Dinner – Thursday, July 20
E and I had a blast in the kitchen creating our very own cabbage wraps with a tuna ssamjang sauce/paste. We decided to take things up a notch and make everything from scratch, including the flavorful ssamjang made with a unique ratio of pepper paste and soybean paste. The final product packed a spicy punch that surpassed anything you’d find off the shelf at H Mart.
Now, the fun part was rolling the quinoa rice inside the perfectly boiled cabbage leaves. I’m all about those big, satisfying bites that explode with flavor in my mouth, while E prefers savoring the delicate nuances of smaller bites. So, to cater to our individual tastes, we rolled the wraps in various sizes – specifically catering to both of our preferences!
E truly outdid herself with those rolls – not only did they taste amazing, but they also looked like edible works of art on our plates! I can’t wait to team up with E again in the kitchen, whipping up more delectable dishes and making cherished memories along the way.
Dinner – Friday, July 21
E whipped up a unique twist on the classic 떡볶이 for Friday night dinner after a long day at work. The dish was 떡볶이-inspired, but without the actual 떡 (rice cakes). Now, I know the name might not fit, but it’s still packed with all the typical 떡볶이 deliciousness you’d expect. Instead of rice cakes, we loaded up on extra fishcake – a favorite for both E and me!
To take it to the next level of indulgence, we sprinkled some gooey mozzarella cheese on top, giving it that perfect stretchy, cheesy goodness. In addition to our main dish, we prepped some sausages on the side, adding an extra burst of salty flavor to the mix.
The result was a mouthwatering meal that left me beyond satisfied. Even though it might not be the traditional 떡볶이, it was a delightful and tasty twist that hit all the right notes. Who knew experimenting with a beloved dish could turn out this amazing? Next time you’re in the mood for something special, don’t hesitate to give our fishcake-loaded, cheese-topped creation a try. It’s proof that culinary adventures are the best kind of adventures!
Lunch – Wednesday, July 19
Below you see a culinary feat in just 30 minutes that happened during my lunch break on Wednesday.
E and I have become quite the cooking dream team, managing to prep up a steak and noodle dish that had a hint of Thai dish that never existed. We paired it with a pre-packaged salad from Costco, keeping things quick and easy.
In those 30 minutes, we savored every single bite of this delectable lunch. It was a delightful departure from my typical lunch routine! I might have lost track of time a bit and I ended up being a tad late getting back to work. But it was totally worth it! Sometimes, you just need to treat yourself to a lunch that leaves you feeling fully satisfied and energized for the rest of the day.
Saturday, July 15
Saturday was my mother’s birthday so we went to a tepanyaki restaurant with the whole family and E. It was a delightful way to mark such a special occasion, especially with my niece in the mix who is wide-eyed about everything she sees.
Teppanyaki is an exciting experience, with the skilled chefs showcasing their “chops” right before your eyes. The sizzling display of fire and iron adds a touch of magic to the meal, creating a memorable dining spectacle for everyone at the table. My cute niece T was star of the table with her adorable reactions to occasionally erupting flames.
While the food might have been a bit salty for our taste, the joy of being together, sharing laughter, and celebrating my mother’s birthday surely made it a truly memorable and heartwarming experience. In the end, it’s not just about the flavors on the plate, but the love and connection shared with loved ones that make these moments truly special. Thankfully, we could embrace both love and flavor for my mother’s birthday.
On the same day as my mother’s birthday, we made some 반찬, aka side dishes, before we went to the dinner. E and I went to Mega Mart and bought some groceries and made all of the 반찬 shown on the table, except the kimchi. E’s mother joined us for lunch as she was in town for some business and also to see E.
Lunch – Wednesday, July ?
This was another lunch meal that E and I fixed up real fast during my lunch break. Though the real star, 대패 삽겹살 (thinly sliced pork belly), was only captured as a blur in the photos, its presence was felt in every bite. This mouthwatering delight has graced my blog posts a multiple times, and it’s no wonder why – the thin slices cook up quickly and are relatively lean, making it a favorite choice.
Accompanied by the ever-present salad, we got the perfect balance of flavors and nutrition. It’s our culinary ritual to have salad as a side whenever we prepare our meals at home. A tasty and wholesome tradition indeed.
