What would you do for a neighbor with food poisoning?

Would you knock on the door and check on him/her? Even more, would you bring over a pot of freshly cooked chicken noodle soup for dinner? Would you care enough to stuff their fridge with Chobani, fruit and OJ for the next morning?

I did all of the above, and suggested him to sue the hell out of the certain food chain (starts with a C) that put him in the miserable state.

In return,  he gave me a box of match sticks that I needed for lighting the lavender scented candles that I just got for insomnia, and even a bottle of my favorite beer.

Now, replace "neighbor" with "ex-boyfriend" (actually he is both). And in case you are wondering, yes, he is the reason for my insomnia, and the reason I like beer to start with. I will probably saving the beer and the match stick box for as long as I can. Pathetic, I know. But this is what I do to move on...

Heart Warming Chicken "Noodle" Soup with Spaghetti Squash -- for ONE, on a rainy day

As if things can't get worse, I got a cold, with a bloody nose. The rain outside did not help lightening my mood, either. Sigh. I had to do something to cheer myself up. My lunch did the trick -- it was so comforting that it may have cured my cold!

Eat Your Oysters (and Your Greens, too)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE oysters. D, though not a big oyster fan himself, was kind enough to be a good sport and accompany me to the largest oyster festival in New England two weeks ago. 

Here's a snapshot of the shucking contest. You can feel the passion here, can't you?

One-step Cocoa Frosting for a Chocolate Birthday Cake -- birthday recommended but not mandatory

We've been having too much fun since last Friday -- so much that I have not yet got a chance to update about our beer hopping and a joint birthday party.

I arrived at the beer hopping late, thanks to a hectic clean room schedule. Nonetheless, I had LOTS of fun, discovery local businesses and such. The most impressive pit stop would have to be our local brew shop luck &levity without a doubt. The six home brewers there brought over a dozen tasty beer, from bitter stout to sweet rhubarb to Belgian wheat. What a great treat!

(I found this picture of us chilling from the brew shop website.)

Pig Roast with Old Friends!

Some friendships are meant to last -- you don't necessarily have to talk every day, but in the bottom of your hear, you know the bond is and always will be there. Last weekend we drove down to Dobbs Ferry, NY to visit a friend that we hadn't seen for 3 years, over an awesome pig roast!

It took us a while to get there (Friday traffic is always the worst), plus it took a long time for us to find a parking spot. We kept circulating a block down from the eatery, and the smell just made us salivating.

It was so nice to see L, J and their lovely lovely boy N. N is the first baby that D and I have ever held. I still remember how nervous we were since last time we saw him, he was still a tiny baby with a wobbly head -- we were so afraid of breaking him that we held our breath having him in our arms. I couldn't believe that he was a real boy, talking and singing and all that!

I ordered the swine and wine dinner, which includes a three-course dinner with a wine pairing for each. D opted for the hogs and hops (beer pairing) instead, and we were able to have the "full" experience both.

Ladies Love Meatballs -- one-step recipe

It's been almost two months since I last got together w/ S. Man, how I miss it. We click so well when it comes to movies, dramas, wine, food and our boyfriends -- did I mention our boyfriends are actually best friends? Let alone the fact that we live less than 2 blocks away from each other!

I am so happy that we got to have our ladies night last Thursday. S must be the best guest ever -- not only does she always show up with a bottle or two of delicious wine, but she was also a great and talented help in the kitchen.

That night, we had oven-baked cajun meatballs, quinoa loaf with green peas, stove-top popcorns, and home-made macaroons. Couldn't have made the dinner without her!

Family Gathering for St Patrick's Day with an Awesome (Healthier) Soda Bread

This post is a bit delayed -- we've been having guests over for dinner EVERY SINGLE NIGHT since Saturday, and there was simply not enough time left for blogging besides all the lab stuff and fun gatherings. But I'm ready to share the party that kick-started everything -- the family gathering to celebrate St Patrick's Day. D's got some real Irish blood in his vein, have lived in Ireland, loves a real Guinness and has a harp tattoo on his back -- in case you are wondering why we were so eager and had the celebration party way before actual day and the parade! Our guests were awesome -- they spread green and joy everywhere in our loft. 

Together we shared corned a great time over black velvet, green hummus, beef and cabbage, Irish flag oven fries, almond butter coconut cookies, and this Irish soda bread.

Planning for Valentine's Day

I'm not really good at planning. Valentine's Day is tomorrow and I have NO gifts prepared. In fact, I am going to a play by myself at 4p.m. while D is going to stay at work till at least 5. But but but, I'm not such a bad girl friend at all, as I have spent some time planning for a perfect Valentine's Day dinner...for nerds like us.

