Ray at Balconi usually provides small, round cookies to accompany his coffee. Today, i got a sample of the pecan bar. M has always wanted to try this but we either get the apricot shortbread or nothing at all. In typical fashion, the pecan bar is excellent (dare i even say better than the apricot shortbread?) and i have been keeping m from deliciousness.
Author Archives: j
quinoa and spring vegetable pilaf
18 apr 11 / it tastes good. even if it does look like puke
1 1/2 cups quinoa, well rinsed
1 cup vegetable broth
2 cups frozen petite peas, thawed, divided
5 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves, divided
1 garlic clove, peeled
3 tablespoons butter
1 large leek (white and pale green parts only), halved, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
3/4 cup sliced shallots
8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, thickly sliced
1 14-ounce bunch asparagus, trimmed, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces
Bring 2 1/2 cups water to boil in small saucepan. Add quinoa and 1 teaspoon salt; return to boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water is absorbed, 15 to 17 minutes. Drain if necessary.
Puree broth, 1 cup peas, 4 tablespoons mint, and garlic in blender until smooth
Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add leek and shallots; sauté until soft and light brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, then asparagus; sauté until mushrooms are tender and asparagus is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Mix in puree and 1 cup peas; stir until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add quinoa; stir to coat.
Divide pilaf among bowls; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon mint and serve.
(serves 4 – more like 8…)
Tweet trouble
You know it’s bad when you think you can’t work without a coffee and something sweet. I think that’s called addiction. I don’t even like sweets but something happened last summer. My bionic leg programming now has me craving sweets. Trouble…
twins!
vital gluten is the key
kl + ml are having twins! this is the closest i will ever get to such an accomplishment.
icme: environmentally unsound
11 feb 11 @ 9.42 am
why, coda? why do you make electric cars that are good for the environment and then toss a car bumper in the recycle bin? seems counterintuitive… or maybe i’m missing something? does a bumper fall into the 5 category with butter containers? perhaps the 7 category of “other” is more appropriate?
because i’m such a geek, here’s what all those plastic numbers mean. it may very well be a 7.
in search of chili oil
note to self: never buy this again...
speaking of immortalizing foods for future reference. this is one food we should *never* buy again. this is not the chili oil served at din tai fung. this has a funny story, acutally… we bought it at 99 ranch in arcadia and it was on a special BOGO. i only wanted one, despite the sale. the cashier kept trying to get me to take the second free one. she almost paged a floor assistant to find me another one. she kept repeating: “second one free.” she stared at me blankly when i told her i didn’t know what it tasted like and didn’t want two of them in my home. she had never heard of such a thing. poor girl!
korean fermented soybean paste
JP’s mom gave this to us to use in our korean cooking. she likes this brand therefore i immortalized it with a photo so i can seek it out at the korean grocery store.
coconut prince polo
olza used to distribute these to the US, but no longer. i found these in a polish grocery store in jackson heights, new york in may 2008. according to sg, the store no longer carries them. i knew i should’ve bought them all… milk chocolate wafer with coconut. my most favorite polish candy bar and wafer product. ever.
korean chocolate cake
as long as we are on the topic of korean goodies, these are little 2″x2″ cakes individually wrapped (asians love their individual packaging…) and also good with coffee. the korean reads: kah-kah-oh (cacao).
korean cookies by lotte
lotte kancho cookies
are they too cute to eat? no!
a long time ago, i discovered korean cookies. it was so long ago, i can’t even remember if i was in chicago or los angeles when i discovered them. they are perfect with milk. not too sweet and just the right balance of cookie and chocolate. i love the illustrations on each cookie and you can usually buy them 2/$0.99. how perfect!