I am a sucker for infomercials, and usually want to buy everything I see on TV, especially if it’s a kitchen gadget. But amongst the rotisserie machines, and magic bullets, I remember always especially wanting a dehydrator. This is because I love me some good quality beef jerky. Now I don’t get a ton of free stuff through this blog, but when I do, I’m always so excited and thankful. But don’t get me wrong, I am kind of a choosy beggar. Whenever I post about a product on the blog, I want it to be something that I’d actually share about with my friends. Well, this goggi brand Korean style beef jerky from Artisan Snacks Corporation really perked my interest. And by the way, what a cute and fitting name for this product, because goggi simply means “meat” in Korean. [...]

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When I was in culinary school, my sister gave me a little magnet as a gift. It read, “good cooks never lack good friends.” Oh snap! Raise your hand if you know that’s true. Before we moved, I was usually trapped in the apartment all day, because we shared a car, and Joe would drive it to work. And there’s nowhere to go on foot in the California suburbs, people. This surprisingly didn’t bother me that much, until I decided to enter a Philadelphia Cream Cheese Contest. I’d be inspired and motivated to test out a recipe for it all day, but would have to wait until Joe came home at night to go out shopping for the ingredients. Boy did this make me antsy!

Then entered in Vanessa. It’s one of those stories where we met earlier, but didn’t become friends until later. Long story short, she ended up being my cream cheese angel by volunteering to take me grocery shopping multiple times, so that I was able to enter this contest. As you may know, I didn’t win, but it was still a great experience. Through it all, I always wondered why she kept selflessly helping me, until I figured it out: I fed her. [...]

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We’re lucky enough to have a lovely breeze flowing through our windows at all times. And since we’re in California, that means no humidity. Therefore, we can get away with rarely turning on our AC, even in the summer time. But then there are those hit-you-in-the-face days where there is not even a trace of wind, the sun is burning extra bright, and I feel like a rotisserie chicken. Those are the days where all I want to do is grab a big bucket full of this refreshing watermelon and lime granita.

I love recipes that allow you to make sweet treats without special equipment, such as an ice cream maker. On those hot stifling days, this simple slushy contraption hits the spot. And if you’re involved in the food blogging world, you’ve definitely heard of the Pioneer Woman. She’s finally getting her own cooking show on the Food Network, and it’s airing soon! I got inspired by her recipe and pretty much followed it except that I used a little less sugar, and added scoops of watermelon when serving, which I think ends up being bombtastic. So to pay homage to her show premiering this week, why not give this recipe a go? [...]

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This is my second time being featured in kokoliving.com‘s online magazine, and it is truly an honor to snag a spot again. Last month, I wrote an article about “Julie’s Top 10 Tips for Summer Entertaining.” This month, I was asked to come up with a good lunch time idea for their “back to school” section.

Kokoliving.com focuses mainly on Korean American women doing their thing, but you definitely don’t have to be Korean to read it. I often guest blog for them, although eeks… I haven’t been so diligent about that lately. My bad. They have developed an e-magazine which you can read on their site. But I thought it would be fun to give you a look inside of their magazine, in case you haven’t already subscribed. [...]

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Whenever I make this avocado tomato bruschetta, I may as well serve nothing else along with it. It ends up being a waste. I’ve already given you my grape tomato bruschetta recipe, but ever since I starting adding avocado to it, it became a different game entirely. Every time my friends sink their teeth into this humble bruschetta, I might as well pull out my Gladware and pack the rest of the food up for them. This is because without fail, they will fill up on these puppies, and leave my other dishes hanging in the dust.

Here’s my theory on this: I think it’s because at first glance, these guys look pretty basic and unexciting, but the taste & texture take people by surprise. I mean, bruschetta is pretty standard, but it’s all about perfecting the technique, and adding a personal twist to it. Once you plunge into the soft avocado, juicy tomatoes, and crispy, yet chewy bread, be prepared to fight your friends for the last piece. [...]

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A couple months ago, Joe’s brother Joel, sister-in-law Sharon, and cute niece Kara, came to visit us on route to San Francisco. But really, they were just pit-stopping in California, on their way to MOVING to Korea! Joel, (yes they are brothers named Joe and Joel… I still get a kick out of that), got a job in Korea as the new Pastor for the English speaking ministry at a church there. It was too much of a great opportunity to pass up, so he and Sharon decided to uproot their family and try something new.

They were only going to be here for a few days, and we knew it would be the last time we saw them for a while, so we wanted to make the most of our short time together. [...]

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