Plum Tarte Tatin Recipe : Say Hello to Autumn with a Seasonal Dish

The heating went on in our house yesterday... Is this really the end of summer? How do we feel? Nostalgic already for the long days full of sunshine, trips to the beach and spontaneous jaunts for ice-cream? Or kind of ready to light vanilla candles, drink hot spicy teas and get cozy? Whatever the case is, we should learn to enjoy the beauty of the current situation... And that situation is... PLUMS! They're everywhere and they're sweet. 

Why not celebrate with a good-bye Summer, hello Autumn party? The last hurrah to say goodbye to Summer before we officially welcome Autumn with all her scents and flavors. 

Plum Tarte Tatin

275 g sugar
125 g butter (cubed)
1 egg beaten
200 g flour
100 ml water
500 g plums, halved with pits removed
powdered sugar

plastic wrap
tart form (22cm) buttered

Prep/Cook 
Add 75g of sugar, the butter, egg, flour and a pinch of salt to a bowl and kneed them together into dough. (Not too long, otherwise it may loose elasticity.) Wrap the dough into plastic wrap and put to rest in the fridge for half an hour. Meanwhile melt the rest of the sugar with water over low fire till it starts to resemble light caramel. Pour it over the bottom of the tart form so it covers the bottom completely. Lay the plums cut side down onto the bottom of the tart form. Warm the over till 180C. Roll out the dough. Lay it over the tarte form paying attention to tuck the edges over the form just a bit. Bake in the over 20-25 minutes. Let it cool and then carefully turn it right side up onto a large plate.

Serve
Finish it with powdered sugar. Serve it with sour cream mixed with lemon juice or with a ball of vanilla ice cream... 

(Recipe loosely translated: Original source) 

And if you're inspired to accompany your plum tart with en entire seasonal French inspired menu head over to Mimi Thorrison's absolutely magical blog Manger for a dinner menu straight out of the lovely countryside in Medoc, France...

(Photo via) 

• • •    LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

Nature knows best what and WHEN it's good for us! 

Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling  

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Blue Apron : Travel the World without Leaving Your Kitchen

Some of you may already be following along on instagram and seeing how I've been experimenting in the kitchen and having #culinaryfirsts over and over...and OVER! Every week I cook with exotic ingredients and spices like watermelon radish, forbidden rice and korean gochugaru...but how am I pulling this off without a lot of time in the market and looking up recipes? At the beginning of the year, I had a case of analysis paralysis from all the pinterest boards of carefully categorized recipes, but I got over it and I'm going to tell you all about my little secret to how. 

I really take pride in knowing that I'm selecting good ingredients, but I also want to know that I'm growing as a cook. I want to continue adding to my repertoire and tackling new culinary feats in the kitchen. But of course, who has the time? I first stumbled upon Blue Apron (a weekly meal subscription service) via a friend of mine who gave me one of her free trials (3 meals for 2 people, worth $60). It could seriously be one of the best free trials out there. So I signed up, selected my dietary preferences and my meals were to be sent to us by the end of the week. You can change delivery settings within a week's notice.  

How it Works

• • •
Get Food Packaged Exactly by the Amount Necessary
All the veggies and select cuts of meats come prepackaged, as well as all the seasonings,
cheeses, and other ingredients to make sauces and dressings from scratch.

• • •
Prepare Food Using Step-by-Step Visual Recipe Cards
You're given a dose of the cultural influence to the dish, with all of the ingredients needed plus  a visual display on the front of the card. On the back, a visual step-by-step that acts like a mini cooking course at home. What's great about it is that hubby (who's less cooking inclined) and I can both jump right in and divvy up our efforts, where as traditional recipes tend to require an extra step of organizing and strategizing. Even if you don't subscribe to the service, you can access all of their visual step-by-step recipes via their online cookbook.

Some of My Favorites

Mexican Chicken Mole with Cilantro Rice 
• • •
Wasn't much of a fan of mole until this dish. The rich decadent chocolate and peppers mixed against the lime cilantro accents, collaborated well together. I think we ate in silence, (which is the marker of a truly delicious meal for us).

Chicken Shawarma with Tzatziki, Hummus & Beet Salad
• • •
All I need to say is "Tzatziki spilleth over." A zesty sauce made from scratch
and beet salad. A surprise rush of flavors in such a simple dish with vibrant colors.

