March 20, 2011
Happy Birthday Thu!
Happy Birthday Swag.Haven! Hope you have an amazing day and year! Miss You Love and see you soon!
March 19, 2011
Agar Jelly Dessert | Rau Cau
I made this last month. Must admit, I was a little lazy to post it and because it didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it to.
For each pack of agar agar powder, you'll need 6 cups of water, 1 cup of sugar, 1 can of coconut milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and any other flavorings you might like (coffee, strawberry, pandan, etc)
Fill a small pot/sauce pan with the 6 cups of water. Stir in 1 pack of agar power and 1 cup sugar until dissolved. Add 1 can of coconut milk and bring to boil.
Pour half the mixture into your mold and let set at room temperature.
I added 1 teaspoon of strawberry extract and a little red food coloring to the other half and bring it back to a boil. Or which ever flavor you desire.
When the first layer has set, pour the rest of the mixture into the mold. Before it totally sets, I garnish with some strawberries.
I like to eat it cold, so I chill it in the refrigerator. Cut and serve!
My problem: The mold was too small and the first layer was too thick, it didn't set when I added the second layer and the two flavors blended with each other. The coconut milk separated and surfaced to the top (bottom half is a little more translucent). It's pretty though and tasted good. Note to self - next time use large mold or make layers thinner by using multiple molds! hehe
For each pack of agar agar powder, you'll need 6 cups of water, 1 cup of sugar, 1 can of coconut milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and any other flavorings you might like (coffee, strawberry, pandan, etc)
Fill a small pot/sauce pan with the 6 cups of water. Stir in 1 pack of agar power and 1 cup sugar until dissolved. Add 1 can of coconut milk and bring to boil.
Pour half the mixture into your mold and let set at room temperature.
I added 1 teaspoon of strawberry extract and a little red food coloring to the other half and bring it back to a boil. Or which ever flavor you desire.
When the first layer has set, pour the rest of the mixture into the mold. Before it totally sets, I garnish with some strawberries.
I like to eat it cold, so I chill it in the refrigerator. Cut and serve!
My problem: The mold was too small and the first layer was too thick, it didn't set when I added the second layer and the two flavors blended with each other. The coconut milk separated and surfaced to the top (bottom half is a little more translucent). It's pretty though and tasted good. Note to self - next time use large mold or make layers thinner by using multiple molds! hehe
Food Venture: Birmingham Sushi Cafe
Lunch with a couple co-workers at Birmingham Sushi Cafe. Introducing Rhonda to sushi, starting off with something not containing raw fish. =)
Shared:
Fried Gyoza
California Roll
Kalbi
Shared:
Fried Gyoza
California Roll
Kalbi
March 15, 2011
Shrimp Salad | Goi Tom
My contribution to this past Saturday's get-together (previous post) was a Vietnamese Shrimp Salad. It was my first time making this and I was hesitant at first, serving shrimp that's only cook in vinegar and lemon juice and no heat might not be such a good idea. I went with it anyway.
Prep the vegetables: cut carrots, seeded cucumbers, red bell peppers, small yellow onion, shallots, and celery into thin and long pieces.
You'll also need lemons, chopped vietnamese coriander (rau ram), and chillies cut into small pieces.
Shrimp, peeled and deveined.
Soak the shrimp in enough distilled white vinegar to cover it, squeeze in some lemon juice. Allow the shrimp to cook in the acidic mixture until desired doneness. I wanted to make sure the shrimp was pretty cooked so I soaked it for a good 15-20 minutes.
Meantime, salt the celery and cucumber, it will rendered the water from those vegetables so your salad is not so watery. After 5 minutes, rinse the salt off and with your hands, ring the water from the vegetables.
Drain and rinse the vinegar from the shrimp; squeeze out any access liquid. Throw ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
Toss the veggies and shrimp with some fish sauce, salt, sugar, pepper flakes, lemon juice, cut chillies, chopped coriander, toasted sesame seeds, and roasted peanuts. Serve!
My dad usually tells the truth when it comes to my cooking. He'll eat it even if it doesn't taste good because he's so awesome. I asked him to taste it and he said it was good (shrimp a little over done for his preference). I thought it was a little too vinegary, but I'll take his approval. =)
Prep the vegetables: cut carrots, seeded cucumbers, red bell peppers, small yellow onion, shallots, and celery into thin and long pieces.
You'll also need lemons, chopped vietnamese coriander (rau ram), and chillies cut into small pieces.
Shrimp, peeled and deveined.
Soak the shrimp in enough distilled white vinegar to cover it, squeeze in some lemon juice. Allow the shrimp to cook in the acidic mixture until desired doneness. I wanted to make sure the shrimp was pretty cooked so I soaked it for a good 15-20 minutes.
Meantime, salt the celery and cucumber, it will rendered the water from those vegetables so your salad is not so watery. After 5 minutes, rinse the salt off and with your hands, ring the water from the vegetables.
Drain and rinse the vinegar from the shrimp; squeeze out any access liquid. Throw ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
Toss the veggies and shrimp with some fish sauce, salt, sugar, pepper flakes, lemon juice, cut chillies, chopped coriander, toasted sesame seeds, and roasted peanuts. Serve!
My dad usually tells the truth when it comes to my cooking. He'll eat it even if it doesn't taste good because he's so awesome. I asked him to taste it and he said it was good (shrimp a little over done for his preference). I thought it was a little too vinegary, but I'll take his approval. =)
March 14, 2011
Ladies Night In
Summary of a good night: Friends, food, drinks, music, karaoke, games, lots of strawberries and laughs.
Orange Cremesicle Cocktails. Thanks Lang, they were really good!
Lizzy made Strawberry Cheesecake - Yum!
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Trang made sushi =D
Also not individually pictured (I forgot my camera and was still trying to get the hang of iphone camera): Meri and Trang's salad, my shrimp salad, Hue and Lang's nem nuong, Anh Hue and Nga's chocolate covered strawberrys!
When you give Hue a wine opener. hehe =)
Orange Cremesicle Cocktails. Thanks Lang, they were really good!
Lizzy made Strawberry Cheesecake - Yum!
Trang made sushi =D
Also not individually pictured (I forgot my camera and was still trying to get the hang of iphone camera): Meri and Trang's salad, my shrimp salad, Hue and Lang's nem nuong, Anh Hue and Nga's chocolate covered strawberrys!
When you give Hue a wine opener. hehe =)
Happy Birthday [T]immy!
They grow up so fast. Happy 19th Birthday to the baby bro!
Excuse the writing. Chocolate and Vanilla cake from Shatila.
Excuse the writing. Chocolate and Vanilla cake from Shatila.
Snapshot 9
I miss Mardi Gras. I found this at Krogers last week. Next year I'll be on a hunt for a better King Cake, one that comes a little closer to the ones I ate during my early elementary days in Louisiana!
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