My 4 year-old toddler learned about French Fries the past year or so and kindly requests that we add them to our Shake Shack orders, which has become a bi-weekly thing for us on family movie nights. As much as I love fries myself, it pains me watching her devour those delicious, greasy, strips of ...
Air Fryer Chicken Wings w/ Garlic Butter Parm Sauce
If there's anything I can't resist, it's fried chicken. Growing up, when my metabolism was running triple its current speed, I would order meals from Popeyes and share them with my younger brother - you know, the one that comes with fried drumsticks, thighs and a side of their seasoned fries and ...
Instant Pot Chinese Braised Beef Shank (滷牛腱)
Any soup dumpling fans here? 🙋 Well no, this isn't a post about the difficult-to-achieve Shanghainese delicacy that I am going to tackle one day. This is a post about a cold side dish/appetizer that is commonly served at Shanghainese restaurants where they sell soup dumplings 😁. I HAVE made THIS ...
Air Fryer Plantain Chips (Tostones)
I love a good, healthy snack, especially during movie nights with my other half (when the toddler's asleep). Some of my favorites include dried mangoes, popcorn (all kinds), taro chips and plantain chips!! The latter can be quite costly when you buy them in stores. May I add, one bag just isn't ...
Instant Pot Fish Congee (魚片粥)
There's a reason why Goldilocks was eyeing the three bears' bowls of porridge - it's a comfort food that warms our bellies AND our hearts! I grew up eating rice porridge, or congee, often for breakfast or when I was feeling ill. My parents typically made us plain congee with a variety of side ...
Air Fryer Japanese Mussels Dynamite Recipe
AYCE buffet - do you dig it? I certainly do, and I prepare for them by wearing loose sweatpants and an empty stomach. If you decide to walk in for unlimited eating with a belt, please loosen it up or remove it halfway through the meal. What is the purpose of paying a flat fee to stuff your face, ...
Steamed Mussels in White Wine Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe
Have we had enough of this pandemic or what? Besides a normal lifestyle, I truly miss dining out - being seated by friendly staff, presented with a warm bread basket and ordering some delicious starters, like a pot of mussels! With dining restrictions still enforced, I have no choice but to make my ...
Do Chua (Vietnamese Pickled Daikon & Carrots)
There are a handful of items that I can eat once a week and not get sick of, bánh mì being one of them! If you're not familiar with bánh mì, it means bread in Vietnamese and is a term used to refer to a popular sandwich that is typically filled with a variety of meats, pickled daikon & carrots, ...
Asian SMASHED Cucumber Salad Recipe (拍黄瓜沙拉)
I love a delicious salad, whether there are 15 ingredients or just a handful. As long as the components are fresh and the dressing is flavorful, I'd dig in! It is a great way to squeeze in some greens and vegetables, creating a more well-balanced diet! While you don't often find salads in Asian ...
Pumpkin Soup Recipe (南瓜湯)
There's a menu item from Panera that I love, eaten either as a whole or paired with half a sandwich: their Autumn squash soup, among many others! While I'm going to miss summer and warmth from its sunrays dearly, Fall vegetables and the soups that I can make out of them keep me up and running while ...
Vietnamese Ham (Cha Lua/Gio Lua) Recipe and Happy 70th to my MIL!!
I just returned from a four-day trip to the Poconos, with my in-laws, to celebrate my mother-in-law's upcoming 70th birthday! We stayed at a large house that fit the 22 of us, with a jam-packed itinerary. While it was exhausting, we all had tons of fun, with the following memorable ...
Banh Cuon
If you haven't already noticed, I love Vietnamese cuisine. No, Steve is not pointing a gun to my head and forcing me to say this. Admittedly, it is also not the reason why I'm with Steve, who is part Vietnamese 😉, but it helps that he is from Vietnam and understands how to fully satisfy the ...
