by jessica yoon
I love the idea of indulgent, chocolate-filled breakfasts, but in reality, I actually prefer foods that are more simple first thing in the morning, especially during the weekdays. These cinnamon oatmeal muffins are flavorful, filling, and full of nutritious ingredients like oats, almonds, and flaxseeds–exactly what I’m looking for in a good breakfast. I eat them plain, with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, but they’re also great with a spoonful of jam or nut butter.
…
When my sister and I first moved to Korea as kids, one of our favorite discoveries was the street food hotteok, 호떡, a sweet griddled pancake stuffed with brown sugar and cinnamon. Up until then, we had lived in a suburban town in Southern California and had only experienced “street fare” at the annual county fair. It was a revelation to move to a big city where the majority of people took public transportation, and street food vendors could be found on every other pedestrian sidewalk. But before we were old enough to really get to know the street food scene, we learned about hotteok through a vendor in our neighborhood.
…
Recently, I’ve had a number of friends and family give birth to babies. I have yet to experience how hard (and fulfilling!) becoming a mother must be, but witnessing these women and their newfound physical and mental strength has truly been inspiring.
As a way to show them some extra love, I’ve brought over nourishing gifts like Olly Prenatal Gummy Vitamins (gummies feel like a treat!), or homemade seaweed soup (a postpartum must in Korean culture). I’ve also been baking up batches of Molly Yeh’s chocolate peanut butter oatmeal muffins. They feel indulgent (hello chocolate!), but are full of good-for-you ingredients (yay oatmeal!). Plus, these can be enjoyed by both parents and are freezer friendly–which can be a lifesaver in a pinch!
…
It may come as a surprise, but my favorite type of dessert is the Korean rice cake. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like a thick slice of chocolate cake, and I’m a sucker for shortbread cookies, but if rice cakes are on the table, that’s what I’m going for (first).
Like so many other Koreans, ddeok or rice cakes were a big part of my childhood, which is probably why I love them so much. We had them for breakfast, as a snack, in savory dishes, for dessert, and during any major holiday or celebration. There are so many varieties to choose from, but this version, yaksik or Korean sweet rice dessert, is one of my all-time favorites.
…
Ten years ago, I started Jessica’s Dinner Party as a space to house my growing interest in food. What was meant to be a hobby, grew into something bigger, and eventually led into a career in food. JDP has captured such an incredible decade of my life–I could’ve never imagined many of the things that happened since that first post. And so in honor of my ten year anniversary, I thought I’d share ten of my favorite blog posts, and why they’re so memorable to me.
…