I was excited to host my mom this summer for almost 2 months. It had been 4 years since we had seen each other in person because of the pandemic. My mom and I live far from one another, but over the past 10-plus years, I was used to her coming out to my house every summer for a month or more. But because of circumstances that we could not control, that was on hold.
Whenever my mom comes, I always like to spoil her, especially when it comes to food. Watch as I cook nostalgic food for my mom and we hang out and reminisce in the kitchen.
While you are there, subscribe to the channel so you never miss when I upload new content.
Check out my online store and support my small business! Until next time remember to; Cook, Eat, Enjoy, Travel, Live, and Repeat.
Hey Foodie Tribe, I hope your holiday thus far has been fun and relaxing. In this vlog, my family and I continue our traditions with making cookies on Christmas Eve. This year we made cake mix cookies again as well as homemade rice crispy treats all while cracking jokes and reminiscing.
Chocolate Cake mix CookiesRed Velvet Cake mix cookies with white chocolate and almondsYellow Cake mix cookies with white chocolate and honey roasted almondsHomemade rice crispy treats
Christmas morning started of rocky. After make our usual Christmas morning Belgium waffles, I found that our syrup had some weird white stuff in it. Fortunately I was the only one that at it, unfortunately, it made me sick, even though I only at a small portion.
Debris found in my syrup
However, after a nice nap, I made HotPot for Christmas dinner.
Christmas Dinner Hotpot
Although there were some bumps along the way, the day was relaxing and enjoyable. Check out the video below.
Amarie Enjoying her giftsAlexis and her dad enjoying their time
Additional, I want to thank you all for the continued support. A few weeks ago, this blog turned 11!!! I have been doing this for 11 years and have enjoyed all of it. I also would like to wish you all a very happy, blessed and safe New Year. Hope to See you in 2022! Until next time remember to Cook Eat Enjoy, Travel Live and Repeat!!
Yes, you read the title correctly. I think I have a problem. I have become Hot Pot crazy; obsessed with Hot Pot; eating it 2-3 times a week (sometimes more). It is the middle of summer and yes I am eating Hot Pot. Why you ask, do I love Hot Pot so much? Well… it is a great group meal and the variety of ingredients are endless. And a good broth makes my soul smile.
Hot Pot starts with a hot broth which can be spicy, sweet, sour, etc. There are so many varieties of Hot Pot broth, it is crazy. Most people like it spicy, but I prefer not. Here are the Hot Pot broths that I found at my local Asian market that is my favorite.
And two others I will be trying in the future. The also have a spicy one that I have tried as well.
And then there are the veggies. Take your pick and add them in. My go-to veggies are a variety of mushrooms, yellow squash and or zucchini, bok choy, cilantro and some type of hot pepper. However, one of my recent Hot Pots I used purple broccoli which worked well. I suggest using veggies that you know will stand up to the boiling, however, you can use any veggies, but if you know that a certain veggie cooks extremely fast like spinach, use it, but just add in what you know you are going to eat immediately and then add as you go.
Grey squash and hot peppers
White and Brown Beech Mushrooms
Spicy Hot Pot broth, yellow squash, purple broccoli, and whole tilapia and more
Hot Pot is not all about the veggies and broth, you can also have seafood or paper-thin sliced meat, all to add as you go. I have tried both meat and seafood.
Additionally, another ingredient I love to add to Hot Pot is dumplings (Mandu) of all varieties.
Assorted Mandu (Dumplings) and Cilantro
Varied Dumpling added to the Hot Pot!
Various Dumplings and Mushrooms, bean sprouts and green onion
There are so many different types of dumplings, it is fun just trying different ones and seeing what you like and don’t like.
To make Hot Pot, you are going to need a nice size pot for boiling and I recommend a heavy one that will keep the heat. You can purchase a Hot Pot from your local Asian Market; they usually come with spacers inside so that you can have more than one types of broth and it is equipped with its own heating unit, so no burner required. Here is one from Amazon.
I just purchased a non-stick Caldero pot which is usually used for soups. I purchased one from my Asian market, but here is one similar to the one I used when I cook Hot Pot. Either will work.
The only other thing you need is a single cooking burner that you can put on your table; unless you get the actual Hot Pot as mentioned above. There are butane burners which are very commonly used for Pot Pot,
or you can use an electric one like I have.
I have added a link to both options from off of Amazon, just click on the pictures.
See what I am saying about going Hot Pot crazy. The options are endless and delicious and you can tailor it your taste buds. I hope you give it a try either in a restaurant or make it at home. I had my first experience at a restaurant and afterward, it has been Hot Pot at home!!! I hope you enjoyed this blog and check out the video link (just click on the photo below) if you want to see how I make a Hot Pot at home.
Until Next time, Remember to Cook, Eat and Enjoy!!!
Let’s talk comfort food. Technically, all food can be comfort food if said food brings you comfort when you think about it or partake.
For me, when I think of comfort food, the foods that immediately spring to mind, makes me smile and makes my mouth begin to water just from the thought are: fried chicken wings, homemade Mac and Cheese and Lasagna.
I do not eat any of the aforementioned often because… well… I am trying to eat better and all that jazz. However, sometimes, it is good to treat yourself. Self care comes in many forms and me being a food lover, what better way to show myself some love than to make one of my happy food dishes.
So, I typically make Lasagna the traditional way. Okay let me specify because my family traditional is probably not the same as actual ‘traditional’. So traditional meaning a ground beef meat sauce, ricotta and different shredded cheeses. But since I am trying to be a bit more healthy, I decided to make a veggie lasagna for me and since my family loves chicken, I made them a shredded chicken lasagna.
Chicken lasagna is super easy, I just boiled chicken breast in seasoning and shredded it.
For the veggie Lasagna, I used veggies that I love and that would hold together. I used yellow summer squash, zucchini squash, a medley of 5 mushrooms and red spinach. Red spinach has a slight bitter taste, so the next time I would just use regular spinach. Never-the-less, my family devoured the chicken lasagna; I got none, but they definitely enjoyed it. The Veggie lasagna was so hearty, that I forgot it did not have meat in it!!!
If you want to see how I prepared these two dishes, check out the video HERE!
And please like comment and subscribe.
Let me know in the comments below, what is your favorite comfort food?
So today is Memorial Day and I decided to cook in instead of cookout. And a bean salad was on my mind. So for the vegetarians out there, this is perfect.
Here is what I used:
Low sodium canned white, black and kidney beans. A can of white sweet corn, can of diced tomatoes. 1 yellow bell pepper, a half sweet onion, 1 bunch of cilantro. Jalapeño feta cheese, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper.
Okay here we go:
Open all beans and corn and put them in a strainer, drain all liquid and rinse with cold water let sit
Dice small a half an inion and the yellow bell pepper
In a large bowl add onion, bell pepper, beans and corn and can tomatoes. Mix together.
Now time for the dressing:
In a bowl added 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tsp lemon, 2 tbsp yellow mustard, 3 tsp apple cider vinegar and 2 or 3 tsp of honey.
Sprinkle with pepper then whisk until smooth
Pour over beans, then rough chop and added cilantro and feta cheese
Mix everything together. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can serve cold or warm.
