to make yourself more Asian

(aka, "a food post even David can read")

To make yourself more Asian, or fit in with Asians, there's always the difficult task of learning the language, which I haven't done, but there is something much more easy one can do:

eat Asian food.

This is what I am good at. And I love it. But to eat real Asian food, you need a real Asian recipe. And to make real Asian food, you need real Asian ingredients from a real Asian store. All of this we have achieved. Debbie felt so sorry for me the last time we ate at our little Thai restaurant. I made the mistake of ordering Pad Thai. (I was actually confusing it with a Vietnamese vermicelli bowl, which I loved eating out. Yes, I don't have the countries quite down yet.) Anyway, much to my disappointment, the Pad Thai was overly sweet, overly greasy, and tasted like what every typical American wants Asian food to taste like. I had to choke it down. I knew it couldn't be the real thing.

This week, Debbie and I purchased palm sugar, tamarind paste, rice noodles (which even Publix did not have), cilantro, a new bottle of fish sauce, garlic, shrimp, chicken, shallots, (we had peanuts). We ate Real Pad Thai. It was fabulous. A little sweet, a little tangy. It was amazing. It is true that I enjoy any Real Asian dish more than any other type of eating. Don't get me wrong, I haven't tried the truly out-there dishes at the Real Asian Restaurants in Chinatown. And I don't like raw fish sauce.

Our only mistake we discovered later: we bought Vietnamese fish sauce instead of Thai. There's always room to grow. But, hey, when was the last time you grated some palm sugar.

With all of these food posts, readership must sometimes wonder, how do they do it, how are all those amazing things happening in the kitchen? Well, folks, we have two women in the kitchen.

Kitchen Aid update

8. coffee-chocolate cupcakes with mocha-mascarpone whipped frosting
9. chocolate zucchini cake
10. honey-wheat pizza dough
11. banana bread

Monopoly smackdown

How often have you finished Monopoly in one sitting? And even within four hours? Well, Debbie and I did exactly that on Thursday night.

Thursday was a long, stressful day. It shouldn't have been, since I was off work. But it seems that when a down time comes, God thinks it's funny to bring about relationship issues. One of the greatest things about our relationship is that we are constantly moving towards growth. There continuously remains nothing unsaid, nothing not worked through, nothing (known) unresolved, nothing swept under the rug. And nothing, nothing, we can't bring to each other with the response of both of us wanting to pray, grow, apologize, change, and expand in our capacity to relate to one another in a healthy way.

Sorry to veer from Monopoly smackdown. So we needed some silly time after a long, hard day. I told Debbie I would play any game she wanted. Now, you have to understand our game-playing capacities to understand the generosity here. I always, well, 99% of the time, lose all games to Debbie. There is once in a blue moon where I might win Mancala, or maybe one time when I won Trivial Pursuit (when Debbie picked questions for me on the card). My limited knowledge of pop culture, combined with my horrible memory recall, combined with my poor ability to strategize at games like Othello, Connect Four, Mancala, and Checkers......those types. Anyway, I am not the best game-player. I have gotten used to losing over the years. I have gotten to be a better sport also. I can't even remember the last time I cried when losing. :)

Well, Debbie traditionally picks games where she thinks the chances of me crying are slim. But I assured her, I would play any game she wanted this time. Othello, Mind Trap, anything. She picked Monoply, I think secretly because she knows I liked it.

Under her decision, we instituted the "free parking rule," where you get the money put in the middle of the board. I was agaisnt it, since nowhere in the rule book is this mentioned as an acceptable method of playing. But it's a good thing we did it! It saved me. Too bad I took like 1200 of Debbie's dollars from that "free parking."

Before that I was almost a goner. I kept landing on properties and buying them like crazy. But didn't own a whole set yet, couldn't build houses, and wasn't making enough rent off of them to stay afloat. I was lucky in the beginning of the game to land on Boardwalk and buy it. Then I landed on Park Place, and actually had to mortgage property to buy it. But you know it was worth it.

At one point, when I was ahead, I felt sorry for Debbie (we constantly take turns feeling bad for the person struggling in the game) and made a deal with her so she could have a set and build. That was a total mistake. She threw up her houses and I landed there five times or so and was going broke, UNTIL I landed on FREE PARKING! Good thing. Then I threatened her. Basically the message was, "watch out, if you build, I will build twice as much and put you under immediately." That slowed her down and I slowly built an empire, putting aside 800 or so for every time I landed on her yellows with three houses.


