Autumn Arrives

Autumn apparently comes to Korea much later than the US.  I was watching a newsfeed of leaves and pumpkins back home when it was still 80 degrees here.  But, suddenly the weather and the leaves changed (hooray!).

With the cooler weather, it's finally enjoyable to spend weekends outdoors.  We went on a street food tour with O'ngo Foods, and tried some new snacks.  We started with Jeon (전), a savory Korean pancake often filled with vegetables, seafood or kimchi.  The food stall was in an underground market, filled with locals.  Then, we headed for the ever-addicting Mandu (만두), better known as steamed dumplings.

The strangest thing we tried was Beondegi (번데기), silk worm pupae.  They were very crunchy, and tasted almost like edamame with sesame oil.  It wasn't bad, but it's not a dish we're planning on having regularly.

We had a three course dessert, starting with Bungeoppang (붕어빵), a pancake filled with sweet red bean, shaped like a fish.  These are very common, and come in many different styles - including some shaped like chrysanthemums…and others shaped like poop.  (Yes, you read that right.)  We also tried Ppopgi (뽑기), a children's favorite, which is essentially hardened burnt sugar.  Finally, we ate Hotteok (호떡), a sweet pancake stuffed with brown sugar which best resembles a sugar doughnut.  Overall, a very tasty afternoon!

We spent last weekend exploring Bukchon Hanok Village, a residential area of traditional hanoks. I imagine every expat in Korea dreams of living in a hanok before they move here. Impractical, and far from the office - but way cool.

With Fall in full swing, some of the partners and I hiked up Mt. Dobongsan. It was a beautiful, moderate hike up to Cheonchuksa temple. We decided to keep going up to the summit, which turned out to be the opposite of moderate. We were legitimately using our hands to climb up the rocky path. But, we had some good leaf peeping and some (cloudy) views of the Seoul skyline!

But the big news: our stuff is here!! Our boxes arrived safe and sound, via the Panama Canal. We shipped our bed, kitchen items, clothes and the TV. We brought over one pot and one skillet in our suitcases (sorry, TSA) so you can imagine my delight at having a working kitchen again…and more than two pairs of pants.

Happy Pi Day!

I have been home sick with an awful cough.  Which means I spend my days drinking tea, watching re-runs of Friends and turning everything into a soup.  But then I remembered that today is March 14.  March 14 = 3.14 = Pi = PIE.  There is no better way to celebrate a mathematical constant than with sugar and crust.

March 14 Mini Pies
(Recipe adapted from ZoomYummy and Not Martha)

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Assorted fruit (apple, blueberries, raspberries, mixed berry)
Pillsbury pie crusts (unless you're not lazy like me, and then you can make it yo'self)
Eggwash

Chop the apples, set aside. Mash the berries by type and drain the excess liquid, set aside.

Add the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt and cornstarch in a medium bowl until combined. Then, stir the butter into the mixture.

Combine 1/4 of the pie mixture with each type of fruit. Stir to mix.

Cut circles from the dough with the top of a glass. Spray a muffin tray with baking spray, and push a circle of dough into each tin. Fill with fruit mixture. Cover with another circle (or lattice top), making sure to include slits for air. Brush eggwash over top the crust.

Bake at 375 degrees for 18-22 minutes, or until the tops begin to brown. Let the pies cool for 30 minutes, impatiently tapping your fingers on the counter until they're ready.

Hum "sec tan cos sin 3.14159." Oh, math.

The Cooking Channel

[Baller graphics by Amanda Jane Jones, extremely-hard-to-find 3x3 craft boxes by leboxboutique]

When you are roommate-less for 5 days, here is what I do not recommend: watching the Cooking Channel by yourself.  Because you will end up making brussels sprouts, green beans, banana bread, thai peanut noodles and mini quiche.  And there will be only one person in your house to eat it all.

But I used my food coma to start on an advent calendar.  After that, I got sucked into the end of Pride & Prejudice.*  Then, The Duchess.  And then Love Actually.

Keira Knightly overload, right? For the record, The Duchess made my cry profusely on my couch.  Be warned - British historical fiction can be rough.  Maybe I should stick to the Cooking Channel.

*The new one.  But the 1995 version is infinitely better.  Infinitely.

Will Run for Cheese

I was supposed to come home and run.  But then it started pouring.  So, instead, I ate cheese.

If you are looking to put off running, I suggest this plan.

Top: Walnut Bread, Goat Cheese, Honey and Cherries.  Bottom: Goat Cheese and Rosemary. From the White House Farmer's Market.  Thanks, Michelle Obama!

Gimme Gimme More

Remember those jumbo marshmallows?  They make jumbo s'mores.

 

It required a fork and knife to eat - which sounds like gourmet s'mores.  But it was really just a ridiculous ratio.  A ridiculously messy ratio. A ridiculously good ratio.

Impulse Purchase: Win.

theurel and thomas

(Theurel and Thomas via The Eclectic Life)

1.  I want eat that entire bowl of macaroons.
2.  How on earth do they keep this place clean?

I'm in love with Theurel & Thomas's utterly white store, courtesy of branding firm Anagrama.  The colorful macaroons are so striking against the muted background.

The Problem With Bagels

...is that they are delicious.  And as soon as I am done with a bagel, all I want is more bagel.

The only other thing that does this to me: cowbell.

Chex Mix

I am currently in love with homemade Chex Mix.  The bagged mix is good, but way too salty (though it does have bagels chips.  Dilemma).

Plus it's "healthy" with all the nuts and sunflower seeds.  Right...?  Doesn't matter.  I can't hear you over my crunching.