Shepherd's Pie

My second attempt.. even though my first attempt was 2 years ago. It's not like I had a bad experience with my first shepherd's pie. I just have a dominantly Asian kitchen stocked with Asian ingredients. It's hard to make European food with Asian staples. Of course I know I can always buy the ingredients, but I can't cook up money. If I could though.. I'd spend it on cheese...

Anyway, I'm really happy and excited to start experimenting with flavors since this try was a success. It's a very basic recipe with garlic salt being the most dynamic seasoning used. I've already got ADD MORE MEAT noted. Also, the picture says otherwise, but there's more than just carrots in there: celery, onions, and garlic. I did plan to add corn but my meat to vegetable ratio was something like 2:9. Still, it was very satisfying, incredibly easy to make, and even easier to devour. Hopefully it won't be another 2 years before I make shepherd's pie again.

Cravings, Cravings, Cravings!

And none of them completely satisfied.. Very sad face. I'm gonna keep this short and sustaining. Much like the food I ate: gets me through enough of the craving to hold on a little longer until I can taste wondrous victory!





I made the cornbread last week. Definitely not good enough to completely satisfy my craving for the fattiest, most delicious cornbread ever made by my friend. Plus, there was no bacon in it.

The xiǎolóngbāo (small steaming basket dumpling) is from the freezer section of an Asian market. I know, it's really depressing.. but sometimes I just need that little extra push to get me through the arduous journey of a craving. At least I got to eat red vinegar! LOVE red vinegar.

Having a craving as a foodie is probably more challenging than having a craving as a pregnant woman. But I haven't been pregnant so I can't say. All I know is that Usher got it right: I got it, I got it bad... for the food.

Macaroni & Cheese with Kimchee!

I wish everyone would be as excited about mac n' cheese with kimchee as I am. I can't believe this flavor combination took so long to wander through my hungry mind. But really, when people think about cheese they don't automatically think pickled spicy vegetables to accompany it. So I guess my tardiness to welcoming AMAZING into my life is explainable.

My first real tasting wasn't today though. This is actually my leftover boxed macaroni and cheese enhanced with sauteed garlic, onions, and sausage that I combined with store bought kimchee. Even as leftovers, it is still amazingly delicious! My first encounter was actually a little different: the mac n' cheese had sauteed onions and garlic, extra cheese, crushed bacon, and tons of pepper with homemade kimchee (the perks of having a Korean as one of your best friends). Heaven.

I know there are skeptics that think this combination sounds horrific. It's just like eating creamy pasta topped with fresh basil. And when you get that bite of fresh basil, you suddenly feel that this heavy pasta you're having doubts about finishing becomes easier to finish.

Now that I am fully aware of this American classic comfort food combined with Korean tradition, I am on a mission to make the ultimate recipe. It will be foodgasmic.

Pork Shank & Eggs

I'm not entirely crazy about this dish: slow cooked pork shank soaking in a kind of sweet soy sauce with hints of star anise. Not that I'm ungrateful for my fobby Chinese mother's hard work and enthusiasm for sharing her recipe with me; I am just neutral about the food. What I do love about this dish is the aroma it produces as it simmers away. The aroma is nostalgic. Every time light, airy waves float through the house and into my nose, I.. am... home . I think it's the star anise that attracts me. If someone comes out with a fragrance that has the slightest hint of star anise in it, I might overdose on perfume.

When actually consuming the above, there are no complaints. It never changes. The pork is always tender, the eggs always have that beautiful brown layer of sauce seeped into its exposed layers, and the sauce is always in abundance. My childhood flashes before me whenever I eat it! ... Not really. I'm neutral.

I need a scratch and sniff star anise..

Peanut Butter & Banana ... w/ Bacon?

I am 100% sure someone within a 20 mile radius of me already tried this. I, however, have not until today. And to be honest, I think I like the classic the way it is. I'm not saying this because I don't like bacon. That is beyond far from the reason why I am supporting the classic tonight. It's because I can't taste the thick cut deliciously crisp bacon in the sandwich (..well bagel in this case). You know when you get a smoothie with banana in it and all you basically taste is banana with a hint of everything else? Well this bagel with peanut butter, banana, and crushed bacon had exactly the same thing going on as the smoothie, plus peanut butter coverage. The only way I know my bacon was present this morning is: 1. I had really nice crispy textures popping in my mouth, and 2. I put it there. I didn't just try one bite to test the flavor combination out. I tried multiple! And still.. no bacon taste victory. What's the point of putting bacon in something if you can't taste its deliciousness?

Congratulations peanut butter and banana classic, you overwhelmed the bacon. I'm not angry though, you're still delicious in your own right.