M7o/UsuOalBei_I/AAAAAAAAAMI/XVLZoNkFMU0/s200/blogger-image--91000906.jpg" width="200" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Then, twist the two halves apart. (Yes, I know. My avocado wasn't super fresh, but it was still good!)</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_0_USgAEwR0/UsuOaBi5dVI/AAAAAAAAAMA/G5IUADEAr9U/s200/blogger-image--1408133832.jpg" width="200" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now, stick the knife in the avocado seed. The easiest way to do this is do an axe-like chop into the seed.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--RodeeUTUtI/UsuOby69x9I/AAAAAAAAAMY/vMe1kSpraY0/s200/blogger-image--256806243.jpg" width="150" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Twist the seed out with the knife.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rEyoAE6dedk/UsuOfcr5d9I/AAAAAAAAANI/54jb74-rXr8/s200/blogger-image--534961884.jpg" width="150" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now, all that's left is to get the meat out. I like to cut longways for, essentially, avocado strips. But you can also cube the avocado or just scoop it all out with a spoon if you want a big piece of avocado!</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ubg39pXFYmE/UsuOZvDK-nI/AAAAAAAAAL4/OVyJOHQcIEw/s640/blogger-image--839033440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ubg39pXFYmE/UsuOZvDK-nI/AAAAAAAAAL4/OVyJOHQcIEw/s200/blogger-image--839033440.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 3: Serve and eat!</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After preparing all of the ingredients, I set them out in separate little bowls.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0a_t49BQs4k/UsuOewtdbnI/AAAAAAAAANA/CyuzFPbRg04/s640/blogger-image--1752437281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0a_t49BQs4k/UsuOewtdbnI/AAAAAAAAANA/CyuzFPbRg04/s320/blogger-image--1752437281.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You'll only want to prepare your rice paper immediately before preparing each individual roll. Don't prepare them in advance, or they'll get too sticky and rip apart. Preparing them is easy. Just have a large bowl of warm water set aside, and immerse the rice paper for 5 seconds. The paper may seem too stiff, but it will have softened by the time you fill the roll.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fill the roll with whatever ingredients you'd like, placing everything in a line from one end of the rice paper to the other. Don't put too much in, or else it may not wrap!</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gzxYP-N66ws/UsuOYne9asI/AAAAAAAAALk/6SdeXm0Nwoo/s640/blogger-image-793749951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gzxYP-N66ws/UsuOYne9asI/AAAAAAAAALk/6SdeXm0Nwoo/s200/blogger-image-793749951.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Then, close up the roll by taking one side of the paper (where you don't have a pile of ingredients) and pull it up over the ingredients in the center. Repeat with the opposite side, sticking the two sides together. Then just fold up the open ends.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DVKTZo66sus/UsuOdqY-k-I/AAAAAAAAAMw/8kSsI-ybr1I/s640/blogger-image-387600887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DVKTZo66sus/UsuOdqY-k-I/AAAAAAAAAMw/8kSsI-ybr1I/s200/blogger-image-387600887.jpg" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6pKW2J1nSXQ/UswDF8Dte7I/AAAAAAAAANY/aK7zALFiSwU/s640/blogger-image--1755648012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6pKW2J1nSXQ/UswDF8Dte7I/AAAAAAAAANY/aK7zALFiSwU/s200/blogger-image--1755648012.jpg" width="150" /></a> <img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VcMRn0jecbM/UsuOYyVdokI/AAAAAAAAALw/ZyVt5T9HSj0/s200/blogger-image-222283446.jpg" width="150" /></span><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6pKW2J1nSXQ/UswDF8Dte7I/AAAAAAAAANY/aK7zALFiSwU/s640/blogger-image--1755648012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DVKTZo66sus/UsuOdqY-k-I/AAAAAAAAAMw/8kSsI-ybr1I/s640/blogger-image-387600887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There you have it! A DIY summer roll. Enjoy!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*J*</span></div>
jnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772446218954656173.post-47330914547592439012014-01-05T20:31:00.000-08:002014-01-05T20:31:30.341-08:00In: Oatmeal banana pancakes<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My boyfriend has been on a low FODMAP diet, so my recipe tutorials will generally be FODMAP-free (at least, for the time-being). He found <a href="http://cookieandkate.com/2012/banana-oat-pancakes/">this banana oat pancake recipe</a> from <a href="http://cookieandkate.com/">COOKIE+kate</a> that he wanted to try, and I decided to give it a go. I was a bit skeptical because it didn't require any milk, but the pancakes were actually pretty delicious! I also was able to test out the new cast iron pan that I got for Christmas. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I followed the recipe to-the-T. Here are my personal pictures of the recipe and my thoughts/results:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Step 1: Get your ingredients and supplies together. (Note: yields 6 four-inch diameter pancakes)</b></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUjDM4gU5_c/Usovq9QjTgI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/GwneEKB9YkM/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+12+11+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUjDM4gU5_c/Usovq9QjTgI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/GwneEKB9YkM/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+12+11+AM.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ingredients</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3 small bananas (~9 ounces)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 tablespoons butter, melted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 tablespoon lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 teaspoon maple syrup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 cup oat flour (I'll show you how to make this later)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">½ teaspoon baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">½ teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">½ teaspoon ground cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Supplies</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">cast iron pan (not required, but great for consistent cooking)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">blender/mixer/grinder (for the oat flour)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 2: Combine the wet ingredients.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I mashed the bananas...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EHXTk0Kmj9w/UsovqhYkGEI/AAAAAAAAAKM/-7T5oOwLFbY/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+04+14+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EHXTk0Kmj9w/UsovqhYkGEI/AAAAAAAAAKM/-7T5oOwLFbY/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+04+14+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">...and then mixed in the other wet ingredients (lemon juice, maple syrup, melted butter), blending in the eggs last. Set this bowl aside.