seamed dumplings with ground lamb filling

3-31-2014 Mon. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- fried egg noodles with shiitake and carrots  
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with filling of ground lamb, fresh dill and mustard green | fresh mozzarella tomato cucumber salad | wine 
 

• a more flavored filling than the usual ground chicken.

lamb stuffed Holland eggplant

3-30-2014 Sun. chilly, rain, sleet, snow.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee |  bread and cheese | strawberries | grapefruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea  
DINNER ---  fresh mozzarella with cucumber and tomato |  pan-fried Holland eggplant stuffed with ground lamb and garlic | par-boiled asparagus with olive oil and sea salt | rice | wine 

 

• who would guess the variety of Holland eggplant is the best for this Chinese recipe of stuffed and pan-fried eggplant, and it is found in a local Iranian store.

squid and gnocchi

3-29-2014 Sat. mild, rain. 



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and cheese | grapefruit | strawberry AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- port | olives  DINNER --- fresh mozzarella, avacado and tomato | fresh spinach gnocchi with fresh peas and shallots | sauteed squid with hot and sour sauce | wine 

 

•  still waiting for the real spring seasonal vegetables

Knödel and tomatillo

3-28-2014 Fri. mild, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried chicken 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- ( at Susann's)  baked little cheese and chicken cup | smoked salmon soup | boiled knodel German potato dumplings |  broiled chicken with tomatillo sauce | fresh berries with cream | apple strudel | wine 

 

stir and fry

3-27-2014 Thu. chilly, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---chickpea salad
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- stir-fried chive flower and smoked tofu | stir-fried chicken with red pepper, shiitak, wood-ear  and onion | rice | wine 

 

• nothing beats simple stir-fry

experiemental homemade pita

3-26-2014 Wed. cold, windy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with tong-hao porridge
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple 
DINNER --- homemade  pita bread  | Mediterranean smashed chickpeas | sauteed golden pepper and bitter melon  | lightly pickled cucumber | hard boiled egg | Ji-cai wonton soup | wine 

 

• it did not turn out as light and puffy as before when following Tanis' recipe

speedy

3-25-2014 Tue. cold, snow.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with cauliflower
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- curry cauliflower | pan-fried pork chop |  sauteed bitter melon | rice | wine 

 

• the other half the cauliflower

curry cauliflower

3-24-2014 Mon. cold, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with kao-fu 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  apple
DINNER ---  baked Japanese sweet potato fries |  pan-fried Brussels sprouts |  curried cauliflowers with roasted red pepper | tong-hao porridge with crushed peanuts | rice | wine 

 

• one half of the pretty cauliflower

stir-fry lamb with a pinch of cumin

3-23-2014 Sun. chilly, cloudy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | homemade orange bread | apple | strawberry 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER ---  sauteed asparagus | stir-fried lamb with Chinese leek | simmered kao-fu with shiitake, wood-ear, lily buds, and winter bamboo shoots | rice | wine 

 

• tried the stir-fry lamb ( leg cut)  in northwestern Chinese style with cumin. need to increase the spicy level.

Bronzini and lamb kabob

3-22-2014 Sat. mild,  light clouds.  



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | homemade orange bread | apple | strawberries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---Ji-cai wonton
DINNER --- steamed artichoke with lemon butter dipping sauce |  baked whole bronzini with scallion and ginger |  pan-fried fingerling potatoes | lightly pickled cucumber with fresh dill | lamb and orange kabob | wine 

 

 

• happy with fresh and good ingredients

where is spring?

3-21-2014 Fri. chilly, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with simmered eggplant 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- sauteed Chinese greens | stir-fried chive flowers and twice-cooked pork | rice | wine 

 

• empty fridge by Friday, an indication of successful home cooking for the week.

sweetness

3-20-2014 Thu. chilly, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- carrots and orange soup  | homemade orange bread |  simmered eggplant |  sauteed mustard greens | rice | wine 

 

• carrot orange soup has the sweetness from earthy substance and fruity fragrance

greens in borth and in wrap

3-19-2014 Wed. chilly, cloudy. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with lamb and chive flowers 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of bok choy, fresh dill, chicken and shittake | tofu and boy choy soup | wine 

 

• pretty the same ingredients, different form and flavor

flash-fried lamb with silk-road spices

3-18-2014 Tue. chilly, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- congee with pickled bamboo shoots and seaweed 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- simmered eggplant with fermented fava bean sauce | boiled pea shoots with mustard oil dressing | stir-fried lamb and chive flowers and smoked tofu with spicy sauce | rice | wine 

 

• flash-stir-fried lamb has a flavor of northwestern Chinese cuisine

orange bread

3-17-2014 Mon. cold, snow  


BREAKFAST --- coffee | homemade orange bread
LUNCH --- ji-cai wonton 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato fries |  hot pot ( pea shoots, napa cabbage, tofu, shiitake, lamb, beef ) | wine 

 

•   more snow, more home baking and hot pot

congee with thousand-year-old duck egg

3-16-2014 Sun. chilly, clouds to snow


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | Ji-cai wonton | apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- rice and barley porridge | thousand-year-old egg | Chinese pickles | stir-fried pickled mustard greens with fresh soy bean | fermented tofu in spicy sauce 

 

• number one comfort food with thousand year tradition

whole bronzini and artichoke

3-15-2014 Sat. mild, sunny. 



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and cheese | apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER ---   steamed artichoke with lemon butter dipping sauce | toasted garlic bread | baked whole bronzini with ginger and scallion sauce | sauteed asparagus | wine 

 

• adult food , whole fish, steamed vegetables, and raw garlic-rubbed toast

broiled pork tenderloin with Chiense taco

3-14-2014 Fri. mild, clouds.  


 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- pilaf with chicken and carrots 
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
 DINNER --- Ji-cai wonton soup | Chinese taco with broiled pork tenderloin, caramelized onion, lettuce and cilantro | wine 

 

•   get the kid to try something new

chicken in white wine yogurt sauce

3-13-2014 Thu. chilly, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- potato with tomato sauce | sauteed greens
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER ---  chicken with white wine and yogurt sauce | caramelized carrots and onion with bacon and cilantro | pilaf | wine 

 

• sort of french , actually