Jessica's Dinner Party

Archive for November, 2009

Citron Tea

One of my favorite beverages is the citron tea, or yujacha, 유자차. It’s different from regular teas because it is not brewed from dried leaves but from a marmalade like syrup. The citron is a very unique fruit because it is rarely, if ever, eaten peeled. The pulp is dry and little in proportion to the amount of pith and peel. However, it is a very fragrant and nutritional fruit. Many Koreans drink it during the winter months because it is an excellent source of Vitamin C and is also believed to be a natural source of antibiotics. When a cold is caught, instead of orange juice, Koreans give the advise to drink some citron tea.

November 20 2009 | asian and beverage and fruit | 4 Comments »

Matchstick Sweet and Savory Salad

When it comes to salads, I’m not a very adventurous cook. I usually just chop some romaine lettuce and any other greens I have lying around in the fridge. Drop a little extra virgin olive oil, champagne vinegar, and a pinch of salt, and the salad is ready to go. I have to admit, it’s really boring. I’m bored making it, I’m bored while eating it, and I get bored thinking about it. It’s funny though, because when I’m at a restaurant I always forego the standard Caesar salad and go with something interesting and different, but in my own kitchen I don’t even make the effort to shave some parmesan cheese to fake a Caesar salad.

November 19 2009 | fruit and recipe and salad and thoughts and vegetarian | 5 Comments »

Running Behind

NaBloPoMo is getting the best of me. I promised myself I wouldn’t do one of those “filler” posts, but alas, here I am. I even had a back up plan, but I guess I needed a back up plan for for that back up plan. So, in the meantime I’m sending you some friendly eye candy in hopes that you will forgive this measly post. I promise, tomorrow will be something yummier.

November 18 2009 | thoughts | 7 Comments »

Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Hypothetically, the best thing about Thanksgiving is the amount of choices you have when it comes to your plate. Yams or potatoes? Cranberry sauce or gravy? Cake or pie? However, does anyone ever choose one over the other? I sure don’t. I pile my plate with full servings of everything and finish it clean. Then, when my pants are unbuttoned and I place my hands on the six month food baby I’ve created in my stomach, I start to think, maybe I should’ve cut back. That’s why you have to bake all your desserts in the mini. It’s faster, cuter, and you feel less guilty if you decide to sample all of the desserts.

November 17 2009 | cake and dessert and recipe and thoughts | 7 Comments »

Simple Apple Tart

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and if you’re like me, you already have a long list of dishes to choose from. My list always includes some interesting and daring recipes like tamale inspired stuffing, Caribbean scented sweet potatoes, and a vegan chocolate cheesecake. I think: maybe this year we should go with a Southeast Asian theme or try doing everything Southern style. But alas, we always stick to the basics, the recipes we know, and end up craving. How can Thanksgiving pass without grandma’s famous stuffing and a plain old pumpkin pie? Never.