Homemade Sourdough bread

My childhood home in Vietnam was within walking distance to this delicious sandwich shop. They made everything fresh there, the bread, the meat, the butter and talking about it makes my mouth water. What I remember most is the smell of fresh baked bread. It was so light, crunchy and airy. So imagine my surprise … Continue reading Homemade Sourdough bread

Pan Fried Potatoes (Khoai Chiên)

Another Lunar New Year is here. I can't believe it. Time is flying by. During the Lunar New Year, my mom always makes several vegetarian dishes. One of them is pan fried potatoes and serves with a side of soy sauce. It was just sliced russet potatoes, salt and pepper with a little bit of … Continue reading Pan Fried Potatoes (Khoai Chiên)

Ginger Chicken & Green Beans

Ginger is a common ingredient used in Vietnamese cooking. My mom swears it. She said when she had me, she ate a lot of ginger to keep her healthy. She claims that ginger helps her digest the food in her stomach. We use it in everything, tea, cooking and even candy. So when I saw … Continue reading Ginger Chicken & Green Beans

5 Spice Chicken & Cabbage (Gà với Bắp Cải)

I was looking forward to the holidays hoping to get some time to create new dishes, but it was quite contrary 🤣. We were up and out the door by 8am and didn't return home until 7pm. And by that time spending hours in the kitchen was not going to happen. So I turned to … Continue reading 5 Spice Chicken & Cabbage (Gà với Bắp Cải)

Chicken & Rice (Cơm Gà)

Chicken and rice is a ubiquitous dish. Different countries have different version of chicken and rice. The most famous chicken and rice dish in Vietnam is the Cơm Gà Hồi An. Traditionally the chicken and rice dish is composed of boiled chicken served alongside pickled carrots and daikon, shredded papaya, sweet chili sauce and sticky … Continue reading Chicken & Rice (Cơm Gà)

Pomegranate Juice (Nước Lựu)

Whenever I see pomegranates, it reminds me of the house I grew up in, in Vietnam. Our third floor balcony had a pomegranate tree. I know what you're thinking...a tree in the third floor balcony? Well, the houses in Vietnam are not like the ones in the US in that they are not individual, stand … Continue reading Pomegranate Juice (Nước Lựu)

Chayote Squash & Carrot Stir fry (Su Su Xào)

Last week I walked into the grocery store thinking...ok, this will be a surgical strike. In and out in no time since I just needed to get lettuce. Well, forty-five minutes later, I'm going through the reduced produce section to see what I can make from the vegetables that are on sale. They had chayote … Continue reading Chayote Squash & Carrot Stir fry (Su Su Xào)

Caramelized Chicken (Gà Kho)

Growing up in Vietnam, we didn't eat much chicken because it was more expensive compared to beef or pork. We also didn't grocery shop for a week or month worth of food. We grocery shop everyday. So when I moved here, I was pleasantly surprised to find that chicken is more affordable and I don't … Continue reading Caramelized Chicken (Gà Kho)

Apple Cider Pulled Pork (Xả Xíu)

Is it me or does it seem like the kids here get a lot of breaks from school? 🤣 There's Fall Break, break between Christmas, and New Year's, and Spring Break. I don't remember having that many week-long breaks in schools in Vietnam. What I do remember clearly is that my school days were half … Continue reading Apple Cider Pulled Pork (Xả Xíu)

Coconut Ginger Chicken

An old colleague told me once that a stay at home mom doesn't know how to manage her time, and I used to agree with that until now. Since becoming a stay at home mom, I've learned that I do need to manage my time...plan my day, just like I did at work. That is … Continue reading Coconut Ginger Chicken