bitter sweet

7-07-2020 Tue. 


 DINNER --- sauteed bitter melon | Syrian-style caramelized carrots | pan-fried pork chop | salad  

• like the combination 

a plate of fresh vegetables

9-02-2019 Mon. 

BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | fruit
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER ---  caramelized carrot and onion with bacon, parsley and cilantro  | sauteed sweet corn with shallot and green chili 

• from farmer's stand 

natural sweetness

11-04-2015 Wed. mild, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice and cabbage 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  apple
DINNER --- baked delicata squash stuffed with quinoa and chorizo | caramelized carrots with onion and herbs | wine 

 

• food matching the fall colors in the garden

chopped fine

6-05-2014 Thu. warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed bitter melon 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- caramelized carrots with parsley, onion and bacon | Shanghai salsa | sauteed mustard greens | rice | salad | wine 

 

• auto-pilot cooking

sweet bunch

5-21-2014 Wed. mild, clouds to rain.  


 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- rice with mustard green
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER --- scrambled eggs with tomato | caramelized carrots with bacon, parsley and cilantro | rice | salad | wine 

•  homey and sweet 

make do

1-23-2014 Thu. very cold, sunny. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- spicy napa cabbage soup |  caramelized carrots with bacon and onion | pan-fried potatoes | stir-fried Chinese flat leaf chives with egg and smoked tofu |wine

 

• getting low on inventory in the fridge

winter vegetables, slow movement

1-8-2013 Wed. cold, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee | orange bread
LUNCH --- rice with tong hao porridge
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- spicy cabbage | caramelized carrots, onion with bacon and parsley |stir-fried bok choy and wood-ear |  rice | wine | Chinese sweet rice dumpling soup

 

•   a little bit bacon goes long ways

sweet roots

9-26-2013 Thu. mild, sunny. 

  
 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- rice with chive flowers and smoked tofu 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- watermelon | tea
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato fries | caramelized carrots and onion with bacon and cilantro | sauteed baby spinach with sofrito | simmered silken tofu in fish broth | rice | salad | wine

 

• sweet and nutty Japanese sweet potato fries , sweet carrots,  tender sweet spinach

BBQ

7-26-2013 Fri. warm, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---nectarine
DINNER --- BBQ chicken wings | caramelized carrots with onion and cilantro | fennel salad | beer

 

• not that much left in the fridge on Friday

French style caramelized carrots

3-15-2013 Fri. chilly, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---pasta with vegetable ragu sauce
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- caramelized carrots with smkoed bacon, onion and parsley | stir-fried chive flowers with fried tofu and king mushroom | lightly pickled cecumber and Belgian endive | rice | wine 

 

 

• first had this amazing carrot dish at a cozy garden meal in Paris many years ago

sweet carrots with bacon

11-29-2012 Thu. cold, rainy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- potato stew 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  tangerine 
DINNER --- caramelized carrots with onion and smoked bacon | spicy cabbage | rice | wine 


 

• this carrot dish is french

Mostly French

11-14-2011 Mon. mild, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- soup noodles with fried tofu, cucumber, pea leaves, maitake mushroom and egg
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato fries | caramelized carrots with bacon and parsley | pea leaves sauteed in garlic broth | caramelized radicchio and fennel | duck confit with marmalade sauce of shallot, dried cheery, and Dijon mustard | saffron rice | red wine | French chocolate crepe

a bowl of soup noodles for lunch

fennel and radicchio



assembled duck confit plate



french chocolate crepe

• a change of scene from sea (yesterday) to land of southern France. duck confit gets improved in flavor by rubbing garlic herb paste into duck meat during the marinating process.
  

a collection of root vegetables

12-05-2010 Sun. cold wind, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee with Baileys | grape fruit | pan-fried Shanghai-style soup dumplings | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | pomegranate
DINNER --- roasted Japanese sweet potato | wonton soup with fennel and shrimp | caramelized onion and carrots | rice | wine

• a winter meal with root vegetables: sweet potato, fennel bulb, onion and carrots
  

Rice in three ways

4-01-2010 Thu. warm, sunny

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | dried fruit
DINNER --- sweet rice cake tempura | seasoned rice dumplings (shao-mai)| steamed rice | caramelized onion and carrots | boiled snow pea leaves with ponzu sauce | red wine

• a gorgeous spring day, flowering trees everywhere.
  

Caramelized onion and carrots

• 2 cups sliced carrots
• 1/2 finely chopped onion
  
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  
• 1 slice Canadian bacon, finely chopped
  
• 1 tbs cooking oil
  
• salt and black pepper
  
• 1/2 tsp anise seeds ( optional )

1. add the oil in a pot, to medium heat, add bacon, anise seeds, fry for 2 minutes till golden
   
2. add onion, cook for 10 minutes or till soft and a little caramelized
   
3. add carrots, cilantro and parsley, stir to mix and saute for 2 minutes
4. add salt and pepper, cover the pot, turn heat to low, cook for 20 minutes, stir once or twice
   
5. carrots should become sweet and soft when almost done. remove the cover, turn to high heat, stir and cook for 2 minutes to reduce the remaining liquid, the carrots should look a little caramelized
   
6. garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot