These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb. ~ Najwa Zebian A few weeks ago, winter officially set in with snow drifts and cold snaps across most of the Northern hemisphere. Here, hovering by the equator, I was trying to shed the pounds that has lovingly stuck onto me – stubborn […]
Soups
Bakwan Kepiting – Pork and Crab Meatball Soup
Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential. ~Winston Churchill I confess mine is not the modern family which has the luxury of planning meals in advance? Let’s just say ‘it’s an ongoing endeavor’. However, Bakwan Kepiting will taste oh-so-much-better with some preparation ahead of time, I promise you. It will also save you a bunch of time. […]
Italian Sausage and Kale Stew
It’s okay to play with your food. ~ Emeril Lagasse How many of us indulged over holidays? We told ourselves it was only an extra drumstick with “only a few tiny” drizzles of dressing, one more slice of pie (a la mode, of course, why stop at pie), one more helping of noodles (to represent ‘healthy […]
Homemade Mushroom Soup
In the hopes of reaching the moon, men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet. ~Albert Schweitzer It was with some effort that I managed to haul myself out from under the covers, somehow managed to put on the right clothes, even matching socks, and crept my way out onto the trail. It was […]
Easy Turkey Meatball Soup
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs. ~ ‘Twas The Night of Thanksgiving’, C.J. Beaman There is a collective gentle sigh as we see the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers. Despite our best intentions to limit our portion sizes, the intentions remained just that – intentions. Folks generally go all out with the food for this […]
Snap Vegetable Soup
One hour. That was how much time I had to conjure a healthy lunch. Here’s the thing: I do not generally plan for lunches. I am usually the only one at home during the day and I am pretty easy to feed: oatmeal with wheat-germ and blueberries, leftovers from the previous night, cereal with a splash of milk, […]
Pork Rib Soup
“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Mark Twain was onto something then. Bay area weather is unlike anything one would expect. Merely 2 weeks ago, temperatures were in the high 70s, daring some souls to meekly bring out t-shirts and flip flops, tempting the fickle clouds. This past week had all running […]
Winter Melon 冬瓜 Soup
These pale-fleshed, spongy gourds are commonly eaten during winter. Low in calories, it has a mild and refreshing taste. A week ago, the Asian supermarket was selling 2-lb slices at incredibly reasonable prices, despite being an unusual crop for this time of year. I was recovering from a bout of ‘heatiness'(阳 yang); this ‘cooling'(阴 yin) […]
Sweet Corn Soup with Spam
I’m on the lookout for quick, savory lunches using whatever is on hand. I don’t usually keep a fully stocked kitchen, so this exercise often ends up with some interesting results. I also wanted something that I could freeze for future lunches. A sort of Smoky Corn Chowder was what I had in mind. I […]
Hamburger stew
It’s a cold day and I was yearning for something warm and comfortable. I’d come across The Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Soup a few days ago and it has been lingering in my mind. A peek in my fridge revealed that a simple adaptation could serve, without a trip to the grocery store. Beef and tomatoes […]