May The Farm Be With You

Someone sent this to me today & it's just too good.

I Just Came From The Kitchen & I Gotta Ask

What's the deal with my son? He eats a "meal" just so that he can eat a snack.

He'll eat just enough so that it appears that he has satisfied his daily intake requirements.

But then.....
But then......

As soon as he puts his fork down he says:

Can I have a snack?

WTF, kid?

This has been going on for weeks now. And I recognize that young children eat smaller amounts and more frequently.
But this nasty little monkey he has on his back just seems a little nutty to me.

Anyone else's kid do this?
Anybody? You there in the back, slouching down in your seat....your kid do this too?

Seoul Food

I swear in another life I was Korean. It's weird. And it's a topic to get into another day, but for now:

Korean food. Mmm, Mmm, Mmm. I just love it.
Especially Gamja Tang.
Especially when it's cold outside.

Gamja Tang translates to potato soup. But essentially it's a spicy pork soup with potatoes and bean sprouts. Yummy.

I got hooked on Gamja Tang in Annendale, VA. with a former (who is Korean). I remember we were in this hole-in-the-wall restaurant. And I was reading the menu. I stopped on Gamja Tang and asked my former if I would like it. He said, "It's a very Korean dish. It's a spicy soup served in a hot pot. There are potatoes and pork. Try it. It's very good for you." I tried it. Oh dear lord, it was so good. I swear my eyes rolled back in my head and my toes curled.

I've had Gamja Tang in Virginia, New York City, and Los Angeles. Each time I ordered it, I got the look. The one that says: look at this little white girl. Ordering this soup. But the proprietors are too polite to say anything.
And it doesn't matter. The stuff is good.

After my former & I had parted company, I was sad. But more sad that he hadn't left me directions on how to get to some of the good Korean restaurants.
Some places I knew how to get to. Like the ridiculously good 'Cow Town' in Flushing, Queens.
Gamja Tang....seemed out of reach. It's not commonly served in most Korean restaurants that I have access to.

Necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention.

In fact, believe it or not, I had forgotten about it. Until I became pregnant with Gracie. I had to have that soup.
I found a recipe on the internet. And figured how hard can this be?
I waddled into our nearest Korean grocery. I bought two hot pots, and all the necessaries for the soup.
The first batch, didn't come out too good. As I forgot the essential Doenjang (fermented soy bean paste).
But each batch I've made since rivals those that I've had from one coast to the other.

It's freezing here in our little state - on the East Coast. And today, I strolled into the Korean grocery and bought up the necessary ingredients for this fine soup.
The sweet Korean lady running the store asked me what I was going to make and I told her. She smiled this big, kind smile, her eyes got big. And she said, Oh, yeah? You make the gamja tang? I told her yes. I love it. I ate it when I was pregnant with my daughter. And she is so strong. She smiled even wider and said, yes. It is very good for you. They say it even help with the cancer. I told her how I had found out every bit of information about the soup in my search for a recipe. She seemed so happy to talk about the soup and just how good it is.

Now, it must be said....I'm stingy about my soup. But I have to share.
I figured since I have bored you to tears writing on and on about the soup, I'd atleast reward you with the "recipe". Recipe is stating it loosely. I'll list the ingredients. But there are no measurements. I basically just use as much as I think is necessary and taste as I go.

Gamja Tang:

Pork ribs (how many lbs. - I haven't the slightest clue. Just go with your gut.)
Potatoes (probaby about 4, quartered or smaller)
Doenjang (again - no clue. But I think for a rather big pot of soup, I use about 1/2 of a big jar)
garlic (??? I love garlic. So, it stands to reason I use a good bit.)
red pepper ( again use your discretion - it's a spicy soup - but you don't need a lot)
green onion (about 3-4)
bean sprouts (the big, white ones - and again, no clue. I usually plop 2-3 good handfuls in)

Boil the pork ribs in water for about 2 hours. And then add potatoes, Doenjang, garlic, red pepper, and green onion. Once all of those ingredients are added, bring the soup back to a boil and add bean sprouts. Simmer until all is cooked through.
Accompany soup with rice.

It has a different flavor. Not many people I've come in contact with that have tried it, care for it. But it is said to have many health benefits and if this sounds like something you might have a hankering for, try it. I firmly believe that it gives my system a boost and a leg-up on warding off infections.
Happy cooking!
Oh and.....it's low in calories. So, that's something.