Beef Ramen Noodle Soup with Choy Sum & Enoki Mushrooms
• • •
I was a Hoisin virgin until this meal. Quality steak and enoki mushrooms.
Handmade noodles? The noodle lover in me was swooning.
{ ...awww shucks, thanks for including this photo in your Autumn Cookbook }

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Forbidden Rice
• • •
I was excited to use watermelon radish for the first time, (so delicious to the eyes) and we discovered forbidden rice (which is a rich source of anti-oxidants)! What a great replacement for white rice. It's hearty and has an earthy flavor on its own.

Korean Beef Chapchae with Sweet Potato Vermicelli 
• • •
FYI I love spicy food! I loved making yet another culinary first, with the Korean chili spice, gochugaru. The sweet potato vermicelli noodles were a unique element that soaked in all the flavors. Added bonus:  being that I am more conscious about the amount and type of carbs I eat, I liked that it was a great substitute for rice noodles.

 Dukkah-Dusted Tilapia with Eggplant Sofrito and Peppers over Quinoa
• • •
Having never tried dukkah-anything, I was excited to experience new flavors and fish with extra texture. The blistered peppers were a surprisingly delightful way to prepare them whole and we're always down for Quinoa.

 Salmon Burgers with Corn-on-the-cob & Basil Butter 
• • •
Hello juicy-ness! My goodness this was the best burger of the year. The lemon aioli drizzle on the made-from-scratch salmon made for a summery refreshing pairing. 

Savor the World & Learn

1 - Try the world. Hop cultures from meal to meal. Sample before you decide to invest in a full size carton of miso, or bottle of hoisin sauce. Cook with exotic ingredients like sweet potato vermicelli, kumquats or pattypan squash for the first time.

2 - Less anxiety in trying to figure out what to make. We set our preferences, for the dish types (vegetarian, pescatarian, chicken, beef etc.) and the majority of the time it's something we want to eat. I would love it if eventually they could include more specific dietary requirements like dairy free, gluten free etc. 

3 - Cooking class at home  Learn a new cooking technique in every meal. The visual recipe cards give it a "demo" feel. 

4 - Feel accomplished. There's something about the combination of trying new techniques and unique ingredients and doing it on your own from scratch that add up to a sense of accomplishment. I love feeling like I'm learning and exploring right in my kitchen.

Have you tried Blue Apron, or a service like it?...what has your experience been like? 
 

• • •    LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

Let someone else take the driver's seat
so you can enjoy the ride. 

Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling  

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Take Us To Lunch: Porto Gazing with Vanessa & Joana of Dua2Por3, Portugal

Once in a while something happens that reassures you that you're on the right path in life. When it happens it's a really happy day, a day you draw inspiration from anytime doubts decide to come lurking.  I had that kind of a day when I arrived in Porto for a lunch date with two very talented women Vanessa and Joana of dua2por3, a creative design firm. Their company does illustration, pattern design, graphic design, info-graphics and packaging design. I first discovered their work by coming across a collection of notebooks they've designed depicting scenes of everyday life and culture of Portugal. Each notebook design is a visual story giving you clues about the heart and soul of that region, transforming the blank pages within into an invitation to visit and write down your own discoveries... I knew I wanted to know more about them, their work and of course why they want to share their country, Portugal, with the world.  

I traveled to Porto with three of my friends and a long weekend of "ladies at leisure" awaited us. My very first activity in Porto was to meet with Joana and Vanessa. Only in retro spec can my friends and I appreciate just how fortuitous that would be for our Porto experience. 

My partners in crime. 

• • •

Vanessa suggested we meet in front of Lello Bookstore,
which just so happens to be one of the most beautiful bookstores in the entire world! 

Vanessa came to meet me and my friend M, who joined me for my "work stuff."  She explained that Joana would be joining us later because she was showcasing her line of minimalist jewelry at a local artisan market and before that if we'd like we could take a walk and see some interesting parts of town. "Of course we would!"...screamed M and I a bit too aggressively. We quickly learned that Vanessa, besides owning a design company, is also an architect. She's a graduate of University of Porto, one of the oldest and prestigious Universities in Europe.

