This recipe is adapted from the most recent Gourmet magazine issue (June 2009). I personally think that the name “Peach-Lacquered” comes from the way these wings are cooked–you have to continually tend to them and coat them for about 20-25 minutes. But, I’d say they were pretty worth it.

• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (1-1/2-inch) piece peeled ginger, minced
• 1/3 c. peach or apricot preserves or jam
• 1/6 c. soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. water
• 1/8 tsp. chili powder
• 1/8 tsp. rooster sauce
• 1-1/2~2 lb chicken wings, tips removed if desired

Preheat broiler (I rec’ first half of cooking on high and second half on low heat). Add preserves, soy sauce, water, chili powder, and rooster sauce to the ginger/garlic mixture and combine. Pulse a few times in blender if mixture is too chunky. Line the bottom and sides of a large 4-sided sheet pan with foil and lightly oil foil OR lightly oil (read: spray with light cooking oil) a disposable aluminum foil pan. Pat wings dry and put in sheet pan. Season with 1/3 tsp salt. Pour sauce over wings and toss to coat, then spread in 1 layer.

Broil wings 4 to 6 inches from heat 5 minutes, then turn over and baste with sauce from pan. Continue to broil, rotating pan and turning and basting 3 more times, until chicken is cooked through and browned in spots, 20 to 25 minutes.

The ideal side dish to this would probably be a light, dill-laden potato salad, but we started making ours too late to serve with this dish. If making potato salad, either make earlier in the day or the day before (or buy it!). We instead ate it with some delicious sweet corn-on-the-cob (boiled for about 10 minutes), though a light salad, fries, or a pasta salad would work as well.

http://www.gingerpeople.com

I bought this packet of chews yesterday for $1.99 at World Market. They had a whole display of ginger-themed items and I’ve got to admit that the real initial draw to these was the interesting mascot. It’s a knob of ginger chewing ginger chews. He’s cure, but it just seems wrong to me.

It only took me reading the back of this and surrounding Ginger People packages and finding out that these chews will not only give you a jolt of energy, but that they’ll also sooth any turbulent tummies.

The first one I ate was interesting. I wasn’t prepared for the snappiness of the ginger, and I had to chew and chew to get them down while an explosion was going on in my mouth. The second one I had (as I’m writing this) was much better. Smooth yet chewy, the bitter coffee melds into the sugary spicy sweetness of the ginger and just tastes amazing. The best thing about these little snacks is the fact that they’re travel friendly! They’re individually wrapped and just the right size.

Ginger Chews come in Original, Apple, and Peanut flavor as well. They can be found at local Whole Foods and World Markets, but you can also order them online. I look forward to trying their other treats, and also bought a small pack of “Travelers Chews” for my soon-to-be-starting-college little sister.

This dish was actually too flavorful for me. There were strong flavors throughout that seemed to compete with each other, rather than play off of each other and complement the dish as a whole. The pork was definitely the best part, and I think would taste great (better?) on it’s own. Salty, Sweet, Fishy, and Spicy.

This makes two servings, but depending on your portion size, two people could share one dish.

• 1 pound pork shoulder or loin
• 1/2 package of rice vermicelli
• 1/2 head of butter lettuce, torn into small pieces
• ~1/4-1/2 bunch of mint, tor

For the marinade:

• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2.5 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

For the nuoc cham (sauce):

• 1/8 cup sugar
• Juice of 1/2 lemon (~1 tbsp lemon juice)
• 1/6 cup fish sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1/2 carrot, thinly sliced or julienned
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoons chili paste or rooster sauce

Place pork in the freezer until it firms slightly, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove the pork from the freezer, thinly slice and place in a large ziploc bag. In a small bowl, mix the ingredients for the marinade. Pour marinade into the bag with the pork and seal, removing as much air as possible. Place in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for one hour to overnight. In a small bowl, mix the ingredients for the sauce. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Right before grilling, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the vermicelli noodles and cook until tender, about 2 to 4 minutes (4 minutes is too long!). Drain the noodles and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, set aside. Remove the pork from the fridge. Grill or cook in wok (whichever you prefer) until cooked through. To assemble, place noodles in bowl or on a plate, then top with the grilled pork, lettuce and mint. Drizzle with the sauce and enjoy!

We’re closing in on the finishing touches on our apartment (even though we moved in November). We’ve painted the walls, got the furniture, and even the dishes. I think it’s safe to say that the only remaining things we need are for the bedroom. I’d like to get a nice new linen set (probably the RISP set from Ikea with a both a 2 and 1 comforter or a 3+1 set).