NYC - You Belong To Me, I Belong To You

So I mentioned with my last post that the Ravioli & I headed into The City. We've been planning this trip for awhile, with our friend, Jon. So, some tickets were purchased for a Broadway show, some plans were made....and voila! Into the city we headed. As I said, I used to make pretty regular pilgrimages into the city - years ago. In 1999-2000, I frequented that city more times than I can tell you. The last time I was there (before Saturday) was October of 2002. I was amazed at how much has changed, as well as, how much has stayed the same.

For instance, when you ride the subway, you can tell the true New Yorkers because they are falling asleep on the subway car and awake suddenly, when it is their stop. They just know. And true New Yorkers are always carrying bags. Big bags, small bags, 'Medium Brown Bags' from Bloomingdale's, plastic bags from various previously patroned shops, which now carry their subway reading material and other what-not. And the true New Yorker that amazed me the most was a barely two-year-old little girl. Sitting in her stroller in her eclectic outfit, chatting away with her mommy and, as she's sitting in her stroller, stretches out her legs, props them up on the subway seat & crosses her legs at her ankles....riding on the subway is old news for her.

Manhattan is just amazing. I fall deeply and helplessly in love each time I go back. I consider myself somewhat of a hippie, farm girl. But I'll tell ya what, I would live in NYC in a second if the opportunity presented itself. The endless culture - so vast, so varied - is amazing. The people watching is unparalleled - except for possibly Tokyo (I don't know from first-hand experience). And the fact that you can hop in a subway and be transported to another town - within a town - just amazing. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.

Ravioli & Jon viewing the WTC sight

Our first stop after 'landing' in Penn Station was the subway to Downtown. We took in a quick look at the WTC sight. Ravioli & I did this in 2002, but were happy to take Jon to see it. We walked a bit along the platform, trying to see past the layers and layers of chain-link fence. As we were making our way down the platform, there in front of me were the peddlers of all things fake. Purses, watches, perfume, etc......I have no problem ignoring these people when walking around the rest of the city. However, I was particularly annoyed by their immediate presence at the WTC sight. I felt that it was highly disrespectful...but whateva. That's just my $.02.

The city was absolutely gorgeous yesterday. Central Park, in particular. I wish we had had more time to roam there. But time was of the essence as we had a date with a particular Phantom.






Good food was to be had in Koreatown. Not as great as Cow Town on Main St. in Flushing, Queens (man, I love the 7 train). But oh, well. Gotta take 'authentic' Korean food where you can get it. I have to say, though (and Ravioli will as well) that my homemade Bul Go Gi is right up there with that prepared in a Korean restaurant. I've always said that I was a cute little Korean girl in another lifetime.
I was sad to say goodbye to The City. I have such a hard time leaving. Parting is such sweet sorrow. She has me in her clutches. Inevitably. Forever.

Today, I bear the earmarks of my steamy love affair. My aching legs, the black/gray soot when I blow my nose, the calm, happiness that washes over my face and the spent feeling that envelopes my entire body. (I think I need a cigarette...haha).
Kidding.

Baby's Got Sauce

Ingredients for a perfect salad:

no spinach here. no e coli, either. all fresh from the farmer's market.

yummy carrots, tomatoes and fresh green beans

Mmm, Chiantia red wine vinegar. The BEST

This adds a little zing w/ the vinegar. Aww, sheeaatt.

Self explanatory.

Needed for great BBQ Chicken:

Brutus the $45 clearance charcoal grill. He's a bad mutha.

BBQ'd chickety-chicken lovingly prepared for us by my man-meat.

Needed to quench my thirst:

MMmmmm, Yuengling. Not my first choice, but a good one. No doubt.

May I Have Some of Your Tasty Beverage to Wash Down My Salad With??

I had the most delicious lunch today. It was so good that I'm still thinking about it. I should've taken a picture of it. How was I to know that it would make this much of a lasting impression. Albeit, blogworthy. Therefore, picture worthy. I didn't know.
I didn't know.
Ok. Lunch. It was made up of normal salad greens (i.e. a typical house salad type blend). I prefer darker greens, like a spring mix or baby spinach (I'm not complaining - just illustrating that for it not being my salad greens of choice & it was still so good). Then, I added some home-grown, organic cherry tomatoes from my step-father's garden, some taco mix shredded cheese, some left-over roasted chicken from the previous night's dinner, and buttermilk ranch (and again, I have to point out that my dressing of choice is chianti red-wine vinegar with extra-virgin olive oil). That's it. It was BLAZING good. As illustrated by the fact that I ate that at 11:30 a.m. and it is now 9:33 p.m.
YUMMY!!!!!!!!!