Home sweet home -- roasted leg of lamb, salad with persimmon and shaved fennel, Israeli couscous with apricot, and eggnog cookies!

I'm home! Actually I've been back to New Haven for almost a week. Had several groups of people over for lunch/dinner already but did not take any photos because of the jet lag...But but but, last night we had another dear friend over for dinner and the there were pictures! Yay! (I know I know, I still need to complete my entries on the silk road trip, the Taiwan trip and the Cambodia trip. It'll just take a while, I promise.)

To start, we had a spinach salad, with shaved fennel, and persimmon. I rediscovered this wonderful fruit during my recent trip to Taiwan. When I was little, I often had the fruit very ripe, just sucking out the meat and leave the skin. Persimmon meant soft, squishy and sweet. In Taiwan, I tried several varieties of this fruit, and realized that you could actually eat the skin, and that the fruit can be firm and have a nice texture! Of course I have to add this to the salad, together with another of my favorite, fennel, which is just so versatile. It can be eaten raw or roasted. And the frond can be used in as an herb, so fragrant. Back home my parents used to mix the chopped up frond with ground pork and make dumplings!

The main dish last night was a semi-boneless leg of lamb, roasted with garlic and spice, medium rare yet on the rare end.

On the western China trip, we had lamb almost every single day. It was good in the beginning, but quickly became repetitive as most of the dishes were just packed with cumin. And, everything was well done, even the skewers were a bit chewy. Last night we decided to aim for tender and juicy. The leg of lamb from the grocery store was originally 5 lbs. I took off some meat (after watching a bunch of youtube videos) and left about 2 lbs on the bone. The roasting time was adjusted accordingly. The meat came out even better than expected -- meaty and juicy, packed with flavors.

Along the Silk Road, Tian Shan Tian Chi -- the Heavenly Mountains & Lake

Part of the Himalayan orogenic belt, stretching 2,800 kilometers (1,700 miles), Tian Shan is a large mountain range in Central Asia. The Xinjiang portion made the World Heritage List by UNESCO for its outstanding natural beauty, superlative natural features and as an example of ongoing biological and ecological evolution process. Of course we were not going to miss this spot!

Along the Silk Road, Ürümqi -- the Most Remote City from Any Sea

As previously mentioned, our family trip this year was along the ancient silk road. Although the original silk road no longer exists (modern highways and railroads have replaced a large part of it), I thought it would be fun to visit some towns and cities located along the ancient route, both to learn about the history and experience the current local life a bit.

Would You Eat This? -- My Food in China, Week 1

Born in China, having lived on three continents, I thought I had tried it all: escargots, squid on a stick, fried cicadas, grilled grasshoppers, salads consisting ducks' tongues and snake skin. Within two hours of my flight touched the ground, I quickly realized: Oh no, I was so wrong. I had not even touched the tip of the iceberg.

First, I was greeted by this lovely duck carefully prepared by my folks, simmered in a clay pot for over 5 hours.

Huh. Did I tell you it's stuffed with sticky rice, chest nuts, dried scallops, Shitake mushrooms, salted pork, bamboo roots, chicken gizzards, and lotus seeds? Once I came to peace with the duck head, the meat was lean and a bit tougher than chicken. It also had a slightly more earthy tone. This dish is a famous Shanghai style dish, and is supposed to be super nutritious (perhaps from the comprehensive ingredient list).
Bottom line: I would eat this VERY occasionally, maybe once a year on special occasion. I would NOT replace my turkey with this duck though as Ralphie's family did for Christmas.

I am going to do the rest of this post based on how gruesome the picture is, instead of by chronological order, just to ease you in. One day I walk home and found this sitting on the table.

3-Step Homemade Fresh Ricotta -- with Leftover Whey from Mozzarella!

A couple weeks ago, I tried my luck in cheese making for the first time. The end product of 1 lb fresh Mozzarella  (and the fun of making it) was super encouraging. So I went ahead and tried making another soft cheese, Ricotta. Similar to Mozzarella, both of them can be either enjoyed fresh as a snack when paired with something as simple as crackers, or they can be used in a whole range of dishes: pizza, lasagna, pasta, salad, you name it. The beauty of making ricotta is that: you can use leftover whey! it doesn't cost anything extra other than a piece of cheesecloth and some heating up on the stove top! Speaking of frugality and sustainability, what could be better than making cheese out of a cheese by product? I have gotta try it!

I found the process itself surprisingly simple -- heat, cool, drain.