• • •

Which would explain how she knew so much about the beautiful tile clad facades
that made the city look cheerful even on this uncharacteristically dreary day.  

As we walked along the pedestrian street Rua de Cedofeita, Vanessa told us how she met her business partner Joana, at a design course. Joana herself comes from a Business and Marketing background but like Vanessa, she's passionate about all things design and out of this shared desire to practice more creativity, the two ladies joined forces in a venture merging their different skill sets to enrich their design practice.  

• • • 

Shortly after we turned to seemingly nondescript, rather narrow street called Rua de Miguel Bombarda. At first glance it didn't seem to hold much interest and we wondered why Vanessa decided to lead us away from the center towards this area. Then of course she started pointing out delectable little gems such as art galleries featuring local artists, delicious tiny boutiques with locally made goods, a hotel without a sign with a secret garden in the back that hosts performances. This magical street revealed to house many doors to hidden wonders. 

As Vanessa continued to tell us about these places we began to understand the spirit of Porto. A city full of inspiration, enthusiasm, creativity and locals who truly love and enjoy their city. It was a refreshing new view. Opposite to the grim news reports of economic decline of southern Europe and how seemingly the only thing to do is abandon ship leaving the region in search of work elsewhere. Porto was revealing itself as a city full of entrepreneurial energetic locals who are not focusing on negative predictions but instead are busy creating, discovering and building. No wonder the Univeristy of Porto's own incubator program UPTEC is a first place winner of Regio Stars award last year for smart growth. 

• • •
Just when we thought we've seen it all, we ducked inside a door into a spacious ultra modern space, a stark contrast to the rustic exteriors outside. Vanessa announced that this was Centro Comercial Bombarda, a shopping "mini-mall" with innovative local and international brands, few galleries, and funky cafes and restaurant or two. There is also a courtyard where you can sit and enjoy a long Portuguese lunch.   

• • • 
But we were not yet sitting down for lunch, we now headed to the market to meet up with Joana. In a modern courtyard at the end of Rua das Flores was a little oasis where artists and creators displayed their treasures. There were edible goods, decor, accessories, organic personal care products, clothes and more. Shopping there you could literally stock the entire house and wardrobe! 

Joana and Vanessa OF dua2por3 at Chocolateria das Flores

Joana turned out to also be just as friendly and sunny as Vanessa. Finally, now that I had the two ladies together I asked the question I've been wanting to ask them ever since coming across their Portugal inspired notebooks. Why? Why Portugal and why Porto? The girls glanced at each other before breaking into a chuckle. "Why? Well... because it's so NICE!" They elaborated by telling a story of how the idea was conceived. Upon finishing their course they won top spots in a design competition. To celebrate they went down to the waterside to enjoy some coffee and cake. It was sunny day, the view marvelous, coffee delicious as always sipped from a porcelain cup... and the idea stuck. Porto had something special! Everyone should come and experience it. It isn't about the historical monuments, or the UNESCO protected Ribeira neighborhood. But simply because of this intangible feeling of well being one gets from the simple act of sitting and drinking coffee overlooking the Duoro river... because it's so nice! 

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{ Wanderlust Notebooks }

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Thank you ladies for not only sharing Porto and Portugal with all of us through your inspired notebooks, but also for being true global neighbors and making me and my friends' weekend in Porto so much more meaningful!! 
 

JOANA AND VANESSA'S FAVORITES FOR PORTO:

Shop: Local creative brands along Rua Miguel Bombarda (See O Porto Cool photo reportage) 

Lunch Spot: Rota Do Cha' for an Indian/Japanese inspired lunch of Portuguese proportions. Sit in the wonderfully zen garden weather allowing. On your way out do pick up some delicious tea at their downstairs boutique. 

Afternoon pick me-up: Chocolateria das Flores for a real Parisian hot chocolate, yes the kind that tastes like a melted chocolate bar in a cup. Also try their artisanal bon bons... trust me. 

And there are more... The ladies surprised me with a whole list of places to eat, needless to say we dined like queens! Our culinary discovery of Porto however will be a post of its own!

• • •    LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

It's good to fall in love with new places, 
especially if they inspire you to fall in love with your own town. 

Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling

Photo Credits: Lello Bookstore via Visitporto.travel, Gallery Hostel  via Hostel.com, Rua de Cedofeita via Housing Just Landed, Centro Comercial Bombarda Courtyard via Hioporto.com, Art in Centro Comercial Bombarda via Valencia Out.

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IDEA150: Have the Perfect Fika Break

"Fika", in the Nordic countries, is a special way to have a coffee break. It requires stopping what you're doing to enjoy the moment in accompaniment of coffee, something sweet to eat and good company. In Sweden coffee breaks are mandated by law and an employee earns 5 minutes for every hour at work to have a nice coffee break which everyone usually takes at 10 in the morning and again at 3 in the afternoon. (With the help of my trusty calculator this averages out to 20 minutes per break if you work an 8 hour day.) Inspired by Maria's sunny fika in the park and spurred on by the resolution to create new traditions, I have decided to also give it a try. Then another... and another... 

• • •

{ Fika With A View } 

Above is a fika moment from last weekend in Porto, Portugal from our hotel's breakfast terrace. Coffee with marmalade croissant and a little fruit cup. I traveled with three friends (ladies on tour!) but since I'm a chronic early riser this was a moment for myself to enjoy the view and to journal about all the discoveries from the day before. Good company is actually one of the required elements for a great fika, but there is nothing wrong with having a fika all by yourself as long as you're taking in the moment.  Besides, me, myself and I are lovely companions!   

• • •

{ Fika On The Beach} 

Back home in Holland... during warm spring and summer weekends when the sun is shining we like to take the kids to the beach. There is a magical place with in-ground trampolines, slides and a whole menagerie of toys to play in the sand with. The magic lies in the fact that parents can sit down in a civilized manner at tables and order adult beverages all in view of their precious little princes and princesses jumping their brains out! This time it was the usual koffie verkeerd* for her and a cappuccino for him. When the nice waitress asked if we'd like cake, remembering that I now have a new fika tradition I quickly and rather loudly said: "Yes!" then I shyly pointed at Vito adding "one just for him". The only problem is that my husband is not a 'sharer' so I only got one measly little bite... of white fluffy heaven! We sat back in the sunshine enjoying the sea view and the bouncing children. 

*koffie verkeerd - translated from Dutch means "coffee done wrong" because it has "too much" milk. I would venture further to say that according to culturally conservative Dutch nature anything in abundance is considered over-indulgence and therefore wrong and thus too much milk in coffee is just "wrong". Well, to that I'll say: "if this is wrong, then I don't want to be right". 

 • • •

{ Fika, The Family Affair }  

Here is another perfect example of the fika. Last month we went on what has now become an annual Easter weekend family trip. We arrived at our Bungalow Park and instead of frantically trying to "settle in" our cabin we headed straight to a very cozy lounge with fireplace and view of the little lake for coffee and cakes. (I had one of my own this time.) It was a much better way to settle in and celebrate the start of a long weekend all together. 

• • •

{ Fika Portuguese Style }  

Back to Porto! These are the famous pastel de nata, delicious creamy egg custard tart in flaky crust. Served warm with a sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg on top. These beauties were accompanies by a galão, the Portuguese version of cafe latte (or koffie verkeerd), served in a taller glass with a long spoon to mix copious amounts of sugar that you're expected to put in your coffee. This time we were all together having an afternoon pick me up after spending the entire day walking around Porto, making new friends, and getting used to inclines (Netherlands in contrast is very flat). 

{  Want more global coffee traditions?
Follow our Pinterest board: Around the world in a Coffee Cup  }
 

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

To travel is to discover that we are much more similar then different. 

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Take Us To Lunch : Scandinavian Living with Nordic Design Collective

This month's challenge is all about living La Dolce Vita. Of course we can learn a lot about that from the Italians and their picturesque Mediterranean land. But what can we learn from our neighbors to the North about living the sweet life? Well the best way to find out is to spend some time with our global neighbor there. Maria Richardsson, founder of Nordic Design Collective takes us to lunch in sunny Stockholm and sheds light on the Nordic perspective of enjoying life. 

So where are we going Maria? 

