egg and milk

1-31-2013 Thu. chilly, sunny. 


BREAKFAST --- tea
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- eggnog | yogurt
DINNER --- congee | tong hao porridge || caramelized carrots with bacon and onion | stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu || wine 

 

• same treatment as yesterday.

no chewing required

1-30-2013 Wed. very warm, rain. 


BREAKFAST --- tea
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- eggnog  
DINNER --- rice soup | tong hao porridge || stir-fried eggplant | pan-fried potatoes || wine

 

• everything in liquid form.

gigante stew

1-29-2013 Tue. mild, sun and clouds. 



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with silken tofu and winter bamboo shoots 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple | tangerine 
DINNER --- gigante stew with roasted red pepper, onion, smoked mussels and scallops | sauteed mustard greens | rice | wine 

•  it takes long time, two day soaking, two hour simmering

 

crunchy

1-28-2013 Mon. chilly, ice rain. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings | tangerine
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- simmered silken tofu pot with minced chicken and shiitake | stir-fried winter bamboo shoot, wood-ear, celery and sliced duck breast | sauteed lotus root | rice
 wine 

• the bean stew was not quite ready ( needs two hours ) , tofu pot took the place

sweetness of dates and figs

1-27-2013 Sun. cold, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | egg and milk | bread | gouda and brie | grapefruit | homemade orange bread | orange juice 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- marinated and seared sea scallops with grapefruit sauce | steamed dumplings |wine 

• favorite winter bread with orange flavor and sweet dates/figs

lamb chop and couscous

1-26-2013 Sat. cold, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant |  bread | gouda and brie | grapefruit AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- lotus root and wood-ear soup | stir-fried eggplant | sauteed lotus root | grilled lamb chop with mustard and toasted Sardinia fregola (kind of couscous)  | wine 

 

• a new combination of lamb and couscous

slow-roasted and chilled duck breast

1-25-2013 cold, snow. 



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | sweet rice dumplings
DINNER --- yam noodle soup with napa cabbage and wood-ear |  stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu | marinated, roasted and chilled duck breast | rice | wine 

 

• duck breast is marinated, slow-roasted at 170  and chilled.

food in NC

1-24-2013 Thu. cold, snowy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at Duke. F. club) white beans with tomato sauce 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- ( at Watts Grocery, Durham )  salad with roasted beet, goat cheese and smoked trout | North Carolina flounder and finger potatoes and cauliflower | pannecotta 


 

• local food, supposedly

Chinese taco

1-23-2013. cold, clouds.



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato fries | sauteed mustard greens | steamed Chinese taco buns with roasted pork shoulder and caramelized onion | wine 

 

• caramelized onion adds additional dimension and flavor to the ensemble

pork chop

1-22-2013 Tue. cold, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- seasoned rice with bamboo shoots and mustard greens
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- pan-fried pork chop | stir-fried bamboo shoots, shiitake and and okra | tong-hao porridge with crushed peanuts  | rice | wine 

 

•  work day and work evening

homemade pizza

1-21-2013 Mon. cold, clouds.



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | grape fruit | apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- homemade  pizza | butter nut squash soup | wine 

 

• new term

paella

1-20-2013 Sun. chilly, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Italian bread | grape fruit |apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | tangerine
DINNER --- Italian bread | butter nut squash and apple soup | paella with mustard green, winter bamboo shoots, winter mushroom, smoked mussels and scallops | wine 

 

• fusion indeed

the pebbles and sea-bream

1-19-2013 Sat. chilly, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | limpa bread | Italian bread | grape fruit | apple  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | tangerine
DINNER --- baked sea bream | sauteed red stem chard | toasted Sardinian fregola with porcini | wine | Italian bread 

 

• whole sea bream is back at local market

roasted vegetables

1-18-2013 Fri. chilly, beautiful sunset



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- roasted red-skin potato, red pepper and onion with garlic and rosemary | stir-fried chicken and onion with Si-chuan spices | curried eggplant with green chili | rice | wine

 

• add warmth

pasta with ragu sauce

1-17-2013 Thu. cold, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed shrimp 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato fries | pasta with  beef ragu sauce | sauteed radicchio | wine 

 

• a good way to use leftover steak

silken and smoked tofu

1-16-2012 Wed. chilly, rainy.



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with spicy eggplant 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- simmered shrimp, okra and silken tofu | stir-fried chives and smoked tofu | scrambled eggs with cilantro and wood-ear | rice | wine 

 

•   thick clouds and low light. pride and prejudice.

Si-chuan style spicy

1-15-2013 Tue. chilly, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- Si-chuan style spicy eggplant with minced meat and green chili | sauteed mustard greens | rice | wine 

 

• in a hurry

kau-fu

1-14-2013 Mon. mild, fog and mist



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed bitter melon and lotus root 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- pan-fried lotus root chips |  simmered kao-fu with winter bamboo shoots, wood-ear and shiitake | stir-fried young mustard greens | rice | wine 

• another week started in fog and mist

roots and shoots

1-13-2013 Sun. mild, fog.  

WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Limpa bread | Norwegian goat cheese | grape fruit  | apple  
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | tangerine
DINNER --- stir-fried lotus roots| stir-fried bamboo shoots, leek, red pepper and green chili | sauteed bitter lemon | Shanghai-style wine and soy braised short ribs | rice | wine 

 

• plenty texture, color and flavor

clam and steak

1-12-2013 Sat. mild, sun and clouds. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | limpa bread | Norwegian goat cheese | apple 
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- linguini with clam sauce and manila clams | seared frozen rib steak | sauteed bitter melon and okra | wine 

 

• no stir and no fry

put-together-meal

1-11-2013 Fri. mild, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with spicy cabbage 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple 
DINNER --- sauteed mustard green | curried eggplant with green chili | beef with mushroom sauce | pan-fried potato | wine 


 

•   emptied the fridge

stired and fried

1-10-2012 Thu. chilly, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
 DINNER --- pan-fried pork chop | stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu | stir-fried cabbage with fermented fava bean sauce | rice | wine 

 

• all spices

mustard green

1-09-2013 Wed. chilly, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried vegetables | tangerine
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- sauteed mustard greens | sauteed shrimp, okra and shiitake | caramelized carrots with onion and bacon | rice | wine

 

• can not have enough mustard greens

vegie night

1-08-2013 Tue. chilly, sunny. 



BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- sauteed young mustard green with fermented chili | stir-fried eggplant with fried shrimp and green chili | stir-fried garlic scape and bamboo shoots | rice | wine 

• quick meal. vegetables tasted so good.

steamed dumplings

1-07-2013 Mon. cold, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee 
LUNCH --- rice with garlic scape and pork
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tangerine
DINNER --- soup of squid, winter bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and wood-ear | steamed dumplings | wine 

 

• business as usual

what's growing in winter

1-06-2013 Sun. chilly, cloudy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | homemade Limpa bread | Norwegian goat cheese |  apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | tangerine 
DINNER --- stir-fried garlic scape, winter bamboo shoot and twice-cooked pork | simmered Japanese winter squash | sauteed squid with ginger and lemon zest | rice | wine 

 

 

• bamboo shoots, garlic scape. and newly arrived vintage glasses

whole branzino

1-05-2013 Sat. chilly, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread with Norwegian goat cheese | grapefruit AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato fries | roasted whole bronzino with herbs and spices | tong-hao leaves porridge with crushed peanuts | rice | wine 

 

• whole fish with scales on kept more moist and tender when roasted in oven