During a trip to Portland with my family and my sister-in-law this past Autumn, we found ourselves wandering around the small oasis called the Lan Su Chinese Garden. The lotuses were still in bloom, the carp were active and the weather was beautiful. The children felt at home, as if they were romping around the… Continue reading Lotus Root Salad
Tag: recipe
Ube Coco- nog Cocktail
Christmas was my favorite holiday growing up. As a kid, I got my hands dirty making rum balls for my mom’s friends, assisted wrapping the presents and helped trim the tree. When my grandma got older and no one was longer interested in the rigor of the rituals, I started orchestrating the festivities myself. Inevitably,… Continue reading Ube Coco- nog Cocktail
Pili Tangyuan with Mexican Hot Chocolate Creme Anglaise
This is a feat for me, as I typically do a fusion of two, rather than three, but hey, there’s a first time for everything! Today is the winter solstice and many Chinese families celebrate 冬至 (dongzhi) by eating dumplings and 团圆 (tangyuan) which is typically a sweet dish made with glutinous rice flour dumplings… Continue reading Pili Tangyuan with Mexican Hot Chocolate Creme Anglaise
Arrachera Tacos with Asian Salsa
I’ve been making this type of sauce one way or another to go with our grilled dishes for years. Sometimes I put pineapple, other times, I use a different chili; I never had a “standard recipe”. But for the arrachera, I wanted to make a sauce that compliments the Mexican seasonings, while still staying true… Continue reading Arrachera Tacos with Asian Salsa
Strawberries and Cream or Matcha Polvoron
This isn’t the first polvoron recipe on this blog. But it’s a week until Christmas and I needed to make more presents for our Girl Scout troop, plus I couldn’t turn down an opportunity to make holiday- colored polvoron. I had my youngest help me with these, and she was eager to help with the… Continue reading Strawberries and Cream or Matcha Polvoron
Salted Cheese Mousse Tart with Persimmons
We’re in the middle of December and I am still seeing the last shipments of persimmons at our local stores, tucked in between loads of different citrus fruits. (Imagination soaring…) But before I get ahead of myself, I wanted to post my last persimmon recipe so I can leave 2024 without regrets. I’m not sure… Continue reading Salted Cheese Mousse Tart with Persimmons
Leftover Turkey Bao (Peking-Duck Inspired, Super Fast!)
UPDATED: 11/2025 If you’re like me, the real Thanksgiving leftovers aren’t the dark meat… it’s that untouched slab of turkey breast sitting pretty in the fridge. And honestly? That’s perfect. Because turkey breast transforms beautifully when you slice it thin, fry it in its own drippings (or a little gravy or oil), and tuck it… Continue reading Leftover Turkey Bao (Peking-Duck Inspired, Super Fast!)
Mexican Orange Chocolate Pull- Apart Buns
This recipe uses the Pan de Muerto bread base we’ve been making for years. It’s a solid recipe, and we started making them because when my youngest was little, she had an egg allergy. Instead of skipping any kind of tradition because of her allergies, we decided to start making egg- free baked goods at… Continue reading Mexican Orange Chocolate Pull- Apart Buns
Tequila Ginger Mules
Ahh, tequila. Just the thought of it transports me to the little town of Tequila in Jalisco, forty five minutes west of Guadalajara, my husband’s hometown. I’ve been to the charming town of Tequila twice; both while pregnant, so the closest I got to trying anything was a whiff of the tastings my husband and… Continue reading Tequila Ginger Mules
No Waste Turkey Noodle Soup
“物尽其用” (make full use of everything) is something I grew up hearing in Chinese households. And truly, nothing embodies that philosophy better than this No Waste Turkey Noodle Soup. Roast turkey is a dish ever present on our Thanksgiving table, a symbol of a life made in the US. Though the traditional turkey has never… Continue reading No Waste Turkey Noodle Soup
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