Magnolia is this wonderful bar, cafe, gallery and floral shop located just by Mariatorget at Södermalm, Stockholm. I love the atmosphere, it is intimate and creative but still with a lot of integrity. And every evening, they serve pinchos together with a glass of cava! What's not to love about the place...?

Since today is a sunny day, after lunch we will go to our favorite coffee shop Drop Coffee, grab a Latte to go and head for a bench in the park at Mariatorget to soak up some sun before it's time to head back to the office.

Tell us a bit about Nordic Design Collective and why you started it?

I started Nordic Design Collective as a way of helping independent designers in our region to grow their businesses, and to help people from all over the world to find these amazing products! I have a background as a graphic designer myself and from experience in the web industry I know how hard it can be to find customers for your products. And honestly, most designers started their business because they love creating...not sales and marketing. So I created this platform to enable people to connect with designers, buy their products and hear the stories behind their work.

(Check out #adayinalifeof series on NDC's instagram feed featuring behind the scenes work process of the designers in the collective.)  

So what can we learn about Scandinavian culture and living from Nordic design?

I often hear from people all over the world how much they love Swedish and Nordic design. I think it is the simplicity of it that speaks to people. We have a culture in our region of doing a lot ourselves, which I think has a big impact on the design style. Historically, there has been a focus on creating what you need for yourself, instead of hiring professionals, and this covers all sort of areas like building, redecorating, gardening, crafting, engineering etc. Combine that with the Jante-law, where you’re not to make a big fuss about yourself, and that might be a part of the explanation.

Scandinavian culture is founded on 
simplicity and sustainability.

What do you love about where you live? What do you love about your culture? 

Well, with having a long and grey winter behind us, we are all looking forward to spring - so I have to say, nature. We are very much an outdoorsy kind of people, and this time of year you always see a lot of people outside, turning their faces towards the sun. I've heard from foreigners that it looks kind of funny, but if you haven't lived in our winter for several months you really don't understand how much the Spring light means to us! Another very Swedish phenomena is the "fika," coffee breaks with cakes or cinnamon buns. Love it!

What inspires you daily?

I have to say our designers. They are adding new products daily, and it's always so inspiring to see their new pieces! We also try to meet with them regularly, and it is so great to hear their stories and their passion. It is a great honor to be able to work with all of them.

MARIA'S FAVORITES FOR STOCKHOLM:

Lunch Spot:
Magnolia Cafe, Gallery & Flowers, Blecktornsgränd 9, 118 24 Stockholm

Fika break:
Drop Coffee, Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 10 118 50 Stockholm

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Scandanavia has a sense of simplicity and sustainability, which is expressed in the design. By gathering the best new and upcoming independent designers, I can help people all over the globe to find interior objects and jewelry that speaks of a calmer and simpler way of life.
- - -
Maria of Nordic Design Collective
(Photos via Maria)

Thank you so much Maria! ~ So it looks like keeping things in your home simple and multi-functional can help us easily create and enjoy sweet moments such as a cozy fika break with coffee and cake. By living in awe and fascination of nature we can learn to love all that it offers and never have to complain about the weather. Sweet life Scandinavian style is learning to simply be satisfied. Period. 

{ For Your Own "Fika" Break }

{ Let Nature In } 

• • •   LESSONS LEARNED   • • •

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Induce a Dolce Vita Moment - Make Your Own Macadamia Nutmilk

So here's a revelation. Even organic processed nutmilks are still processed! Hubby and I decided to take things into our own hands and as a result, a healthy drink that transports us to an island (note to self: add to "Ways to Spoil an Island Lover") Give yourself 15 minutes and you'll feel so accomplished having made your very own milk from scratch! (Also, a special thanks to Monica of Hamsa Ayurveda & Yoga for sharing this recipe with me during my detox Panchakarma treatments with her earlier this year.)  
 

Homemade Macadamia Nutmilk 

• 1 cup raw macadamia nuts, (soaked 1 hour or longer) 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla bean, ground
• 2 tablespoon coconut oil 
• 4 cups purified water
• 1/8 cup agave (or preferred sweetner) 
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt 
• Nutmilk bag 

1 - Create the base of the nutmilk.
Blend nuts and water in a blender on a "liquefy" setting. (I prefer using a vitamix.) Strain to separate the liquid from the solid chunks of nuts. I use a nutmilk bag, and squeeze the heck out of it, but a really fine strainer may work as well. 
 

