Samgyeopsal

photo credit

Samgyeopsal is one of JonJon's favorites so of course we wanted to make it for him.  Then he defined it as pork belly.....ok yuck, then I realized that bacon was really pork belly unless you buy certain cuts so I figured I have eaten it before and so cooked it up without looking back.

This is the second time I have made samgyeopsal.  The first time we simply fried it up and served with rice and fried eggs on top.

This time we (I should actually say Ooney because he volunteered to cook) fried it up with kimchi.  I actually really like kimchi if it is cooked.

this is actually a crummy picture.  I forgot to take a picture until we all dished it onto our plates.  But it was actually very good.  

I won't give up - for my kids sake

I have been thinking a lot lately about how quickly time is going by and how much I want to teach and do with my kiddos before it is gone.

 It seems like when they are small that you have so much time and then time gets lost somewhere and you realize they have gotten big so quick and what time is left is so short.

It is hard to think about that we have had our son here with us longer now than we will have before he is off to college.

So I have made a few small decisions and am working on sort of a mental bucket list of things I want to teach them and do with them.  One decision I made was I am not going to pick up the computer to look at any social network sites at night (yes even pinterest).  If they are just sitting and watching TV or reading I plan to do it with them soak it all up so I have no regrets.  Now if they are playing Mario with their dad I may sneak in a little pinterest :)

So the first on my bucket list: Crocheting

I have always had the -  if it is hard quit - kind of attitude about certain things in life.  Algebra was one of them LOL but crocheting was another.  Heavens knows my mom tried to teach me to sew and knit but I always gave up.  Well I am determined to learn now....not algebra of course :)

Last weekend I decided I was going to learn to crochet so I can teach Carrot and I am not going to quit.  I am completely proud of myself for getting this far thanks to my sister who was helping me yesterday and my neighbor who helped me today and also taught me a new pattern which is super easy.

So here is not giving up so I can teach my little girl something :)

Uh Oh - Problem with blogger

So I have had a little problem with my blogger and lost several of my post on 31 days of getting to know Korea.  I am totally not going back and re-creating them so....... I AM LETTING GO.   I may finish a few things I wanted to learn about here and there but for those of you who were following I'm sorry.

I am making some Bulgogi tonight so will defiantly add that.

The public bath :: getting to know Korea

The Public Bath

This may be my most interesting post yet.  

The public bath has me puzzled.  I first heard about the public bath last year from JonJon.

 Let me give you some history - JonJon's mother is now an empty-nester since JonJon is here in the U.S. and his brother is at an American school in China so to keep busy and since her husband is the CEO of a building firm she had him build her a fitness center so she can run her own company and keep busy.

When JonJon came back from Christmas break last year he brought us pictures of his mothers new fitness center......WOW!!  I was like picturing a planet fitness or something but this was a 7 story building with floors for different things like one for fitness equipment, one for massages, and so an AND the PUBLIC BATH.

It is so curious a public bath!!!! We quizzed JonJon quite a bit about the public bath last year trying to understand the concept.   Is it like a social thing like Frank Barone with the men at "the lodge"?
Is it more like a place to go for your skin treatments?  Or do you really go there and get clean in a huge tub with other people....which would be weird

Today I plan to scour the Internet and hopefully find out the truth......

Post public bath research....

Hmm didn't really find the answer to my questions so last night I quizzed JonJon some more (hee hee) He must think we are freaks as he too is a public bath patron and in fact paid someone $10 to loofah his back for a hour over the summer.

JonJon says that water is very expensive in Korea and Korea's are very health conscious so if you want to soak in a tub and spend a lot of time with the loofah scrubbing away at your dead skin  it would be much cheaper to us the public bath where you pay about 10,000 won (about $5 US) and can use as much water as you want.

Here is how it works

First you undress and have to walk to a big room with multiple shower heads and wash yourself.  Then you enter a room with multiple baths of various temperatures.  Some have jets for massage, some are salt baths, some negative and positive ion baths, cool pools, some very hot baths have a large bucket of cold water and a handle above and you can stand and dump cold water on yourself and then dip into the hot water again (apparently this is suppose to be good for your skin).

