Oyako don for breakfast

(taken out on our deck this morning. there was a thin layer of snow from last night sparkling on the grass :D)

Lydia from My Kitchen posted a picture and recipe for Oyako Donburi (Japanese rice bowl with chicken and egg toppings) so mouthwatering I had to try it myself. We had most of the ingredients on hand, but I made a few substitutions for Japanese ingredients we didn 't have. Lydia's recipe was "quick and easy" like she promised, even with my adjustments. The delicious result: slightly American-ized and Chinese-ified Oyako Don for breakfast this morning!
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Christina's Oyako Don

(adapted from Oyako Donburi)

4 servings

4-6 c. cooked white rice

1 1/2 c. cooked chicken breast, cut into small cubes

1/2 large onion, thinly sliced

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1 1/2 c. chicken broth

1 tsp. soy sauce

1 tbsp. chopped green onions

Mix together chicken broth and soy sauce.
Bring 1/4 of the mixture to a boil in a small shallow pan.
Add 1/4 of the chicken and onions and cook over medium-low heat until almost done.
Pour 1/4 of the lightly beaten eggs in a thin stream over the chicken and onions.
Sprinkle with green onions and cover the pan.
Simmer on low heat until egg is almost set.
Careful slide the topping onto a bowl of rice.
Repeat for 3 more servings.
Enjoy!

"I'm naked!"

"Now I'm fully dressed...but so high up! o_O"

Yogen fruz--Canada's PinkBerry/Berryline?

Shopping at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL yesterday, I spotted this ad:

I have never heard of "yogen früz" before (have you?), but apparently it is the largest frozen yogurt franchise in the world. Started in Canada, the chain now consists of over 1100 stores in 20 countries. The stores also offer smoothies along with their proprietary Probiotic froyo.

yogen früz (wikipedia article) has captured 80% of the frozen yogurt market in Canada and currently operates in many other countries around the world, including Greece, China, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic. But it only recently entered the U.S. market (probably why I had never heard of it before). New franchises were launched in Florida, California, and Illinois (random?) first, and Virginia and Washington, D.C. are next.

I didn't have time to stop by the store in the mall, but I'm excited to try yogen früz sometime soon--sounds like a great brand from its website and reviews.

Here's an interesting interview Businessweek did with one of the company's founders about their plans for expansion in the U.S: Can Yogen Fruz Gain a U.S. Following? (According to this article, Chicago was their first step into the U.S.)

I also found this fun blog while googling yogen früz: The Midwestern Frozen Yogurt Blog

Watch out PinkBerry and Berryline, yogen früz is here! (Just kidding Berryline, you will always have my heart :D )

Jeffrey's Rosemary Bread

My brother makes this amazing bread at home at least once every couple of weeks, and he just taught me how to make it. Now that we're on break at home with nothing better to do, we're popping out loaves every few days :) Rosemary bread is fragrant and just the right balance of moist/dry--I'll never go back to plain white/wheat!
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Rosemary Bread

(adapted from Jo's Rosemary Bread)

1 loaf (12 servings)

1 c. water

3 tbsp olive oil

1 1/2 tsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tbsp dried rosemary

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 packet yeast

Add yeast to 1/4 c. warm water, wait about 10 minutes.
Add to a mixing bowl with flour, salt, sugar, and oil. Knead until your arms are tired!
Add oregano, pepper, and rosemary (try other herbs if you like!), knead some more.
Put dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for an hour in a warm place (oven at low temp if you can't find a warm place for it during the winter, like us).
Punch the dough down and let it rise for another hour.
Bake at 375 degrees F until golden brown.
Remove and brush with olive oil if desired.

Burger toys!

SO CUTE. Is it weird that I think they look kind of yummy too?

(Picture from corkydoll's photostream on flickr)

Apparently Newbury Comics sells these "Mr. TTT Burger" plush toys on their website:

"Made from the finest ingredients, Mr. TTT Burger was magically awakened by Bumble Grump's love. He now makes every day filled with delights."

I'll see if I can pick one up at the Newbury Comics in Cambridge or Boston :D

Fun with Wordle

Feed Me by Wordle as of today:


Pretty nifty, eh? Check it out yourself: input text or a url at wordle.net, and Wordle creates a picture of the most-used words. Customize the font, number of words, colors, and more ^_^

Holiday cheer

Jalapeño poppers, hot pot, and family :D

Easy recipe for Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers from RecipeZaar (We didn't have enough cheddar cheese on hand, so I substituted with mozzarella--just as good!). These poppers were too spicy for me, but everyone else loved the heat. Try more cheese or smaller peppers if you prefer your poppers to just tingle your tongue, not set it on fire :)

We Asians looove our hot pot :)

Ice skating with my warm-blooded brother and cousins (cousin #2 not pictured)

Cambridge Eats

Some of my favorite places to grab a snack or full-fledged meal (all reasonably-priced and yummy, of course!):

(creme brulee and "dark chocolate decadence" from Finale)

Berryline: yummy froyo with all the interesting flavors and toppings you can think of (our version of PinkBerry)
Boloco: "inspired" burritos and smoothies, free wi-fi and online ordering available
Boston Tea Stop: the place to go for bubble tea in all flavors imaginable as well as mochi ice cream (mentioned in my previous post). They used to have delicious mini dumplings too, but they're gone now :(
Darwin's: simply AMAZING sandwiches and treats!!! "shabby-chic" atmosphere and wandering wi-fi--a must-go for sure :) (p.s. the sandwiches are named after the streets that surround each of the 2 cambridge locations)
Finale: incredible desserts and a surprisingly good (and affordable) dinner menu, great coffee too
Le's: nothing like a huge bowl of savory pho to warm you up on those cold, rainy days so common in Cambridge :D
Uno's: nothing particularly amazing but always good and satisfying, especially the half-price appetizers on weekday nights and Chicago-style deep dish pizzas that remind me of home :)
UpStairs on the Square: a really classy, cute, and unique place with yummy gourmet food at a decent price, particularly good for afternoon tea (who knew it existed in Cambridge??) on Saturdays and Sunday brunch--just beware of overpriced drinks!!!

Overdue.

Top to bottom:
1. Grant and I made homemade pizza at the new house in Geneva, IL last week to start winter break with something delicious--we made a big one with mozzarella and colby jack cheese, jalapeno peppers, chicken breast, and herbs, and a small one with chicken, tomatoes, and pineapple...so good, even my Asian rice-and-chopsticks parents helped finish them off :) Easy pizza dough recipe from all recipes.
2. Thanksgiving at the Geneva house--Jeffrey and I took care of the "American" part of our Turkey Day dinner, including green bean casserole (or "green bean castle" according to my dad), apple sausage stuffing, bacon-wrapped potatoes and asparagus, and turkey of course. So much food, esp. with all the Chinese my parents made. Good thing we all like leftovers.
3. My mom makes great sushi with sort of weird but yummy filling--ham, egg, avocado, cucumber, and carrot. So pretty too :)
4. I usually go to the Boston Tea Stop in Cambridge for bubble tea, but recently I've been more interested in their various flavors of Mochi ice cream, little dome-shaped Japanese desserts consisting of a firm ice cream center wrapped in a chewy, rice-based shell. My favorite so far is pumpkin pie :D