2 - Add the spices.
Pour the liquid portion back into the blender/vitamix. Add the coconut oil, vanilla bean and sea salt. I buy the vanilla bean whole and grind it in a mortar and pestle. Give everything a final spin!

By the time you're sipping on this nutmilk, you'll find yourself induced into a La Dolce Vita moment from the intoxicating scent of the vanilla bean and creamy goodness.

You'll swear you feel the sun and breeze on your face...

• • •

Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling

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IDEA108: Refresh Your Drink Selection with a Homemade Cranberry Drink

about 12 years ago

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IDEA112: Cultivate Tranquility with a Japanese Matcha Tea Ritual

about 12 years ago

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Refresh Your Grocery List with 5 Essential Chinese Ingredients

"Grocery List Refresh" is a simple way to update your pantry with must have ingredients in cooking a certain cuisine. Why is it important to refresh your grocery list? Because if you have the ingredients on hand you will be more likely to try out a brand new dish, or infuse new flavor into your staples. Think of it like traveling at your very own kitchen table...!

Earlier this month, we challenged you all to do 3 simple things to help you live like you're traveling. One of these is to celebrate a holiday from another culture. I decided to introduce my family to Chinese New Year and so I enlisted Amy, our neighborly expert on asian cooking.. and together we picked out a special Chinese New Year's Menu to cook up for the celebration. 

Grocery List Refresh

5 MUST-HAVE Chinese staple ingredients:

Organic Sesame oil 
Cooking rice wine
Soy sauce 
Oyster sauce
Organic White pepper powder

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Shopping List : Chinese New Year's Menu 

And now as promised here is your shopping list for the dinner if you want to cook along!
(Now you can't say you forgot, no excuses remember!?) Besides the above 5 here are all the ingredients you'll need for the Chinese New Year menu. 

Chinese Scallion (Green Onion) Pancakes With Soy-Ginger Dipping Sauce (蔥油餅配姜汁醬油)

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 8 bunches of scallions 
• vegetable oil
• fresh ginger, grated
• a pinch of red pepper flakes

Chicken Pot Stickers (雞肉鍋貼/餃子)
• 1 cup cabbage, shredded
• 3/4 pound ground chicken
• 1 (12 oz) package of Pot Sticker Wraps 

Vegetarian Chop-Suey (羅漢齋) Semi-Home Made
• 1/2 a medium yellow onion
• 1/2 carrot
• 20 Vegetarian Protein Sticks
• 1 pound of baby Bak Choy
• 1 pound of mushrooms
• 1 can (14.5 ounce) vegetarian chop-suey

Coconut and Azuki (Red Bean) Glutinous Rice Cake (椰汁紅豆糯米糕)

• 1 bag (16 ounces) glutinous rice flour
• 11/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cups castor sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4  cup vegetable oil
• 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
• 6 oz evaporated milk
• 3/4 cup prepared red bean (Yude Azuki)
• 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes

Love it? Share it! - We are dedicated to sharing stories that spark ideas and are meaningful to you. The best way to let us know is to post a comment, like below or pin it on Pinterest! ~ For more ways to Live Like You're Traveling, follow us on Feedly, Bloglovin, Pinterest, or Facebook. 

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IDEA138: Cook a Chinese New Year Meal

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Dim Sum Like a Pro - What to Order

about 11 years ago

Dim Sum Like a Pro - What to Order

{ Above : Steamed Sticky Rice - meat stuffing wrapped in lotus leaves }

Dim sum can be intimidating. Carts are zooming past you from all directions...filled with mysterious bamboo containers and the room hums with what seems to be a secret communication between the many attendants and guests. Well today I'm arming you with insider knowledge. Consider it your must-have list (more advanced delicacies will be saved for another day) Imagine for a moment that I will be your *friend* that takes you out to dim sum...who will do the ordering for you.  
 

Shall we begin? 

• • •

The bill. There will be some furious scribbling on on a bill like this each time an attendant hands you a dish. All of the dishes are considered small, medium or large and are charged accordingly. Don't even worry about this.

• • •
We have to start with a round of dumplings. Immediately.
All kinds of dumplings! Potstickers, steamed shrimp and veggie ones. One of everything!
They come in cute little bamboo containers... we just can't go wrong!

• • •
Then we move on to root vegetable that is not as common....Taro Cake 
Crispy on the outside and soft (potato-like on the inside with savory little pieces of meat and shitake). Fantastic with soy sauce and a dash of chili oil! - We may have to order a couple as I might have one of these to myself...  

• • •
Then we flag down a cart to get fluffy steamed BBQ Pork Buns with a semi-sweet and salty filling. This is almost always a favorite for the table.

• • •
By this time, I will have ordered a large bowl of Hot and Sour Soup for the table.
We'll need it to help wash things down...and just because my all-time favorite soup! 

• • •
Now just to balance things out a bit...we get in some Chinese Brocoli with Oyster Sauce

• • •
And just when we think we've had our fill of little dishes...I put this light and refreshing dessert in front of you. Almond Jello with fruit. A childhood favorite! I used to make this at home all the time...just the smell of almond extract would make me so happy!

• • •
And just because you need to try this too...we squeeze in ONE more. Red bean pastry.
It has a crispy chewy rice skin with a sweet red bean paste filling.

Are you full yet?!  The great thing about all these little dishes, is that you end up trying a variety of flavors, but not necessarily feeling stuffed at the end. In the spirit of trying something new this week...we are going to start a new tradition of celebrating Chinese New Years by introducing friends to dim sum at our local Chinatown. And with this little cheat sheet...now you can dim sum like a pro without me!  
 

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

Even if you're feeling adventurous,
it doesn't hurt to have a guide.

Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling  

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IDEA138: Cook a Chinese New Year Meal

One of the best ways to learn about another culture is to eat their food! Lots of little insights are revealed when we eat what our neighbors eat.  Even more so if we try to learn to cook a few dishes ourselves. What I found helps with getting started with cooking a brand new cuisine is to:

1 - Pick out a few inticing dishes to try.
In this case we are putting together a Chinese New Year dinner menu.

2 - Figure out the staple ingredients.
You should have these on hand so that when the inspiration strikes you're ready - Next week we will give you a full grocery list just in time to cook our Chinese New Year dinner.

3 - Choose a motivating factor.
Learning something new requires effort and energy. It's also something that we tend to push aside because we're busy, don't feel like it that day, think it's too hard, or the WORST one... we'll do it "later." You know that "later" never comes!! So, we really need to give ourselves a bit of a deadline and then a reward for getting it done. So my self imposed deadline is the start of the Chinese New Year (January 31st) and my reward will be introducing my family to a beautiful new tradition! (And watching my darling 3 year old Mo, eat with chopsticks, while my other darling, red bearded Vito, tries but can't.)  

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So without further ado we're so excited to introduce the lovely and neighborly Amy from sunny California. She is going to hold our hand and help us get started with Chinese cooking! Amy blogs delicious and beautiful Chinese recipes (and not only) over at uTry.it and well - we accept the challenge Amy! We want to TRY IT! 

Let's get to know Amy a bit better... 

There goes Amy, noshing on something delicious in New Orleans. 

Who taught you to cook? 
My parents love to cook. I'm their sous chef since I was a little girl (don't even remember how young! And no, my parents are just home cooks, not professional chefs.) So, I guess the passion for cooking runs in the family. But I didn't really start cooking on my own until I moved out to college. I explored so much in my dorm's kitchen.  ;) I started to "play with" my food (or you can call that recipe development), when my parents are not there to tell me "no"! hahahaha....

Do you still have family where you're from? How often do you visit?
I still have relatives living in Hong Kong (where I was born and raised), mostly from my Father's side of the family. I go back every few years to visit.  

How important is it that your kids eat Chinese food? 
(I asked Amy this because since the birth of my first son, Mo, I am much more into re-discovering and making Russian food so that he is familiar with the same foods I grew up eating, sort of a cultural injection. I wonder if, especially for those of us who do not live in the place we were born, having kids makes us yearn for our roots.) 

Hmm...good question.  I didn't really think of it much as I cook and eat Chinese food all the time.  It was just a natural thing to do.  My kids had been eating and tasting Chinese food since they were in my tummy, so they better like it too when they're out! Just kidding!  :-P  I encourage my kids to try different types of food, Chinese or not.  If they don't like it, it's okay.  But at least, give everything a try at least once.