This is also a social thing.  JonJon said that at his mothers fitness center there is a few older women who will come the public bath at 8 in the morning and not leave until 5 or 6 at night (yes my mouth dropped open here as well)

Of course I had to dig deeper with this.  He said  they still pay the same amount and use the water all day with their friends.  I ask JonJon why his mother didn't charge a different rate if they would be there all day.  He said that would be rude to the customer.  It seems his mother came up with a different plan.  In the ladies public bath there is now a store that sells food (WHAT) so now these ladies stay all day and eat NAKED.

I ask him where they kept their money and he just laughed.  I asked him where they ate naked and he said there are little tables and chairs (WHAT WHAT WHAT)  At least his mom found a way to capitalize on them being there all day :)

In conclusion I am almost more puzzled than when I started this post.   I feel the only way to truly find my answers is to actually try it out when I go to Korea....I know crazy huh but if I get time before I get my boy I might give it a whirl.  I'm sure I will be a sight for those regulars with my pale white skin...but who knows I might like the experience.

We will be staying in Gangnam so I may even pull a gangnam style plunge

Kimchi Fried Rice :: getting to know Korea

Kimchi Fried Rice

This is the one way I actually like kimchi.  I watched Ooney make this once and it is pretty easy.  This is a dish that you would want to make when your kimchi starts to go sour.

It is so easy.

First you cut up a good amount of kimchi (I probably chopped up several cups),  add a chopped onion,  and Eww a can of chopped spam (I'm not a fan) so I like to use ham if they let me.  You fry this up with a little oil and add a little sugar.

Then after the onions have become translucent you add in cooked rice.  I think I added about 4-6 cups.

You fry that around with some more oil then fry some eggs and serve on top.  It is easy and taste pretty good.

I wish I took step by step pictures and let you know the amounts but we had to rush off to pull the boat out of the water.  That was an interesting experience to watch.  We had to go at night since that is when the tide was at the highest.  Here are some pictures of the boat being moved to its new winter spot.

Kimchi :: getting to know Korea

Kimchi

I'm thinking you can't know Korea at all if you don't know kimchi.

What is Kimchi? 

Kimchi is basically cabbage that has been fermented in red pepper and anchovy sauce.  There are other various vegetables like onions and garlic in it as well.  It is served with almost every meal including breakfast.

I am personally not a fan.  Korean's love it, except Onney LOL.  J and Banana love it.  In fact J will pull out the kimchi jar when we are having spaghetti for dinner - YUCK!

It is normally served as a side dish but is also an ingredient in many main dishes.

Now this is funny.  There is actually a kimchi museum in Seoul.

May need to add that to my things to see list.....just kidding!

Failed attempt at cooking :: getting to know Korea

Korean Pancakes

(pajeon)

Today I didn't really get to know Korea.  I knew this dinner was not going to turn out right only about 5 minutes into it..

Here is the detailed account of my experience with trying to make pajeon.

Tuesday Night

5:00
Tuesday night is the only night that I don't have soccer or kids stuff at church so it is the only night I attempt to cook a meal other than in the crockpot. 

My last daycare charge just walked out of the door and I got the call from J that his work/golf outing was done on time and he would be able to get the big boys, so I put aside the thought of plan B. if I would have needed to get them ORDER PIZZA on the way :)

5:15
Finished getting Carrot to pick up her "crafts" which consisted of glueing glitter to the tops of cotton balls which she was planning to add to her tables in her "fairy house" or should I say her fairy trap.  

I'm still a little puzzled as to how she no longer believes in Santa or the tooth fairy but I catch her arguing with Banana all the time about how fairies ARE real.

5:30
Time to begin the pajeon.  Within the first 5 minutes I realized I had no soy sauce....that is ok I will substitute with the hot pepper soy sauce. 

5:35 
Of course I spilled the soy sauce all down the counter, the front of the stainless steel dishwasher and then onto the floor and my socks....no big deal cleaned it up. 

