Jaht Jook (Pine Nut Porridge)

My husband had some kind of a stomach bug. And he hadn’t been able to eat much of anything. I remembered whenever I had a stomach ache, my grandmother used to make me jook (porridge). I had some pine nuts on hand. And pine nuts are gluten-free and rich in nutrients; the hubs was really in need of some nutrients after 2 days of very little food. So I decided to make some jaht jook – pine nut porridge – a delicious, gluten-free, vegan dish.

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Bulgogi Kimchi Taco à la Korilla BBQ

I don’t know one Korean who doesn’t like Mexican food. (OK, I’m sure there is at least one; I just personally don’t know one.) Even my mom who isn’t crazy about non-Asian cuisines loves Mexican food. There is just something about the cuisine that suits the Korean palate. I guess pico de gallo, salsa, and pickled jalapenos are akin to the Korean kimchi; and they balance out the richness that may be overwhelming for some.

But have you tried Korean-infused Mexican food? It’s truly delectable! Top your burrito or taco with some gochujang sour cream or guacamole; add some kimchi and bulgogi to burritos, tacos, or quesadillas; stir in some sautéed kimchi in some Mexican rice; and so on. Exceptionally delicious!

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Gluten-Free Pear “Fritters”

Hmm… It may be more accurate to refer to them as pancakes. I loved the batter so much that I used a little more than a fritter would require. Additionally, I didn’t technically fry it; I “pan-fried” it with a little bit of oil. But I love the sound of the word “fritter.” Naming conundrum aside, I love the crispiness of the edges and the softness of the filling.

I made this for my little brother when our families got together for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. I wasn’t too happy with the results, because my mom’s electric stove top made it impossible for me to control the temperature; I don’t care that it can boil water in 60 seconds, I like my gas stove top. But my little brother loved it. He thought it was ridiculous I wasn’t happy with it. And he gobbled it up topped with ice cream. Looking at him, he was still my chubby-cheeked little brother who was eagerly satisfying his sweet tooth. But there was a marked difference; he had a little chubby-cheeked toddler of his own sitting on his lap satisfying her own sweet tooth. When I look at her face, I see my little brother in her eyes and her smile. And it makes my heart full.

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Gluten-Free Apple Muffins with Candied Walnuts and Pecans

I came across the below makeshift memorial in front of an Apple store in my neighborhood. Steve Jobs had such an influence on so many people’s lives: the way people look at technology, listen to music, communicate with others, watch movies, etc. I guess that’s why so many feel like they knew him personally. It’s ironic, given that he was such an elusive man. I don’t know of any other CEO or industry leader who’s death rocked the world the way Jobs did. I wonder if Henry Ford had the same impact on his generation. But he had an eponymous brand that reminded people of who he was. Jobs didn’t have the benefit of a namesake brand; and yet, you can’t picture Apple without Jobs.

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