Category Archives: Dinner

Cuban Oxtail Stew! (and Miami Post!)

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As many of you may know now, I went to spring break in MIAMI! This is one of the last spring breaks I will ever have as a student and I really have never done it that big before. We went to the beach, saw the alligators in the Everglades, ate tons of food, relaxed, sightseed, day clubbed and night clubbed, and drank. Everyone was such a blast and made this trip memorable.  Thank you to you crazy fools!

Easter Brunch on yacht around Miami!
Inside LIV
Dancer at MANSION
Expensive Red Bull Vods

So a little bit more about Miami: it is a totally different vibe than Cali. or even Vegas. (Now I know this may not be the case during ULTRA because so many Cali kids and west coast people go). The vibe there is much more relaxed, chill, European. No ragers like us, barely any dancing, and especially no twerking. Even the fist pumping wasnt punching the sky like we know how to do. haha! But they do play a lot of European style trance so it was nothing that I was really used to. The clubs there are beautiful, but I have to say LIV underwhelmed me-it was a mix between the Grand and FLUXX. I totes expected it to be like XS or something. Nope. We also went to STORY, which was aight. But MANSION was by far the funnest club and very unique. Cool dancers, everything was so flashy and show-y and they only serve top-shelf- our red bull vods were made with Belvedere and were $25. hahha! We went to the RX pool party at the Shelborne, and it basically was very chill and no one splashed water around or danced or raged like at Encore Beach Club haha. One thing I learned on this trip was the best way to cure a hangover is to drink coconut water before you go to bed and to never go out so early- 1am is still early. BEST THING EVER!

Me running away from the alligator bc I was too scared to hold it!
Cuban coffee-Cortadito
Bulldog! (Margarita and 2 beers)
Ceviche

The food in Miami is AMAZING. Every meal we had was delicious. Notable mentions: La Sandwicherie (went there 5 times during our stay and got the Salmon, Prosciutto, Mozzarella one), Puerto Sagua (delicious Cuban food, which inspired my obsession with oxtail stew), Cuban coffee called Cortadito (brown sugar sits at the bottom of the espresso cup and the espresso drips onto the sugar, creating a sweet paste. More espresso drips and creates this delicious foam on top. One order of it can feed 3 people- that’s how strong it is!), and lots and lots of potato balls, pork, and black beans! The ceviche at My Ceviche we had was delicious, but somehow I got food poisoning from it. No one else did though so I still recommend it to anyone who goes to Miami! More pictures on my facebook!

Beautiful blue water

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Tomato and Basil Soup!

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Tomato soup is one of my favorites-I sure wish I had a grilled cheese right now! I used to get the boxes of Trader Joes Tomato soup and drink it all the time. I really wanted the opportunity to make it myself because its obviously less processed and you can make it with the ingredients you like. I substituted heavy cream with light sour cream [or greek yogurt] and used some fresh tomatoes and basil. I got to control how much salt I put in and the consistency of the soup. I bought an immersion blender literally to make tomato soup haha. I dont really like creamy soups; I typically prefer broth-y ones. The blender is so handy to use! Through my search for an immersion blender, I figured there are two kinds that are similar: hand mixer and an immersion blender. They both look almost the same, but if you have a regular mixer or a stand alone one, the hand mixer is of no use. Immersion blenders puree food! So if you want to make hearty and creamy soups, I suggest you get one! I love my Cuisinart one!

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Beef and Barley Soup!

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Mmm beef and barley. Usually at restaurants, it is super salty and I always have to add water. Why not make it at home? The meat used is lean so it isnt as oily. I added kale and mushrooms because those are like my two favorite things. Did you know barley is part of the grass family? Weird, I  know. It is also used to ferment for beer and other distilled beverages. It is a high fiber and high protein grain- perfect for my obsession to get skinny with protein and lots of fiber. It is so delicious, I am so happy with the way it turned out!

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Crock Pot Honey Ketchup Glazed Chicken!

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I recently got a crockpot and I have only been using it to cook soup. I was very eager to use it for meat, but had no idea how it worked. I looked it up and turns out that cooking meat in a crock pot is the easiest thing ever! For this recipe, I used chicken thighs – bone in, and welp, once the chicken was done, the meat fell off the bone! I didn’t even need to take out the bone before hand. The easiness of this will definitely help with my protein intake while I am obsessed with protein! I am really excited to use the crock pot for other types of meat too- like pork ribs, beef brisket, braised beef, etc.

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Balsamic Brussels Sprouts!

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I LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS!!! They are the most amazing little veggies- they have the texture of cabbage, anti-cancer components like broccoli, and the perfect side dish or meal any day! They are believed to be of Brussels, Belgium origin, having been found to grow there since the 13th century. I frankly like them a lot better than broccoli. And there is so much more you can do with these little veggies. I love mine cooked in balsamic vinegar, some onions, and garlic for a quick meal. They are also very very filling so if you are on a diet, substitute bread for some of these delicious brussels sprouts!