5:40 
Went to open the seltzer water and it literally sprayed ALL over my kitchen.  Ok (breathing) now I'm starting to feel frustrated.  It was as I was wiping down the cabinets and floor I smelled a berry smell... DID I REALLY PICK UP RASPBERRY FLAVORED SELTZER WATER (sigh)

5:43
Called J to have him pick up PLAIN seltzer water....

5:45
Realized I never got shiitake mushrooms and scallions so called J and said "thanks but no thanks" I will go to the store and get it all myself.

5:50
In the car headed to the store and thinking  this dinner is probably not going to turn out right.

6:00
Pull up to a red light and hear sirens look around and the next thing I know about 8 undercover cop cars are chasing an SUV to a stop right next to me and then in a flash about 10 cops all jump out and pulled guns on this guy.  I thought my heart stopped.

 I was just praying that this dude did not have a gun and bullets would not be whizzing by my head at any minute.  I sort of watch/ducked until  the light turned green and I think I pulled a 0-60 in no time (just so you know I live in a really small town sort of in the sticks...I was not expecting this)

6:25
Got home and decided to pour myself a nice glass of wine before I finished the pancakes.  

6:50
Finished! Ask JonJon to taste them and as nicely as possible he said that they tasted nothing like pajeon in Korea....but the dipping sauce was perfect LOL

6:51 
Glad I had that glass of wine ;)

Here is to trying again sometime.... 

Pictures of my attempts

Grated some ginger

 bought special rice flour and everything

 cooking

 my tasteless pajeon

 that dipping sauce that was just perfect LOL

Dak galbi :: getting to know Korea

Dak Galbi
(Chicken Ribs)
 although it is really just made with boneless skinless chicken meat

Today J attempted Dak Galbi and I think my lips are still burning.

Since J made this one I can't give the step by step but between the two of us our little boy should be able to eat like a good Korean :)

This meal is popular amount college kids because it is a low cost abundant meal

This is a chicken dish with carrots, cabbage, and Korean sweet potatoes

You add your chicken to the red pepper paste sauce to marinade

Then saute along with rice cakes

Ooney didn't make it for the bibimbop but was here to try this.

It was good but I'm pretty sure it was not suppose to be this red LOL  Note for next time use less sauce

Bibimbap :: getting to know Korea

Bibimbap

Bibim (mixed) Bap (rice) 

Today I attempted to make Bibimbap the first of several Korean dishes we have planned for this week.   This is a popular Korean dish but not necessarily served for Chuseok but I have been wanting to try my hand at it.

First thing this morning I started off by slicing the half-frozen beef into tiny strips and placed in a zip lock bag.  I made a puree of kiwi, garlic, yellow onion, and peeled ginger and then stirred in some soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sugar.  I let the meat marinate all day.

To prepare I cut zucchini into small stick and fried in some olive oil with a bit of garlic and then added some salt.  

As I was about to the cook the carrots I yelled out the window to JonJon who was playing B-ball  - "hey are the carrots crunch or soft"  He replied "a little bit soft" So that is just what I did - not too crunchy not to soft.  After the dinner  the only think JonJon recommend next time was to have the carrots more crunchy LOL  

 Put the marinated beef into the hot pan in a single layer and cooked hot and quick

 Blanched the bean sprouts for a few minutes and tossed with sesame oil and sesame seeds and some salt

 Washed some fresh spinach and blanched that for a few minutes as well.  Squeezed the water out and chopped then tossed with sesame oil and salt.

 Fried up some eggs

Then assembled!

  

Tada! - I believe you are suppose to assemble on individual dishes but I call this family style Bibimbap :)

 Hmm - not sure what to think!

Ready to dive in!

Put it on our plates and mix it all up with our rice (just as the name suggest) and  added plenty of hot pepper paste

  1 happy Korean (I rock at this host Umma thing)

As JonJon helped me load the dishwasher he said "Congratulations you did it"  and then thanked me for making him Korean food. 

 I am hoping that meant that I did a good job.  He said the meat was a little different but he liked mine better :)

You are quite welcome JonJon...it makes me happy to make you happy!

