Author: La Vie Partagée

Vietnamese Stuffed Cabbage Roll and Meatball Soup / Canh Bap Cai Nhoi Thit

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I asked my mom over the holiday season to make a healthy soup and we came up with this stuffed cabbage roll and meatball soup or canh bap cai nhoi thit. This is a simple and healthy soup to detox from the rich holiday meals. It is also an elegant soup to serve at any dinner party. Difficulty: Medium / Servings: 6 / Time: 30 – 45 minutes Ingredients: 6-7 leaves from 1 extra-large cabbage or the largest cabbage you find. (You can adjust the meat filling to fit the smaller leaves.) 1/2 lb. of ground pork (You can substitute this with chicken.) 4 jumbo shrimps (deveined and without the shell) 1/2 lb. of pork paste (You can also puree the ground meat into a paste in a food processor.) 1/2 cup of rehydrated wood ear mushrooms 6-8 green onions 2 teaspoons fish sauce 2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon powder 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt 1 cup of low sodium chicken broth 3 rock sugar 1/2 teaspoon of regular sugar 1/2 teaspoon …

Our List: Travel Tricks and Gear from Our Editors

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All of us at La Vie Partagee travel extensively, whether for business or pleasure.  Our trips range from a short domestic flight to long haul flights around the world.  I compiled a list of must have products and tricks from our editors and contributors to help you with your next travel adventure. Short Haul (1-5 days trip) I travel a lot on short overnight trips for work so I try not to bring much with me.  My staples include the following: 1. Flip Flops / Travel Slippers: Unless I am staying at a five star hotel where they provide slippers, I usually wear flip flops around the room.  I do not know how well the carpet has been cleaned even in reputable hotels.  A bonus is that when my feet get weary of heels, I can wear flip flops out casually. I recently stopped by the Muji store at JFK and spotted these travel slippers. They are comfortable and compact. These slippers now has a permanent spot in my luggage. 2.  Shower Gel and Shower …

Grilled Beef Noodle Bowl With Lime Vinaigrette

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Grilled beef noodle bowl is an easy and healthy dish to assemble for a quick meal. This  is a take on the traditional bun thit nuong or grilled meat on noodle dish that is very popular on the streets of Vietnam. We created an easy marinade for the thin slices of beef that can be quickly grilled on the stove. Together with vermicelli noodles, fresh vegetables and a lime vinaigrette, this is a guilt free meal for a busy person. Difficulty: Easy / Serving: 2 / Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 1/2 pound of beef eye round or similar steak cut 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce 6 tablespoons of coconut soda 2 tablespoons of fish sauce 1/2 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 cucumber 1 carrot 1 Romaine lettuce or green of your choice A handful of mint 1 lime 1-2 stalks of scallion 1 tablespoon of garlic 1 tablespoon of onion 1 Thai chili (optional) Sea salt Ground pepper Sugar 1 bushel of vermicelli noodles Directions: Thinly slice the beef in 1/8 inches thickness. Marinate …

Weekend Unexplored: Boca Raton, Florida

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When the temperature drops, northeast snowbirds flock to southern Florida to take in the warm temperature and sun. Boca Raton is a small city located in southern Florida filled with famed architecture of nouveau-riche architect Addison Mizne from the 1920’s. The city has a history as a playground for the affluent, but we found the city to be cozy on our recent workcation. In this post, we will showcase a few places that surprised us in a good way. Stay and Play: Resort: We had an opportunity to stay at the historic Waldorf Astoria’s Boca Resort and Beach Club. The hotel started in 1926 as the Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn designed by Addison Mizne in orange and pink with Mediterranean and Spanish influences. The resort is situated on 356 gorgeously landscaped acres and includes the Cloister, Beach Club, Tower, Yacht Club, Boca Bungalows and Golf Club. We had the Cloister Estate 2 Doubles that has updated classic luxury interiors. The rooms range from small to spacious at the resort. We had a small double room on …

Peanut Sticky Rice / Xôi Đậu Phộng

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Sticky rice is an everyday food made from glutinous rice steamed and eaten with various toppings. The variety can be endless and can range from savory to sweet. Peanut sticky rice is one of the most popular rustic sticky rice dishes in Vietnam. Raw peanuts are boiled, mixed with soaked glutinous rice and steamed. The sticky rice is topped witha generous heaping of coconut meat and sprinkled with a mixture of crushed roasted peanuts, salt and sesame seeds. This dish can be made in large batches and will make a delicious accompaniment for any meal. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 6 / Time: 8 hours to soak the rice and 1 hour and 15 minutes to cook Ingredients: 2 cups of sweet glutinous rice 2 cups of raw peanuts 1 Tablespoon of crushed unsalted roasted peanuts 1 Tablespoon of roastedwhite sesame seeds 1/2 teaspoon of sugar 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt 1 package of fresh shredded coconut meat (you can buy this in the frozen section of the Asian market) Equipment: A medium size steamer Directions: Soak …