What is your favorite Chinese dish?
Mapo Totu, that's also my kids' favorite.  

How does your family celebrate CNY? What is one family tradition follow with your family? 
It is the tradition that on the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with immediate family.  On the New Year morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year (Gong Hay Fat Choi), and receive money in red envelopes. Another tradition on the Chinese New Year is that the families are to visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family, usually their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents and so forth.  Along with our visits, we always bring some delicious treats. 
 

Thank you Amy for being a good global neighbor
and guiding us how to get started with Chinese cooking! 

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Chinese New Year Menu

Chinese New Year wishes are all about having a long, happy and sweet life full of luck and abundance. It's perfectly OK to wish for a raise, more money and success! I can get behind all that! It's also about honoring the elders in your family and strengthening family bonds. The foods you eat are in turn very symbolic of these concepts.  (For full recipes, cooking instructions and even a video just click through to Amy's blog.) 

Chinese Scallion (Green Onion) Pancakes With Soy-Ginger Dipping Sauce 
(蔥油餅配姜汁醬油)

More Family Togetherness. These yummy pancakes are perfect to start the dinner with by having everyone share these and collide with each other trying to dunk at the same time. Get that family bonding moving along!

• • •

Vegetarian Chop-Suey (羅漢齋) Semi-Home Made

Health and abundance is represented by eating vegetables and also to balance out many meat and fish dishes that are usually present at a Chinese New Year banquet. 

• • •

Chicken Pot Stickers (雞肉鍋貼/餃子) With Video Tutorial 

Of course there must be these delightful crescent shaped dumplings. Amy tells us they resemble the shape of a traditional gold nugget, in Chinese called (元寶). The dumplings represent wealth for the family.  

  • • •

Coconut and Azuki (Red Bean) Glutinous Rice Cake (椰汁紅豆糯米糕).

A new year wish to be more successful, to be able to reach your goals and pretty much improve or 'rise up' is symbolized by eating rice cake. Amy says that Rice Cake in Chinese (年糕) sounds exactly like "grow (taller) every year", and so we should eat this cake and rise higher!

Well, I think this is more than enough for us to get started with. And while we're at it, why not pick out a few essential accessories, perhaps a garland of Chinese Palace Lantern Lights and a few Year of the Horse Envelopes for lucky money and if you have young kids here is an adorable book you can read together about Hannah the horse! 

A few parting "instructions". If you've never attempted to make Chinese food don't stress out and feel like you have to acquire a whole new set of utensils, new kitchen equipment and restock your pantry full with exotic ingredients, a lot of the time starting something new is much, MUCH easier then you've first imagined and then you want to kick yourself in the kneecap for not trying it earlier! Now go browse the recipes, decide on how you'd like to celebrate, and next week we'll be back to give you a shopping list to take to the store with you so you'll have NO EXCUSES!  

(Photo credit: All photos except otherwise marked via Amy)
 

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

If you want to learn to ride you must get on the horse! 

Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling

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Refresh Your Grocery List with 5 Essential Chinese Ingredients

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IDEA136: Look Up & Get Lost in a Skyscape (Riviera Maya)

I did double-takes...triple-takes and allowed myself to get lost in it. Lost in each of the skyscapes that I encountered on our last-minute 5th yr. anniversary trip. Last summer, we set off to the Riviera Maya in Mexico for a little exploration and R&R. It takes me a few days just to unwind and get used to not having to be so darn *productive* all day, so I definitely took note of these times where nothing else really mattered...no worries fought for my attention and no problems were needing to be solved. 

Here is to allowing for some drop-everything-to-take-it-in moments this week!
Warning! Looking at these may cause a calming effect!

• • •

Returning to our casita, I turned around before stepping inside,
to notice that the sun was saying goodbye over the serene water...

• • •
As we headed out to dinner, I stopped in the middle of our stairs. 
This unassuming little moon had my attention.

• • •
I made an effort to get up earlier than usual and this was my reward. 
When the heavens speak...I listen!

• • •
And sometimes a little orchestration is called for,
Room service with a view doesn't just happen on its own!

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

Look up to the sky for your anchor. 

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