Improbable Things
Cooking My Way Through Tet: 2 Burner, Masala-Spiced Potato Pierogies
Day 2 of Tet, with Saigon’s doors closed firmly for the week. A few weeks ago, my schedule at work changed unexpectedly. I work in the English for University department at an Australian university and I normally teach five days…
You Need More Chocolate Zucchini Bread in Your Life (and Tummy)
This post has been open in my tabs for nearly half a year. Seriously. It’s that bad. This little sleepy southern corner of Saigon is the new land of the lotus eaters, with watermelon juice and pho replacing the druggy lôtos.…
Like Spag Bol For Asia: Black Pepper Tofu and Saucy Buckwheat Noodles
Technically, this blog is (or was) all about my desire to attempt to recreate homey favourites in a tiny, basic kitchen in Shanghai, using only what I could find around me. That was about six years ago and, honestly, a…
Wok With Me Baby is Back…in Hanoi!
Guys, it’s been a while. A rather long while. However, ever the optimist, I kept on paying my annual website hosting fees and renewed my domain name for nearly two years after I posted my last post here. Since…
Pumpkin Spice Toaster Oven Scones and Wok Parathas
Given that it’s already, oh, mid April and the skies are light and fluffy and sometimes blue, and temperatures have already soared into the high 20s and it’s definitely shirtsleeve weather, I fear that the title of this one…
Made in Jiānádà: Suzhou Porky Mooncakes
Hello. I’ve been away for a while, haven’t I? It’s been a very hot, busy summer, much of it nowhere near a kitchen to call my own. We were in Morocco for a month, which was lovely in spite of…
Made in Jiānádà: Homestyle porky Eggplant (家常茄子)
Eggplant (茄子 or qiézi) was one of the first words I learned in Mandarin back in early 2009, partly because we ordered it so often that it inevitably had to stick in my head, and partly because it sounded like a…
Made in Jiānádà: Pork and Green Beans, China-Style
I’m not actually anywhere near my kitchen right now. In fact, I’m out in the wilds of Vancouver Island with my family, camping outside the gates of the Island Music Fest. My laptop is being powered by one of my…
Made in Jiānádà: Garlic Shoots and Smoky Bacon
Welcome to Part 2 in my series of as yet undetermined length on cooking Chinese food in Canada! Part 1 is here. We’re still on safe, neutral territory here- no bear paw, no jellyfish, no shark fin soup in my…
Caldo Xochitl Tom Ka Gai (the Chicken Soup Remix)
This one started out as just a sauce, intended to use up the tin of coconut milk that had been hanging out in our cupboard for at least the past six months. The recipe had promised me a multitude of…