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL0dh-5X0fI/Usovq0HspUI/AAAAAAAAAKU/MhsbJs-HHTA/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+17+55+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL0dh-5X0fI/Usovq0HspUI/AAAAAAAAAKU/MhsbJs-HHTA/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+17+55+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 3: Combine the dry ingredients.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The store didn't carry any oat flour (and I didn't know how much I would use it), so I bought some oatmeal and made my own oat flour. It was really easy. Basically, I just ground up the oats in my Magic Bullet (I love my MB), and voilà--oat flour.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lz9x6G-1CVw/Usovu7VB5eI/AAAAAAAAAKs/xHIsjGasHwc/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+18+27+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHI69P7ROG8/UsovugO0-dI/AAAAAAAAAKk/BZt-4jBE0N4/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+18+08+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHI69P7ROG8/UsovugO0-dI/AAAAAAAAAKk/BZt-4jBE0N4/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+18+08+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Once that was ready, I mixed in the other dry ingredients (baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg) in a medium-sized bowl. I used my flat-head whisk for this, although I think they're typically used for whisking sauces.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZ1B4PNh25g/Usovu3c6LTI/AAAAAAAAAKo/OX57nFepUNM/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+23+41+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZ1B4PNh25g/Usovu3c6LTI/AAAAAAAAAKo/OX57nFepUNM/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+23+41+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 4: Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I made a well (basically make a volcano shape with the mix) and added the wet mixture, pouring the wet mixture into the center of the well and then mixing everything together (Note: COOKIE+kate suggest that you <u>not</u> overmix the batter).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGBXFD41fV0/Usovwbl0dPI/AAAAAAAAAK8/0lIWseWrQ9g/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+26+42+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGBXFD41fV0/Usovwbl0dPI/AAAAAAAAAK8/0lIWseWrQ9g/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+26+42+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 5: Wait 10 minutes.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Once everything is combined, set aside the mixture aside for 10 minutes so the baking soda can react with the wet ingredients.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">While this is set aside, I turned the stove on to medium-low and put my cast iron pan on the burner. I also added some butter to prevent the pancake batter from sticking. Cast iron pans are great because they maintain the same level of heat, unlike many standard pans that get hotter with prolonged cooking. However, a standard pan can be used but cooking times may have to decrease for successive batches of pancakes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_9cK-htIOQ/Usovwe4V60I/AAAAAAAAALA/eb6xVKXhUW4/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+30+39+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_9cK-htIOQ/Usovwe4V60I/AAAAAAAAALA/eb6xVKXhUW4/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+30+39+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Step 6: Cook the pancakes.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pour 1/4 cup pancake batter onto the hot pan. Make sure not to increase the temperature, as medium-low is perfect for cooking the pancakes (I found out, the hard way, that if you increase the temperature, the pancakes are more likely to burn).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43IdarZhXl4/Usovwmj8OkI/AAAAAAAAALE/yAMtV-mg3qc/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+48+21+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43IdarZhXl4/Usovwmj8OkI/AAAAAAAAALE/yAMtV-mg3qc/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+48+21+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After about 3-5 minutes, you should see bubbles forming in the batter. That means it's time to flip (check the underside, though, to make sure that the bottom is browned).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VTvDxnOkRN0/UsovxzCAo6I/AAAAAAAAALU/RCFMDTTv3oA/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+49+12+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VTvDxnOkRN0/UsovxzCAo6I/AAAAAAAAALU/RCFMDTTv3oA/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+49+12+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cook for another 2-3 minutes once the pancakes have been flipped. Now, they're ready to be served!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMYI9dJzva4/UsovyG9_xvI/AAAAAAAAALQ/UR9KZxTAmAE/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+11+05+42+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMYI9dJzva4/UsovyG9_xvI/AAAAAAAAALQ/UR9KZxTAmAE/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+11+05+42+AM.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This recipe makes 6 4-inch diameter pancakes, so unless your cast iron pan or griddle can handle all of those at once, you'll want to leave the cooked pancakes in the oven at 150-200 degrees Fahrenheit so that you can serve all of the pancakes at once. These are great with some maple syrup and a cup of orange juice! Enjoy!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*J*</span></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-GHI69P7ROG8%2FUsovugO0-dI%2FAAAAAAAAAKk%2FBZt-4jBE0N4%2Fs1600%2FPhoto%2BJan%2B04%25252C%2B10%2B18%2B08%2BAM.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHI69P7ROG8/UsovugO0-dI/AAAAAAAAAKk/BZt-4jBE0N4/s1600/Photo+Jan+04%252C+10+18+08+AM.jpg" -->jnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772446218954656173.post-56514347376219291892014-01-05T14:31:00.001-08:002014-01-05T14:32:07.491-08:00Welcome 2014, and Hello, Blogger!Each year, many people set big new year's resolutions, like losing 50 pounds, traveling to a far-off country, or becoming financially stable. As for me, I decided not to have a checklist of resolutions for the year but instead set a goal of improving myself and my habits each day. I will likely not be successful in making each day better and more productive than the next, but my hope is to live each day with purpose and appreciation for every moment we have on this earth.<br />
<br />
So, long story short, I've wanted to start a blog for quite some time but never got around to actually doing it. I finally bit the bullet and started this blog as a log of my life--Living In (cooking experiments, craft projects, etc.), Out (restaurant experiences, sites around the city, random activities, etc.), and About (adventurous travels, cultural discoveries, etc.). Hope you enjoy!jnamgoonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00989300388739084609noreply@blogger.com0