A Month in China Day 0, via Air Canada -- going through immigration without a valid visa (how did I do that?!)

10 years ago, I left my hometown and started my life on a foreign continent. After my recent events in life, I looked back and reflected on how I ended up where I am now, and realized something that was quite shocking: more than 90% of the memorable and/or life changing events happened AFTER I left China. I suddenly felt the urge for a visit, no, a life back home, to be re-immersed in this rich culture and to maybe gain some new perspective in life. If nothing else, I will at least be able to visit some friends and family, and experience a ton of great food. Such urge was growing bigger day by day,  I just needed the last kick to get me off an enjoyable day-to-day life. Finally, a round-trip ticket for $760 did the trick. I mean,  who can pass THIS up?

At 2:40 a.m. September 18th, I packed one single suitcase and started a journey. Within the next 26 hours, I experienced several events that was more than a little surprising: I crossed the US/Canada boarder WITHOUT a valid VISA to each country, and with fresh fruits intact in my carry-on; I looked for a healthy and ended up eating at Mc Donald's; I got super fresh meals served before everyone and had a very boozy flight on Air Canada; and I almost drank a whole glass of dairy creamer before going to bed in full exhaustion. Man, where shall we start?

Friday Pizza on the Farm + Sunday Chewing on the Farm

FRIDAY

My first volunteer experience on the Yale Farm was super fun, and of course, I had to go back for more on Friday. And guess what, on Friday, there was a pizza party!

Yep you heard it right. Apparently, through fall, Yale hires pizza interns who starts roasting newly harvested vegetables and making pizza dough at noon every Friday. By 5:00 p.m., at the end of the volunteer hours, all volunteers are invited to a pizza feast to celebrate the hard work. You probably already know that New Haven is famous for its pizza, and the farm pizza has the reputation of being the best in town. Having sampled all the local pizzerias that claim to be the "best", I had my  doubts. But one bite later, I became a total believer. Oh my goodness, weren't those delicious!

Homemade Fresh Mozzarella -- the Deliciousness (!) and the Lessons Learned

During one of my random casual internet surfing mornings, a cooking lesson from the Kitchen tipped off the idea of making some fresh Ricotta at home, and I immediately got a starter kit online. Then there was the dilemma for me: Mozzarella or Ricotta? Luckily D immediately opted for the former, and here's what we ended up with (only for a few minutes before they got into our, fine, my tummy).

Wednesday Afternoon on the Farm

Were you ever intrigued by what it is like on a farm? Were you ever tempted by the wild, natural farming life style? If you were somebody like me, the answer would be "Yes! Many times!" I have always dreamed about living a rural life, especially after reading the Swiss novel "Heidi" at the age of 10. I was fascinated by the idea of sleeping on a hay stack, waking up to a mug of fresh goat's milk, and staying up chatting under a million stars in the sky. Today, my dream came true. Well, sort of. I finally got to work on a (not certified but better than) organic farm, for about three hours in the afternoon. 

London Broil Two Ways

When I hear London, I think  fancy. But don't let the name fool you, London broil is not an expensive cut of beef. In fact, it is actually a technique to marinate and cook some tough beef, either top round or bottom round. If you do it right though, the meat will come out REALLY juicy and good.

Potato Salad -- a lighter version, always a crowd pleaser

We have been trying our best to enjoy the last bit of New England summer lately -- having one or two cookouts plus game nights every week, occasional trips to the vineyards, or just hanging out and have dinner on the porch. Group gatherings usually involves sharing food, and potato salad has always been a safe and welcomed dish to bring along with us for sharing.

Not long ago, I acquired a great bag of potatoes from the farmer's market, and turned parts of it into a delicious potato salad to go with an end-of-the-summer grill.

The recipe was adapted from the food network, with a bit of a twist to make it slightly lighter and healthier.

A New Discovery -- CitySeed Farmer's Market in Wooster Square

If you are a pizza fan, you'd probably heard of the little Italy in New Haven -- rumor has it that pizza originated from here. However, unless you are in tune with natural/local/healthy living, you probably is not aware that it also hosts one of the best farmer's market in town. As a new comer to the scene, I was disappointed that last week was the end of the seasonal Uncommon Farmer's Market at Yale, so I did a little research online, and stumbled upon this awesome weekly event.

I was able to find about a dozen reviews, but nothing very recent. Overall, it seems high end, good quality and a little bit on the expensive side. Well, I was very intrigued. It is less than a 20-minute-walk away, and the weather has been gorgeous  -- really, there is no reason NOT to check it out.

And I am glad I did.