But then, the end quickly came. She landed on Boardwalk with three houses twice, then landed on it with four houses. She mortgaged everything she had, and still owes me 300 something. I took my final turn and she allowed me to buy hotels, which I have never been able to do. Even though the game was already over. Surely after knowing my history of losing, you can understand that I am a little excited over this Monopoly smackdown?


We got ready for bed and started talking of games we like, what we played as a child, and got talking like two children who are having a sleepover and are supposed to go to bed, but lay awake in bed talking. Only, there are no adults that can come and say "girls, go to bed!," because we are the adults! Sometimes we forget we are. I love those moments.

summer vacation

Sometimes I mistake a weekend for a summer vacation.

It's not really my fault though. It's Debbie's sister, Jen's fault. She arrived on Friday when I was still at work. By the time I got home in the afternoon, she and Debbie showed up after having purchased a dozen cupcakes from The Cupcake Spot. (They took some to their other sister.) Jen also brought lots of snacks from The Fresh Market (animal crackers, pretzel-squares with peanut butter centers, sesame sticks, trail mix, vanilla granola, Kind bars, Choco Pod chocolates, chocolate covered espresso beans (she knows me very well), and a bottle of Whitehall Lane Winery & Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa Valley). Is that a regular weekend to you, or a summer vacation?



We started off the weekend with chatting and cooking. Debbie prepared roast chicken with lemon, rosemary, and garlic, mashed potatoes with smoked Gouda, and steamed broccoli. We finished a bottle (that Jen sent for Debbie's birthday a few weeks prior) of Weingut Brundlmayer Gruner Veltliner Kamptaler Terrassen 2006. We thought the white wine would go better with the chicken. And for dessert: cupcake tasting. I like to cut them in quarters to try as many as possible. And they make fun of me, but in truth they like it too.

After dinner and cupcakes, it was chatting until 11:00 PM, then bed!

Saturday morning, everyone lounged around. I had a baby shower to attend and a gift to go buy. Upon returning, the silly sisters (s.s) had returned with a dozen more cupcakes and movies from Blockbuster! They managed to pick all the ones that I have never tried from The Cupcake Spot!


I got ready for the baby shower, with a dress, 5 inch heels, and earrings on loan from Jen. I like to be dressed up like a doll, and apparently Jen likes to coach me in fashion.



Debbie took a nap. Jen did dishes. The s.s. watched Mamma Mia. Upon returning from the baby shower, the s.s. had cracked open some Yuengling's (thanks to Jen) and were playing speed scrabble.

Kyra and Baby Lucas hung out with us for a while. Then we were off to Thai Wok, our favorite little local Thai restaurant. Fried rice, ginger chicken, Phad Prik King, Cashew Nut Chicken...(thanks Debbie!). Yummy!

Back to the house. Too much food for cupcakes. Jen had picked up a bottle of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio 2007. I could only have a glass or two, but it was excellent.


One round of speed scrabble for me and Jen while Debbie prepared the french toast for the next morning. Then it was dance party. Mainly Debbie dancing and everyone giggling. I think we played "try to find music that she couldn't dance to." We couldn't.

Sunday morning: overnight french toast with raspberries and strawberries in a marscapone cream and crispy bacon. Thanks Debbie!

Speed scrabble time. Actually the s.s. played while I played Bejeweled on Jen's i-phone. The conversations always turn to food; yes we are fanatics. So for lunch we were off to El Cap, a local burger place. With cheddar and grilled onions and pickles! With a basket of fries and a basket of onion rings to share. Thank you Jen!

Back to the house for a final round of cupcakes. Jen had Mint Chocolate. I tasted Mint Chocolate, Bean Head, Better Than (with cream cheese frosting) and Better Than (with chocolate frosting).

Then we had to say goodbye. We sent Jen off with homemade marshmallows that Debbie made.


Debbie and I were exhausted from all the fun and food, we put ourselves down for a nap.

Here were are now, and no, we are not eating dinner tonight. Maybe a cupcake though.

I always have fun with Jen and Debbie. They are so fun and silly. It's good to laugh together and talk. Jen is one of the most generous people I have ever known. Having her around is like having another sister. She is always thoughtful. And we have so much fun!

