Ly's World: Homemade Thoughts and Reviews

Hello my Extras!

My next review is what I made last night for dinner.  One of my favorite things to make is Kalbi (Galbi) Marinaded Beef Short ribs.  The delightful dish comes to us from Korea.  A delightful dish intended to be grilled *my grill broke so I just use the oven which does a decent job at it*.

I was first introduced to Kalbi by my friend Jay who bought the marinade at QFC and marinaded some short ribs.  I was hooked.  I continued to buy the marinade deciding, why try to replicate something that is already so good and so easily available.  Well, a year later, I moved away from my QFC and now face a slightly longer commute just to get my fix of Kalbi!  Trying to search in vain in the supermarkets near my current location, I gave in to the idea that my convienence is over and had to try to make the marinade myself.  First, I needed a recipe.  Luckily for me, there were a ton online, the only problem is trying to find one that will work for me.  Me being me, I combined and tweeked a couple of the recipes to make what seemed to mimic the tastey marinade that I have long lost due to laziness to go to that QFC that carries the marinade.

Here is my version of the recipe:

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup of water

3 Tbsp of brown sugar

3 Tbsp of honey

3 Tbsp of crushed garlic

2 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds

2 Tbsp of sesame oil

1 Tbsp of red chili flakes *or to your liking of how spicy you want it*

1 tsp of grated ginger

2 stalks of green onion, chopped

Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl.  Slide in your short ribs one at a time, making sure you coat every single one with the marinade.  Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours *the short ribs are usually cut into about 1/4 in slices, so they are pretty thin* or over night *allows for maximum flavor aborption*.  Put on the grill and cook for about 4-5 mins per side or place in a 400 degree pre heated oven for about 10 – 15 mins.  Serve with rice.

I love making this recipe and will make it over and over and over again.  It is easy to put together, the only problem is waiting for it to properly marinade.  I totally recommend you try your hand at making Kalbi short ribs!  Tweek the recipe to your liking!

Side note: I like mine really done!  I love the crispy burnt parts!

My first endevour into my new hobby!  Yah!

On Sunday night, I decided to make something that has been one of my favorite things from the Thai cuisine: Tom Yum soup.  Who ever thought of making that delicious flavorful soup is a genius!   The flavors are so complex and the spiciness mixed with the tanginess and the saltiness and … mmm umami…. *drool*

Me, being me, I took the easy way out in making this delighful dish and found a paste in the store that is the base of this soup!   While looking for curry paste to try and make curry for dinner one day, I stumbled upon Aroy-D’s Tom Yum Paste.  Imported from Thailand, this lovely concoction has all the fixing to  make a delightful Tom Yum soup.  For less than $2 for a 14oz. container, you will be able to make about 8 pots of soup each able to feed 2 – 3 persons.  *Warning to all those who are familiar with Asian cooking, this paste contains Monosodium Glutamate or MSG*

Its so simple… *reading from container*   All you have to do is boil about 2 cups of water *I learned that depending on how strong you want the taste to be, 2 cups is great, but if you want it more mellow, add alittle more water* and add about 3 tablespoons of the paste into the boiling water.   You will also have to add fresh galangal *It is an aromatic root related to and resembles ginger*, lemon grass and mushrooms.  Let that come to a boil again, then add your choice of protein, usually shrimp and/or chicken.  Then add fish sauce, lime juice, kaffir lime leaves and parsley and voila!  You have a delightful and yummy soup.  Serve with rice and you have a meal!

Overall, its super easy to make and is done in no time.  As long as you slice the chicken into thin pieces, it should all be done in about 15 – 20 mins.  Some of the ingredients may be hard to find in regular stores, but you can find them all in your neighborhood Asian supermarket. *Mine is HT Market on Aurora*  I will definately make this again.

My first review… tell me what you think!

Wow its been a long time since I have written on this blog .  I am kind of a flake when it comes to things like this.  I would totally be in to it for the moment and once it becomes tedious, then I am out of it.  Well, hopefully things will change for the better.  I decided to start writing again… hopefully I will be more committed to it than I was before.

You see, I have decided to dedicate my blog now to food, friends, and maybe the occasional random Homemade Pictures.  My fire to become an amateur Chef (if one can be such a thing) and Food Critic has just been re-lit after watching Being Julia.  Granted, I have no training in cooking or writing about food, but if you have a passion, shouldn’t you try and immerse yourself in it, even for just a bit?  Plus, I have just gotten the two volumes of Julia’s cookbook… Mastering the Art of French Cooking along with the textbook from the Culinary Institute of America: The Professional Chef.  I’ve also just been to some new and exciting restaurants and bars with some friends and decided, “Hey, I want to write about this.  I want to review these places and see if anyone cares what I think.”  So here I am… Starting this blog thing… Again… all over… new Series… even though I haven’t finished or even started any of my previous Series… but hopefully things will change and I will be more into these new Series.

Oh, I haven’t told you what they are yet have I?  The first Series is going to be titled… Homemade Food Reviews.  I will be reviewing all the old and new restaurants, pubs, bars, bistros, cafes and whatever other places there are out there where you can go and get a meal.  I will be reviewing with a set of criteria that may be floating (Come on people!  You know me!  I’m always all over the place.  LOL)  They may include: Ambiance, Taste, Presentation, Smell, Location, and Cost… Um… I’m  working on a set of criteria… work with me people!  I’m new at this!

The second Series will focus on recipes, Homemade Recipe Review, whether it’s from a book (i.e. Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Betty Crocker’s… etc.) or recipes from family, friends or strangers (I’d say fans, but I don’t really have any just yet…. but here’s to crossing my fingers!) or making things on the fly.  I will rate on how easy or difficult it was to make, was the time to make it worth it, taste and overall satisfaction.  Plus, I’ll add a note of whether I will try to make it again or not.  If I failed at making it the first time… I will probably try to make it again to see if I can get it right… all will be written in this very blog.

Well I see this post is crazy long… I will end it here and hopefully, the next blog will be up soon.   Here’s to entering a new amazing world of food.