Winter Skin Care Essentials

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Winter wind and cold air can be harsh for any skin type. The key to surviving the winter’s environment is to make sure that your skin is continually moisturized. There are many different products on the market so it can be hard to pick and choose the right one for each person’s skin attributes. For example I have very sensitive skin that is prone to irritation from changing weather and also from chemicals in products. I adhere to the Asian skincare regiment which is longer than the general western version. There are a series of steps to address hydration and other skin problems in the Asian routine. The goal is to not strip the skin of its natural hydration but to sooth and add hydration to the epidermis and dermis. Over the years, I have a few stalwarts that I depend on to get me through the winter  and are listed in this article. Morning: Powder wash, Toner, Serum, Lotion (face and  eyes) and Sunscreen Night: Oil Wash, Powder wash, Toner, Serum, Facial Masks if necessary and Lotion (face …

Salmon Braised in Tomato Sauce / Salmon Sốt Cà Chua

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An easy week night meal that my mom usually makes at least a few times a month is salmon braised in tomato sauce or salmon sốt cà chua. Salmon filet is pan fried to form a golden crust and then is braised in a simple tomato garlic sauce for a a few minutes. This dish is served simply with rice. It is a quick, healthy and easy dish to make for dinner. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 2 people / Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 1 large salmon filet with skin 4 ripe tomatoes 1 tablespoon of fish sauce 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 cup of low sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons of diced yellow onion 9 cloves of garlic (5 cloves of smashed garlic and 4 cloves of minced garlic) Sea salt Ground pepper Sugar Canola oil or any oil (not olive oil since it has a low heat point and will burn) Directions: Rub the salmon on both side with 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt. Rinse the salmon with water and wipe dry …

Phở Turkey

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Phở Turkey is a common type of phở that Vietnamese American created around Thanksgiving. This is a new take on the classic chicken phở or phở gà. Around the holiday, grocery stores will offer a promotion for turkeys. My parents inevitably fall for it and buy extra turkeys even though we normally do not eat them besides on Thanksgiving. What we end up doing is using the fresh turkey to make phở and it is a big hit. This phở is healthier and cleaner than beef phở and takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to make from start to finish. There are always people visiting during the holidays so this phở is a good way to feed the masses on a budget. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 6-7 bowls / Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes Ingredients: 4.5 lb. of turkey drumsticks (approx. 4) 6 lb. of turkey breast with bone 2 packets of phở spice (1 packet has 1/2  tablespoon of black peppercorn, 2 cinnamon sticks, 10-12 star anise, 9-10 cloves, 1 cardamom and a spice pouch) 1/2 a ginger 1 yellow …

Vietnamese Pantry Essentials

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Vietnamese cuisine is well known for its freshness, uses of herbs and the complexity of flavors. We have a history of French colonization leading to the richness and diversity of dishes within the Vietnamese cuisine. There are a few key essentials that are used often in our cooking. This post will highlight the key essentials that we used in all of our recipes on this blog and the brands that we like. Amazingly, I was able to find majority of it on Amazon! The Basics 1. Fish sauce – This is the ingredient that is the foundation for Vietnamese cooking. Fish sauce is made from fermenting anchovies in sea salt over a period of 12-14 months. I was surprise that you can get this at Walmart. My family uses Viet Huong Three Crab brand fish sauce. 2. Soy Sauce – There are many different brands out there to choose. We do not have a specific one to recommend but my family tends to cook with Maggi or Knorr liquid seasoning in place of soy sauce. Soy Sauce …

Must Do’s: Holidays in NYC

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The holiday season is a popular time to visit NYC and it is not hard to see why. The festive holiday spirit is in full force and there are many activities suitable for everyone. Whether you are a visitor or a local, the holiday season in the city is something everyone is excited about. We compiled a list of must do’s holiday activities for New York City. Bryant Park Winter Village –(41 W 40th St between Sixth and Fifth Avenues) The Bank of America Winter Village opens on October 29 and stays open through March 5, 2017. During the holiday, the skating rink is surrounded by a winter village filled with food and gift vendors. The 17,000-square-foot outdoor rink is also free to the public and you can bring your own or rent the skates. Weekends are particularly popular and the line can go around the block. Come early if you plan on ice skating at this rink. There is also a big Christmas tree overlooking the rink and makes for some wonderful photo opportunity. Radio …