Every time I visit my home state of Oregon, which incidentally usually occurs during the summer, I breathe in the state and enjoy my time to its fullest. Family, friends, green as far as the eye can see, inexpensive (relatively speaking) housing, roadside wild blackberries, no sales tax, no getting out of the car to pump your gas; Oregon is easy living at its best. After a visit, I need to remind myself that the wonderland of greatness in the summer turns into a sunless, rainy, gray, borderline depressive state during the remaining eight, sometimes nine months of the year. Continue reading the cure for homesickness in a dip
All posts by leeheubleinhsu
kitchen failures and the bob’s red mill experiment
I’m going to start by saying I’m dubious of recipe contests. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s my fear of rejection, or my natural uncompetitiveness. However, when my friend Kara told me about the Bob’s Red Mill Spar for the Spurtle contest, I jumped. I have the time to experiment and develop a recipe, and the $5,000 first place cash prize is appealing too. Continue reading kitchen failures and the bob’s red mill experiment
when friends give you lemons
I have the pleasure of having a friend who has a large Meyer lemon tree in his backyard. Mind you, we were friends before I knew he had a lemon tree. In fact, we may have been friends before he bought the house with the tree. At any rate, my friend has been known to leave a shopping bag of lemons on my doorstep, and when this happens, I make things. Lemon pudding cake, limoncello, lemon curd. You get the idea. Continue reading when friends give you lemons
the salad of summer
Last summer I went to a concert at an outdoor winery/music venue. The evening was warm (it was outside the SF fog zone, mind you!), the music was amazing and the company of three girlfriends made for a beautiful evening. However, being the food obsessed person that I am, rather than relish in the musical experience, I couldn’t stop thinking about the peach tomato salad my friend Audrey made for our pre concert picnic. It’s a salad she had tried at Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack and decided to recreate for our concert picnic. It had just the right combination of sweetness and acidity, with a hint of salty cheese. A tasty salute to summer. Continue reading the salad of summer
origami animals and onion dip?
I’m sorry to admit that I’ve been busy enjoying summer and haven’t been as dedicated to writing and sharing recipes as I had originally hoped. It’s been a whirlwind 10 days of obsessing over the plethora of hummingbirds in my yard as well as cooking, picnicking at an oyster farm, hiking and playing the role of tourist in Vancouver BC. Continue reading origami animals and onion dip?
guest blogger – a trick of a dessert
As long as I’ve known my dear friend Erin, she has struggled with, what she calls, an addiction to sugar. Mind you, she’s the size of a pin, so it’s not weight that is her challenge, but rather the dependence on cookies, ice cream and candy. I remember a perhaps not fully sober night, when a group of us walked to the local Plaid Pantry (for those of you from Oregon, you know all about “The Plaid”). Erin made a beeline for a large package of Bit ‘O Honey candy and proceeded to go on and on about how it was the best-tasting candy she had ever had and how she loved it so much. Yes, Erin loves sugar. Continue reading guest blogger – a trick of a dessert
did someone say summer?
After living in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than six years, summer to me means cool, foggy weather. The onset of our Bay Area summer translates into a lot of sun seeking day trips to escape the blanket of Karl the Fog that envelopes the bay. Yes, our fog has a name, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Continue reading did someone say summer?
celebrating 50 years of amazing
This year Nutella is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I tried finding out when the actual date is, but the interwebs failed me. Ok, I’ll admit, I didn’t dig that deeply. My plan is to celebrate Nutella every day. Which is something I do regardless of whether or not the creamy, chocolate, hazelnut spread is celebrating a golden anniversary. Continue reading celebrating 50 years of amazing
learning chinese cooking from the best: ti pong
I first experienced Ti Pong made by my mother-in-law’s sister, aka Aunt Kathy. The dish is one of her Chinese specialties, but because she lives in Nashville, it’s not something I have the opportunity to eat on a regular basis. I have delicious memories of eating Aunt Kathy’s Ti Pong during our last two visits to Nashville. In non-Chinese terms, Ti Pong is meaty, fatty, delectably braised pork shank. It melts in your mouth and is a truly meaty treat. Continue reading learning chinese cooking from the best: ti pong
the great fry-off
Sometimes we believe our kitchen creations or family recipes are the best, and sometimes we need a contest to add validation to that belief. My friend Mel has always maintained that her grandma’s fried chicken recipe is the best. The double frying coupled with the secret ingredient of club soda is what sets Mel’s grandma’s fried chicken above all others. My husband thinks his fried chicken is the best. Brined overnight and the secret of air chilling is why his version is the best. Continue reading the great fry-off
planks and sticks 