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Mushroom and Chive Farro Risotto!

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I haven’t really cooked in a week because of a midterm and have been eating salads and tons of protein everyday! Needless to say, I have been craving some sort of carb. I had some mushrooms in the fridge that I had been saving for either a mushroom pasta or risotto. I chose risotto tonight! Risotto is one of my fave dishes- rich, creamy, and definitely filling. Risotto is always so expensive at restaurants and usually because of the gourmet fancy ingredients such as truffle oil, wild mushrooms, and what not. My version is equally tasty and creamy. I thought the creaminess came from lots of cream and cheese, so it scared me away for awhile, but most of the creamy texture actually comes from starchiness of the grain itself! Risotto is typically made with Italian arborio rice, high in starch and cooking it releases this starch to create creaminess. I thought I had bought some, but when I came home, I realized I had Italian farro instead! I quickly looked up if I can remotely even make a risotto dish with it– turns out I can!  Farro is a wheat grain, so I bet it is slightly healthier than arborio. It is definitely less starchy, but definitely not enough for the end dish to lose creaminess. Try it yourself with either arborio or farro!

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Chicken Milanese with Arugula and Tomatoes!

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If you have been following me, you know I have been on a diet. I have actually been pretty good since the cleanse–I learned from it that I don’t need as much food as I think so I control my eating much more. But now that its only 1 month away from Miami, I really need to step up my game. #roadtomiami is my hashtag these days…I really hope to lose another 5-6 pounds by then. To do so, I have been running 5 days a week, and have now started hot yoga at Corepower. And I bought protein powder today to supplement/replace some meals and to build muscle. Now I know I probably won’t be as skinny as I was 2 years ago in a month, but at least I should attempt to get there after neglecting my body for 2 years. So today after work, I went to buy more veggies, fruit, and protein [tofu and chicken]. Crossing my fingers this all works. Now I still refuse to sacrifice taste for health, so a few additions of flavor here and there wont hurt. And I wont get bored of my food. So here is day 1 of my fast track diet– Chicken Milanese with Arugula and Tomatoes.

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Japanese Miso Ramen with Pork!

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‘Twas a cold and rainy day and everyone was posting pictures of ramen, while I sat at work eating lettuce and at school eating nothing. You see, I have been on this obsession to get skinny so lettuce and celery sticks are a staple currently. I couldn’t help but drool…I get cravings once I start seeing pictures of the same thing from people and then its like an obsession until I make it. So I spent hours today dreaming of what my ramen would taste like. Normally, at ramen places I order the miso ramen with pork. I never really knew what went in those salty but delicious soups, but I figured it was a lot of tasty fats and salt. I’ve been to numerous ramen places and had different types of soup bases– miso, shoyu, that black looking one, and my favorite: Orenchi’s fatty ass pork base hahah. I dream to have it again someday…hopefully this summer while in NorCal =). Anyway, the ramen I made turned out to taste pretty close to what I find out in the big bad world! I actually improvised a lot this time–hope ya’ll like my recipe! Its actually uber easy to make. I know someday I will try to make a pork base– stay tuned!

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Kale and Quinoa Cakes

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I loveee kale and I loveee quinoa! Two things smacked together- perfection! I was first introduced to quinoa by my dear friend and cookie monster and have been learning about the grain ever since. It is high in protein, gluten-free, from the Andean culture, and has gained so much traction these past few years. Some people don’t really like the quinoa smell/taste, but if you soak it for about 5-10 min before you cook it, the ‘bitter’ smell/taste will go away. Or you can cook it with things that hide the taste! I happen to like the weird taste and texture. It is a great substitute for rice, if you ever get bored or tired of it. Kale is another vegetable that has grained traction these past few years and I, like any other human rabbit out there, love it. I love the hard texture and the strange bitter taste. Both of these food items have become staple in my everyday diet. I am just glad to be a human rabbit who enjoys veggies, grains, and weird healthy stuff. Anyway, enough with my rabbit talk. These kale and quinoa cakes are great for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I dip the cakes with some Trader Joe’s Garlic Aioli Mustard and it becomes that much better. I hope that I have opened some taste buds to some noob kale and quinoa people!!! ❤

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Caramelized Pork Belly Banh Mi!

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The other Vietnamese thing I like is Banh Mi! However, I only like it when the bread is soft and it doesnt cut the roof of your mouth…lol and only when pork or beef is inside. I have been meaning to make some sort of pork belly for some time now [I usually love getting it at restaurants and my dad makes mean Chinese versions]! Since I am on this Viet snack making spree, I figured I would give this Vietnamese version a try. The meat turned out very flavorful and soft and made the homemade sandwiches extra delicious. I will definitely make it again!

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