Asian
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Continue ReadingYou won’t find this dish in many Vietnamese restaurants, but every Vietnamese family makes this dish at home, especially around Lunar New Year (Tết). It’s one of the most flavorful and delicious dishes—the pork belly is braised in coconut water and becomes super tender in no time thanks to the Instant Pot. You get that…
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Continue ReadingCostco Samples have a magical way of influencing our eating habits. On a routine shopping trip my daughter tried a sample cup of Tasty Bites Madras Lentils—and proceeded to talk about them the entire trip. I reluctantly conceded and went back to purchase the package of pouches—thinking I’d be lucky to use just half of…
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Continue ReadingThese Japanese BBQ Short Ribs are inspired by the ones I get at my favorite local izakaya, Kappo Honda. I’m not sure if this is a common dish that you can find at other Japanese restaurants, because I don’t really see it on the menu at other places. It’s definitely a Japanese copycat of delicious…
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Continue ReadingMy favorite potato salad has to be Japanese Potato Salad, its creamy, slightly tangy and the carrots and cucumber give it a wonderful texture and flavor. Kewpie Mayonnaise is a must have for this recipe! If you haven’t tried Japanese Mayo before, you’re missing out – it’s so much better than your standard Hellmann’s or…
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Continue ReadingThis is a Vietnamese fusion dish that was inspired by the spaghetti and meat sauce that I grew up eating. I’m not completely sure what ingredients went into the version that my mom used to make, but I know there was fish sauce and always a lot of extra mushrooms added. I’ve incorporated many ingredients…
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Continue ReadingBánh Canh Cua is a crab noodle soup dish that’s quite popular in Vietnam. The noodles are hand made with tapioca starch – they look very similar to udon noodles, but are slightly chewier. The noodles are cooked right in the broth which gives the broth a thick consistency more similar to a stew broth.…
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Continue ReadingI always love ordering mango lassi at my favorite Indian restaurants. It’s an absolutely delicious and refreshing drink made with mangos, yogurt and a touch cardamon that adds a lovely and distinctive flavor – it’s perfectly for cooling down your palette and your body in warm weather!
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Continue ReadingOn my way to the airport on Maui I had set aside an hour to try this famous food truck known for the best garlic shrimp plate lunch on the island – Geste Shrimp Truck. My husband and I rushed to the “secret” location eager to try this local dish. As strangers to “Hawaiian Time”…
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Continue ReadingI discovered Spam Musubi on a trip to Hawaii years back. I began seeing these little cute packages of seaweed, rice and SPAM in cellophane everywhere I went. From corner markets, to plate lunch palaces—Musubi was everywhere. Intrigued, I tried one and could not believe how much flavor was packed into this little “deck of…
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Continue ReadingThe most memorable part of a trip to lucky Las Vegas differs depending on who you ask. For me, my jackpot was finding James Beard Award winner Lotus of Siam—which is known as one of the best Thai Restaurants in all of America. Lotus is not your typical Thai joint serving Pad Thai—this is Northern…
I started this blog to photograph & organzine my recipes so I can share them with friends & family. I hope you find something that you enjoy making on here. Like my Facebook Page below to get updates when I post a new recipe.
-Van
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