Last trip included a new bookcase (BILLY, $34.99). I had originally wanted the smaller one that was half the size, but once I went to the showroom and saw that the one double the size (pictured to the left) was only $10 more and would use our 10-foot ceilings more effectively, I was convinced. The assembly was very quick and easy. The only problem is that the bookcase teeter-totters a little bit, so I did reluctantly have to anchor into the wall. The good thing is you can’t see the top of the bookcase so you can’t see the anchoring device! Another bad thing is that this bookcase doesn’t sit flush against the walls because our stupid apartment has thick molding along the bottom of the walls and strip of wood to “line” the hard wood floors. The bookcase holds my books, magazines, and other things quite nicely. I also like how the boxes fit perfectly! These boxes are from Ikea (LINGO) and were $4.99 for a pack of two. They were from a previous Ikea trip and had been hanging out underneath our side tables and hidden in our wardrobe previously holding un-reachable books sideways! One is empty now (don’t worry, soon to be filled), and one has computer accessories in it. The bottom shelf holds my extra toiletries that I don’t use that often (We don’t have a medicine cabinet in our bathroom). If I need to, I can move this bin back underneath the sink to where it used to be, but for now it has a nice little home. The top shelf will hold linens once I do laundry.

Other purchases were a set of SNÄLL glasses in a nice turquoise color ($5.99 for 6). I liked the squiggly ones better than the flower printed ones, but strangely only 2 lined glasses come in a set, the remaining 4 are flower printed. Also, PLASTIS ice tray ($1.99), TRIPP storage tins ($2.99 for 3), another IKEA 365+ vegetable knife ($4.99), PRICKIG microwave cover to replace the one Dan accidentally melted ($1.99), a larger, 11″ SKÄNKA frying pan ($14.99), and a set of DRÄLLA bendable chopping boards ($1.99 for 2).

We had originally been planning to get a shower curtain and new pillows for our couch at Ikea, but we received a CB2 catalog in the mail and decided to order from there instead. CB2 is a company that is related to Crate & Barrel, but is more modern and serves a younger crowd. We bought 2 azure multistripe pillows (23″!) and I convinced Danny to let us also get a little cute elephant accent pillow. I thought the elephant pillow would tie together the red LACK tables, wall color, and couch with the pillows nicely. We also got a nice monterey shower curtain for our bathroom. We currently only have a liner in our bathroom with no curtain. We’ve been having trouble finding a shower curtain that looked nice and also matched our weird peach tiled bathroom walls. We both liked the grey in this curtain as well as the bright blue and green to tie the whole apartment together.

I recently purchased these two wrapping papers. The top one is from Paper Cult, a new store in Tysons Corner mall that not only has a cute window design, but stocks international magazines, books, and papers like this Russian Doll one. I thought of my sister immediately when I saw it and I like the silver detailing. ($4.50 per sheet)

The bottom one is from Paperchase, a company in the UK but their items are sold here through Border’s. I have a weak spot for owls. I purchased a pencil, gift bag, and wrapping paper from Borders. I had originally planned to somehow use the wrapping paper as decoupage or as a counter-top/desk liner, but after decoupaging some pails failed, I realized that I would just scan the paper in, use it as a wallpaper for a while and be done with it. I wrapped my boyfriend’s birthday presents in it.

Paperchase also makes recipe books. I purchased one for about $8 from Borders and have diligently writing recipes in it, well the recipes that “pass the test” and deserve to be hand-written into a book.

Just the other day I was musing about how I want to buy a new camera. My idea camera would be like one of those fancy-schmancy ones, but compact. Turns out, the consensus is that this camera doesn’t exist yet. (Chubby Hubby)

I’m on a bento-binge yet again (see what working for 4 das gets me) and found some interesting things that I want to make:

• Mini, Single-Serving Fritattas
• Simmered Kabocha (Japanese Squash/Pumpkin)
• Usui Tamago-yaki (Thin Egg Sheets), Traditional Version here
• Pasta Fritatta
• E-Bento (new site I re-stumbled upon)

Yep it’s summer. My how the months roll by when you’re un-employed…

• You are What you Eat (How telling are our fridges?)
• Sushi Cupcakes
• Metro Fail Rail
• New and Noteworthy Restaurants in DC
• Monkey Bread & Baked Lemon Pasta Recipes
• Healthy Happy Hour Food in DC
• Donut Cupcakes
• Horse Sashimi (I would eat it!)
• Beautiful and I’m sure delicious Tteok
• I think South Korea is more like Japan than I’d like to admit (Enter: MISTER DONUT)
• All things on this Memorial Day menu sound yummy
• Bourdain vs. Waters on Food for America’s Kids

Whew, I feel much better now!

I’ve visited Konami twice. I’ve had both lunch and dinner here, and the verdict is that this place is … okay. There’s nothing really interesting (good or bad) to say about this place. It’s not very authentic, but is definitely not a hibachi steak house. Don’t know if I would come here again, but I’ve been to worse places before.

