All posts tagged: featured

Winter Skin Care Essentials

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

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

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

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

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 …

Phnom Penh Noodle Soup/ Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang

Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang or Phnom Penh Noodle Soup is a southern Vietnamese noodle soup that is based on a Cambodian-Chinese dish and is a favorite for the locals in southern Vietnam. Go to any alleyway with food stalls and you will find one that serves Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang. Hủ Tiếu has a mild flavor compared to pho and bun bo hue and is much quicker to cook as well. The soup base is made of up pork bones and dried cuttlefish and shrimps. The noodles are also different as they are a clear chewy tapioca noodles versus the softer rice noodles found in other soups. The toppings vary by region and vendors and can be as simple as slices of pork, shrimp and a quail egg to dumplings, squid, and the list goes on. This is another dish that is good to make ahead as you can freeze the broth and toppings into portions and reheat it for a meal anytime. For this recipe, we created a fully loaded surf and turf version …

Weekend Unexplored: Catskill, NY

Catskill Mountains are located in the southeastern part of New York State. This area includes the ski area at Hunter Mountain and Bellayre Mountain. There are many outdoor activities in the region for any season. I had the opportunity to join some friends for a weekend getaway to see the fall foliage in the middle of October. This is my weekend unexplored in the Catskills. There are plenty of options for lodging in the Catskills as it is a popular weekend getaway for NYC dwellers. I decided to book an AirBnB for this trip and was able to find one near Phoenicia, NY.  As with most house rentals, the actual rental can be a hit or miss. Luckily our rental was more of a hit than a miss with only the stove giving us a lot of trouble. My friend and I headed out on a beautiful Friday morning and arrived at the Phoenicia Diner just in time for lunch. There are few good food options in this particular area. The Phoenicia Diner is a “farm …

Steamed Egg and Pork Meatloaf/ Chả Trứng Thịt Hấp

Every culture has a meatloaf or steamed egg dish. Vietnam has our steamed egg and pork meatloaf or chả trứng thịt hấp that most people will recognized as part of a very popular grilled pork chop dish at most restaurants. This dish is very easy to make and can be eaten alone or as part of grilled meat dish and salad. The steamed egg and pork meatloaf also refrigerates well so you can make one and pack it for lunch or dinner for the week. Ingredient: 6 eggs 1 lb. of ground pork 1 cup of minced woodear mushroom 1 cup of glass noodles cut into 3 inch segments (This is a clear vermicelli noodles and not the rice vermicelli noodles that most people are familiar with and can be found in most Asian supermarkets.) 1 cup of shredded carrots 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of fish sauce 1/2 cup of diced onion 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 teaspoon of ground pepper 1/2 teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoon of sugar olive oil Directions: Soak the glass …

4 Essential Drug Store Items For Travel

I have traveled  more than 30+ countries in the past 10 years  for work and have learned from experience on the travel essentials. I often stay several weeks in a foreign country at a time or a few days depending on the assignments.  The four items that are always in my luggage are budget friendly drug store items that are also multi-purpose. These are my must haves for traveling. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for Face & Body Travel Size Source:  Target This try and true sensitive skin cleanser is great for washing your face and body in a foreign environment. The local water can range from soft to hard water and this product helps offset any skin irritation. It’s a great face wash. However you still need to take your makeup off first with a makeup remover for it to be effective. It can also be used as shaving gel to give you a closer shave. Johnson’s Baby Oil Travel Size Source:  Target I have used baby oil for years to moisturize my skin after a hot shower. It is cheap …

Quick Caramelized Pork Ribs

Caramelized spare ribs are a stable for lunch or dinner at my parents’ house. We would eat it as part of a rice dish with fresh vegetables and a slice of egg and pork meatloaf (cơm sườn bì chả). These pork ribs are cooked quickly so the meat have a chewier texture than the American version where the meat falls off the bones. This dish is very easy to prepare and takes only 30 minutes to cook. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 4 / Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 3 lb. of pork ribs 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut soda (Coco Rico) 3 tablespoons of fish sauce 2 tablespoons of sugar 1 yellow onion, quartered 1/2 tablespoon of mushroom seasoning (if this is not available, use chicken bouillon powder or skip it) 10 cloves of minced garlic and 1 clove of crushed garlic Ground pepper Salt Scallion for garnish Olive oil for cooking Directions: Cut the spare ribs into approximately 2-3 inch segments. This is roughly 2-3 bones per segment. Marinate the ribs with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of …