Jessica's Dinner Party

by jessica yoon

Blog

Haunted House and Chocolate Milk Cookies

Halloween is a holiday I always look forward to but never seem to enjoy when the actual day arrives.  I love seeing all the Jack-O-Lanterns and ghost shaped cookies but never get around to doing them myself.  I especially procrastinate when it comes to putting a costume together.  I’m that crazy person who goes to the costume store on October 30th to find the cheapest item and combine it with random clothes from my closet. On the one day “too much skin for a not so skinny girl” is acceptable, I find the most modest outfit and go bundled in scarves and jackets.  I’m probably more provocative in my everyday clothes, which is saying something.

It’s really a shame though because the one year I want to really do something is the one year I’m in a city that doesn’t celebrate.  Before I left and before I knew I was leaving, my friends and I bounced back different ideas from Peter Pan to Wicked to Alice in Wonderland, and even Star Trek.  I was really enthused about the idea of finding the perfect character.  Sigh, it’s probably just one of those reverse psychology situations.  What you can’t have you want.  I probably would’ve ended up digging through my closet, last minute, and resorted to being Mulan or something.   I mean, I’ve got that Asian part down.

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Financiers

After my heartfelt ode to the wonderfulness of fall, it rained.  It not only rained, but there was thunder and lightening.  Luckily, the torment of the night passed, and the day is crisp with only a hint of the nightmare before.  The first chill of the season has set in and I’m not quite ready to embrace it just yet.  It’s the sort of day you want to stay in with a good book, or in my case a long list of TV shows to catch up with, and something to nibble on.

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Pumpkin Butter

I’d forgotten how wonderful autumn in Korea was.  The sun brightens the flittering breeze as the sky is seamless with not a gloomy cloud in sight.  Looking at the contents of my suitcase I expected much colder temperatures, the type where long sleeves, a scarf, and a thick sweater barely gets you by, but I am pleasantly surprised that the sweater can wait.  I am also surprised how normal and comfortable I already am here.  Sure, I’m still jetlagged dozing off at 8 pm as my brother only begins to open his textbooks, but I instantly felt at ease when I landed here.  I guess that’s the meaning of home, when you still feel like a part of the house you grew up in, not like a visiting guest.  Maybe I’m anticipating the moment when this place doesn’t feel that way anymore that I don’t realize that I haven’t gotten there yet.  It’s nice.  I’ve always felt like such an old soul, a grandma in a youth’s body that I welcome the idea that I still have a lot of growing up to do.

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Cream Puffs at the Beach

The simple question of “where are you from?” has always been difficult for me to answer.  I left my country of birth when I was a small child and have since only been back once.  I have no connection, emotionally or physically, to the land of my citizenship, yet it is an essential part of my identity.  As I grow older, I am slowly beginning to realize how significant my passport is to my life.  Over the past couple of months it has caused me much annoyance, fear, stress, and complications. Complications which have led me to the decision to leave New York for a few months.  It was a tough decision to make, but I believe it is for the best.  Under my current visa, I am only allowed to work in a certain field.  As I am looking to change directions and explore new options, I am unable to stay here legally.  I was nervous that I may have to return to my foreign homeland, but fortunately I will be with my family in Korea.  I’m excited to go back to Seoul and spend some quality time in the city I grew up in.  There will be some big changes in my life soon so I am actually very thankful that I am have to temporarily leave the U.S.

As a good bye gesture, my friends and I decided to take a little one day road trip outside of the city.  We planned to go to East Hampton, but ended up much closer to Manhattan than expected.  This past Sunday was apparently the worst day to choose for driving.  A cycling race and parade blocked off a few major roads and we had a hard time leaving the city. When we finally did, we were exhausted and hungry, so we decided to go to Long Beach instead.  It was beautiful, sunny, and absolutely perfect for a picnic lunch.

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Pumpkin Pie Cake

A few years ago I decided to bake a cake for each of my friends’ and family’s birthdays.  I made everything from the basic white cake to red velvet to strawberry shortcake.  For those who lived outside of New York, I mailed tins filled with brownies, snickerdoodles, and linzer cookies.  I like giving baked goods as presents because it’s personal and different from a store bought gift. I have always greatly appreciated receiving homemade gifts because of the extra effort and thought that goes into it.  It also showcases each person’s talent and unique relationship with you that makes it even more special and meaningful.

I used to think that it was cheap to bring cake as a present, but now I totally disagree!  I think it’s such a sweet (no pun intended) gift, and one that can be enjoyed with so many other people too.  Some of my most memorable birthdays came with homemade cakes.  For my 7th birthday, my mom and my sister cut a yellow sheet cake in the silhouette of a little girl in a dress.  They used candy to make a face and create the dress.  My friends and I got to choose pieces with our favorite type of candy on it.  On my 16th birthday a friend baked a rainbow cake for me which was so striking and festive.  It was so reflective of that time and stage in my life.  But don’t be intimidated! Not all birthday cakes have to be spectacular or memorable.  Even though I’ve had a lot of mediocre slices of frosting slathered cardboard, I still only ask for cake on my birthday.

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