I found the recipe on pinterest Click here for  Recipe

Next up Dak galbi.......

To sail again or not to sail again.....

Well an adventure is what we set out on but we got a little more than we bargained for.   First, let me say that 85% of our trip was fabulous.  Then we got back to familiar waters...so close to home yet it felt so far away.

Our adventure began with the purchase of a sail boat.  I will back up in case you have not been following this blog for long - we all took sailing lessons over the summer so our next step was to buy a sailboat.  It was located roughly 90 (driving) miles south of us.  The boat can not be trailered so we embarked on our sailing adventure to bring the boat home this past weekend.  We figured worst case scenario it would take about 9-10 hours to bring it home and we planned to spent the night in a small creek half way.

The pictures paint the majority of our journey - the great part!   I'm not sure I'm up for blogging about the perilous portion yet - maybe by the end.

 Crossing under the Bay Bridge.

 It was an awesome site to go under the bridge instead of over it.

 One of the few times we saw Banana as he spent most of the trip in the cabin reading Harry Potter...what is wrong with you boy.

JonJon and Sarah accompanied us on this quest for peril - I mean adventure :)

Carrot at the helm

How JonJon can nap like this we will never know?

Must have been on a 5 minute break from the reading

Are your eyes ok????  

Girl snuggles

Here we are sailing into a beautiful little cove where we anchored for the night.   On our way in we saw an Bald Eagle fly down and grab a fish from the water and take off again - awesome to see.  There was a marina or two and a little tiki like hut that sold drinks in the summer - super cute area

Chill'n waiting for dinner to cook

Dad is grilling out hot dogs for dinner off the back of the boat

Carrot is always up for a pose so I have about 200 shots of this

Sarah getting some giggles from the book worm

JonJon was not sure he wanted to come until he saw the oatmeal cream pies I bought for the boat ride - hee hee.  He is so easily bought with food

After dinner it was getting dark so we all played a fun round of princess yahtzee before we went to bed.  During the game we saw some fireworks which was fun and also got to watch the moon rise over the water before bed.

 I was "lucky" enough to wake at 6:30 and glance over at Carrot who was just sitting up and staring at me so she and I climbed out to the cockpit and enjoyed the beautiful morning and sunrise.

Cheese danish or donuts????  How about both.  Really - who knows what I was doing here but I decided this is a good pose for blog post.

Isn't she beautiful in the morning sunlight

Behind Sarah is a little island where there were various boats anchored near by and a cookout/camping on the beach....looked like fun.

Here we have Carrot coloring and if you look at the pile of pillows to her left....that was Banana's little reading fort.  He literally spent 90% of the trip there.  It is amazing his eyes still work

 Attempted to put up the sail for a bit on the way back not much wind but I have come to realize not much is my kind of wind...I might not be a sailor after all...could be a motor boat kind of girl.

This is probably my last smile of the trip and also where my pictures stopped.  I believe JonJon might have taken some of the horrible portion but I am still a little to traumatized to ask for them :)

Now for the bad part of the trip summarized:  sailing in too much wind for my liking and too close to the flats pushed us to run aground.  Running aground and waiting to be towed delayed us from getting home.  Waiting  and watching the clouds increase and then making the last portion of the journey in rain and super high winds as darkness fell all around.  All of this = a horrified me.

It is quite scary be on the boat in these situations.  We were just trying to get home and the bend that looked like what we thought was the last bend took so long to get to.  It was slow going but we finally rounded the bend and I could see the yacht club with the binoculars.

I stood at the front of the boat in the rain watching for mooring balls hollering stay left and go right so J could steer the boat safely to the dock.  As I struggled to tie the boat to dock two men where walking down the dock and climbed into their boat....thanks so much for the help guys!  I came to realize they probably were not members of the club and just needed to dock for the night for safety.

Finally at home after a hot shower it all sort of hit me and I thought I was going to throw up or have a panic attack for a bit.  J so kindly offered to sell the boat if I didn't want to get on it again and I will say last night I was thinking we should do JUST THAT but now it is day...and maybe it will be ok to try again.

"Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit."~ 

Vince Lombardi