Tag Archives: sweet

Classic Waffles

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waffles

I’m going to be honest and admit I was never a morning person, and neither are any members of my family. Growing up, if my family ever woke up early enough to have breakfast (which was rare), you can bet it was savory and slathered in soy sauce. I’m talking about rice porridge, fried eggs on toast, dim sum, and yes, all covered in soy sauce! Not that I’m complaining. Just trying to paint a mental picture so you can understand why the rare but occasional sweet breakfast was always such a treat growing up (I’m of course excluding box cereals from this list). It was a nice break from the typical savory meals I was so used to.

Waffles are one of those foods that just make you happy…deep down-to-the-core happy. It’s crispy on the outside and spongy on the inside. To quote my all time favorite comedian:
“A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap.” – Mitch Hedberg

waffles copy2

GridPost_bo7mon
Said bon voyage to my little sister last week. She’s currently in France studying abroad, but before leaving, we enjoyed Bo 7 Mon (a 7 beef course dinner) alongside a whole deep-fried peanut-crusted fish.

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More insta pics from the holidays. Top Left: Mi Quang from Ban Cuon Bac Ninh Top Right: Macarons from Bouchon bakery given to me by some lovely friends. Bottom Left: Saying goodbye to 2014 with some bubbly. Bottom Right: Prepared a hot pot dinner with my dad.

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

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Choc Chip Pumpkin Bread

Choc Chip Pumpkin Bread

This recipe is a fairly new discovery. This past spring, I took a road trip down to San Diego, or “San Diagooo” as Ron Burgundy calls it. I was travelling with a few buds and stayed at a friend’s house in Carlsbad. Augusta, my friend’s grandmother, was our incredibly sweet host and on our arrival, she made the best pumpkin bread I’ve ever had! Moist, decadent, and filled with yummy spices, this pumpkin bread had fast-forwarded me to Fall.

With Thanksgiving just behind us and Christmas on the horizon, there couldn’t be a more perfect time to bake up this amazing pumpkin bread. Lucky for me, Augusta was kind enough to let me jot down the recipe and I was surprised to learn how easy the steps were. I changed it up a bit and added chocolate chips, streusel, and icing, because you know, there wasn’t enough sugar already 😉

Choc Chip Pumpkin Bread
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Nutella Macarons

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Nutella Macaron 2

Nutella Macaron

Life has been crazy busy, let me tell you. I’ve been MIA lately I know; though I doubt anyone is uber upset about it. Let me just list a few things that have been going on: Jonah threw me a surprise birthday party, yes, I’m quite the lucky girl! He got me ukulele, which I’ve been practicing daily! I’ve been working crazy hours at the office (60 hours last week). Jonah over went PRK eye surgery. We’re remodeling the bedroom; I’m sleeping on the living room floor til we get it finished. And, let’s see…oh, I ran the Sacramento Color Run this past Saturday with my MoH!

Color Run Collage
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Orange Chocolate Magic Cake

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Orange Chocolate Magic Cake

Orange Chocolate Magic Cake
I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard about this recipe for cake batter that magically separates into 3 layers (cake on the bottom, custard in the middle, cake on the top). It seemed too good to be true. Naturally, I had to try it!

To my absolute delight, the cake was fantastic! It reminded me of those orange chocolate balls that you get during the holidays. You know, the ones you have to smash to break apart. Biting into this magic cake transported me back 4 months, to Christmas.
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Chinese Five Spice Apple Turnovers

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ChineseFiveSpiceAppleTurnovers

Chinese Five Spice Apple Turnovers
There’s just something about apple turnovers that makes you just want to huddle by a fire and read a good book. It’s one of those universal comfort foods that both brings us back to childhood and makes us feel a slight sophistication by eating such a dainty pastry. I decided to add an Asian addition to this traditionally Western desert by adding…yes, you guessed it, Chinese Five Spice!

Chinese Five Spice Apple Preserves Continue reading

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Mango Chia Smoothie

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Mango Chia Smoothie

Mango Chia Smoothie
Yes, I admit it…I am one of the many who’ve jumped on the bandwagon and made a new years resolution to be healthier. Making an effort to eat healthier doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sacrifice flavor. Mangoes were one of those once-in-a-while treats I had as a kid, mainly due to seasonality. Now that every grocery store carries mango in the frozen section, you can enjoy the tropical and sweet fruit all year round! I’ve been drinking chia seeds all my life, only recently did I learn about their many health benefits. Not only do chia seeds suppress hunger, they’re a great source of calcium, iron fiber, omega fatty acids and antioxidants. This wonder ingredient mixed the delicious and nutritious mango makes for the perfect drink for someone on a health kick!
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Pickled Carrots and Daikon

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Pickled Carrots Daikon

Pickled Carrots Daikon
Pickled carrots and daikon, Vietnam’s equivalent to bread and butter pickles. I can just eat these babies plain with a small bowl of rice, and in fact I have. I prefer to eat omnivore-light; and for those who’ve never heard the term, it means I’m not exactly a vegetarian, but I try to cut out meat when I can, and let me tell you, pickled carrots and daikon make for a great vegetarian snack! These lightly pickled and julienned veggies can be added to almost anything! It’s perfect if you need a sweet and yet slightly sour crunch to your dish. It’s generally used in banh mi sandwiches, dry noodle bowls, meat and rice plates, spring rolls, and many more delectable dishes.
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Ginger Lemon Cake

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Ginger Lemon Cake

Ginger Lemon Cake
Remember when you were a kid, eating fruity candies and picking through your favorite colors to munch on? I’m willing to bet yellow was everyone’s least favorite flavor. I was no different. “Lemon? Uhh…no thanks, I’ll stick with the red”. Opening a Starburst where both pieces were lemon-flavored meant God was punishing me for something. It’s true lemon is the neglected child of candy flavors, and yet, I found everyone seems to LOVE lemon cake. Go figure! Is it the intoxicating combination of fresh lemon zest and vanilla? Or is it the spongy texture perfumed with pungent citrus that gets people going? Either way, it’ll be a hard task to find a lemon cake hater, and if the day comes when you do encounter one, remember this recipe post. It’ll turn any hater into a lover!
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