Kitchen Aid update

4. focaccia
5. banana cake with cream cheese frosting
6. whole-wheat bagels
7. marshmallows

starting a list of Kitchen Aid creations

1. bagels
2. red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
3. marshmallows

a birthday to remember

It wasn't my birthday; it was Debbie's, but luckily, I enjoyed it like it was mine. Normally, we don't do gifts. Christmas 2008, no gifts. My birthday 2009, no gifts. Debbie's birthday 2008, no gifts. There was one birthday I remember of Debbie's in the past seven years of living here where I did get her gifts. But gifts are generally items that are semi-needed or wanted for long periods of time, like sports bras and pajamas, things like that. There was also a Christmas, I think 2006, where we did both exchange gifts. I got a necklace and nice picture frames that I had been wanting. I got Debbie a little baby Smokey Joe charcoal grill. Nothing really since then though. And since saving for a house, we haven't done gifts really. And I kind of like it this way honestly. I like to jointly decide purchases and have them be pretty intentional. (I think summer 2007, Debbie got me Bare Escentuals make-up. That was nice.)

Our ideas on money spending are virtually the same, maybe entirely the same, so that works out very well. And our major spending is on guess what? You know......yes, that's right, food. We enjoy buying healthy food, which tends to be a little more pricey. We enjoy a variety of food. We enjoy trying new food. We enjoy making home-made desserts. (I probably wouldn't eat a store-bought cookie if you paid me.) We enjoy baking. And it is stress-relieving for Debbie. And a great hobby. We enjoy hosting. We enjoy feeding others. And I have always enjoyed others feeding me. This dates back to my high school years when my friends and their families were always gracious enough to have me over, and open their homes (and pantries) to me. Thanks friends! For some reason, back in that day, it was formed in me to be generous with food and sharing. It must have meant that much to me. So we very much enjoy hosting. And since we don't really do gifts for ourselves, we don't exactly spend money on others in that way. I mean, also, Debbie teaches and I work at a non-profit. We aren't exactly generous with ourselves, monetarily, except with taking care of our bodies with healthy food. So our generosity with others has to be in areas relative to our income and relative to how we live ourselves. Which ends up being with food, our time, our friendships, our empathy, and personalities. I got off track with this blog, but what I am leading up to is Debbie's birthday.

Anyways, so this year Debbie really did not expect gifts for her birthday, especially from me. Yet she kept saying, I want a present, but don't spend any money. I want a big birthday, but don't spend any money. And actually, her statements inspired me to have a fundraiser for a joint gift. She has always (well, at least for seven years) wanted a Kitchen Aid standing mixer. This is an item we would almost never, ever consent to buying ourselves. After all, we can make bread, cakes, anything without it. It might take the both of us, but we have done it. It is truly a luxury item. I mean, we intend to buy a nice refrigerator, washer/dryer and stuff. But that is stuff we can't move into a home without. No one can claim a need to a standing mixer. We can justify running shoes, because they help us remain healthy and strong our whole lives, or running clothes. We can justify a lot of things, like a gym membership. But when it comes to spending money, we have a hard time on things that aren't 'needed' and aren't food. (Which is why I thank my mother for my Nikon D80; what a life-saver.) So, without friends and family chipping in, this might never have happened. I want to thank all of you who contributed to Debbie's gift. If you know her, you can only imagine the look on her face last Saturday night when opening the box.

And if you know me, you can only imagine my pleasure at sneakily crafting and carrying out the whole scheme. My joy at emailing family and friends, the thrill of the happy replies, making the purchase, sneaking it into the house, wrapping the box, buying the bow and ribbon (and putting it on in the middle of the night), and bringing that box out! Watching her joy and confusion, trying to figure out that all these people went in together. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I love to receive gifts, especially needed clothes or a special clothing item, but I do attribute my quality of loving to give more than receiving to my mother. She is still a person who will shower me, but then want nothing for herself. Somehow this quality also works well between Debbie and me. I enjoy her birthday as much as my own.

Back to the expression on her face...

In fact, that same afternoon, earlier in the day, when we were making her birthday cake, I had to pour the sugar syrup heated to 240 degrees/soft ball stage, into egg white mixture, while Debbie beat it with the hand mixer. She had to continue beating for fifteen minutes to make the Italian vanilla buttercream frosting. When she was beating it, she said, "Now this is where a standing mixer would come in handy."

"Maybe one day," I replied.

There's something really special about family and friends joining in to allow for such a gift. Something thrilling about being able to jointly do more than any one individual could do. What a day. A shout out to everyone who made that moment possible. What generous people we have in our lives.