Jessica's Dinner Party

by jessica yoon

recipes

Rustic Mashed Potatoes

I thought and thought about it, but Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes would feel off.  Sort of like going to the movies and getting popcorn but no candy.  I was really irked by the fact that my potatoes never came out silky smooth.  I don’t own a potato masher and until I came to Korea the food processor I had was teeny tiny.  However, I realized that if you put the word “rustic” in front of mashed potatoes it’s absolutely acceptable to have chunks and irregularities in your mash.  People expect it; it’s practically a rule; you have to have lumps.

…

Read More

Roasted Pumpkin and Potatoes with Sausage

If one of your dishes suddenly goes up in smokes or an unexpected (or uninvited) guest decides to show up, this side will save the day! It’s super easy, flexible, and the ingredients will already be on hand.  Without a clue as to what I was going to cook today, I went into this dish blind.  BLIND I say!  No flipping through cookbooks or browsing through recipes.  I simply thought about what I had and went for it!  I’m like my own parent, watching my inner chef grow!  My, how far I’ve come.  Two years ago, I probably couldn’t tell you exactly what roasting was.  Oh yea, that was me.

  

…

Read More

Caramel Pumpkin Pie Tart

Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie is like Christmas without cookies.  I look forward to eating it every year but am always disappointed by what I make.   I didn’t grow up eating pumpkin pie, so I distinctly remember the first time I had it.  I fell in love with the creamy texture and buttery, shortbread crust.  The pumpkin flavors were strong enough with just the right amount of sweetness.

…

Read More

Easiest Potato Gratin

A few years ago, my aunt taught me an easy potato gratin recipe that sort of stuck with me.  I made it for a Valentine’s Day potluck my senior year of high school.  It was an interesting occasion because we were actually celebrating a belated Secret Santa gift exchange in February.  Somehow with college applications, school, and all the crazy things we did in high school, Christmas was pushed back two months.  There were an array of dishes that appeared at the potluck.  Everything from caramel apples and macaroni and cheese to Popeye’s fried chicken.  I don’t really remember the food or if the gratin was a hit, but I do remember the company I was with, being ridiculously full, and the fun moments and gifts we shared that day.  I feel like that’s the essence of Thanksgiving; sharing a meal with people we love and enjoying all the laughs that spill in between. Life seems to get so busy that it seems like we need occasions like Thanksgiving or Valentine’s/Christmas just to spend time with family and friends.

…

Read More

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.

…

Read More