It’s nice to sit outside and is convenient, but nothing special. The lunch time menu is a good deal though! For 8.95 I got a salad, heaping serving of cold cha soba, and a side of tempura.

From Zagat:

Offering “an oasis of calm amid Tysons Corner’s legendary traffic jams”, this Japanese boasts a “shockingly serene” and “charming” “outdoor patio with a fountain and mini-garden”; they “don’t try to be too inventive” here, but you can enjoy “affordable” sushi that’s so “fresh” it “practically wriggles” along with an “excellent variety of bento boxes” and other options, so it’s “a good place to take a co-worker who will only eat ’safe’ food.”

Food: 21, Decor: 18, Service: 19, Cost: $29
Tysons Corner | 8221 Leesburg Pike (Chain Bridge Rd.) | 703-821-3400

This pasta salad is healthy, easy, cheap, and delicious! It also gave me an opportunity to try to make tomato roses! The portions in this recipe make enough pasta for a week, so feel free to halve the pasta. I wouldn’t halve the tomatos, though if you don’t make tomato roses, there will be enough tomato to go around.

• 1 pound pasta (farfalle,fiori, etc)
• 4 plum or stem tomatoes, cut into 1 inch dice
• 20 basil leaves, cut into chiffonade
• 1 lemon’s juice or 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• salt and ground pepper to taste
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Bring a pot of water to a boil, salt, and cook 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool down. Put the pasta in a large serving bowl and add the tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well and garnish with fresh basil leaves. I’ve heard pasta salad tastes better the day before, so feel free to make the day before. We also chose to add some goat cheese and hard-boiled egg whites.

More pictures in the full entry.

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Okay, so maybe it was my fault for not researching the Junior Boys more before going to go see them (May 5th @ the Black Cat), but I was seriously surprised when I saw them walk out on stage. The singer looks like a lumberjack. He definitely did not match my mental image that I had of him! The other “boy” was stoic, never cracking a smile the entire time while focused on his synth board. And I can imagine why! Once you hear them live, you can never, ever go back. The songs I heard live made me want to dance and sing out loud as the beats resounded in my body (yes, I was in the second row!). Going back to their albums now make them seem colder, emptier, and not as complex. Junior Boys need to come out with a live album, and thats final! I’m seriously considering contacting the band, but then I think: “Would they take this as a compliment or an insult?”. Lets stay hopeful.

More pictures and free tunes under the cut.

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I made these cinnamon rolls for Mother’s Day (May 10th). This recipe was inspired by 1) the fact that cinnamon rolls are one my my mom’s favourite things and 2) the fact that cinnamon roll recipes have been popping up all of the place recently! This particular recipe is inspired by Smitten Kitchen’s.

Dough

• 1cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 package active dry yeast
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (+ extra for flouring surface)
• 1/4 heaping tsp baking powder
• 1/4 scant tsp baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling

• 1/6 cup sugar
• 1/6 cup light or dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• most of a small jar of jelly or jam of your choice (I used peach preserves)
• 3 tbsp salted butter melted
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or any other nut)
• 1/2 cup raisins

Glaze

• 1-1/2 tbsp butter, softened
• 1.5 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 cup milk

Mix the whole milk, vegetable oil and 1/4 cup sugar in a large pot, and heat it until just before it boils. Turn off the heat, remove the pot from the burner, and let it cool for 30 to 45 minutes. When the mixture is lukewarm, sprinkle in the yeast and let it sit for a minute or two before adding the two cups of flour. Stir the mixture together, cover the pot and let it sit for at least thirty minutes. After this time, the dough should be a giant, puffy but still pretty wet. Add another 1/4 cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt and stir the mixture together. Either use it right away, or cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it — overnight or up to a day or two. If it starts to overflow in the pot, press it down.

Generously flour a large counter — the dough is very wet and sticky. Dump the dough onto it, flour your rolling pin well, and roll the dough into a large rectangle about 12 inches wide and as thin as you get it in the other direction. Generously spray a 12-cup muffin tin with a cooking spray, or butter them well.Stir together the 1/6 cup sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon and set it aside. Spread your jam evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch margin at the wider ends. Drizzle three tablespoons melted butter over the jam layer. Sprinkle the jam and butter layer with most of the cinnamon-sugar mixture, the nuts, and raisins.

Starting with the wider side of the rectangle (the one that should be a foot), begin to tightly roll the dough, incorporating the filling. Once it is fully rolled up, cut it into two-inch segments with a sharp knife (a serrated knife works great here). Place one in each muffin cup. Sprinkle the tops of the rolls with the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture and set the tin aside to puff some more, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 350°F.Bake your rolls for 15 to 20 minutes, until they’re golden at the edges and the filling looks bubbly. Let the rolls mostly cool on a rack.

For the glaze: Beat the milk, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla together in a bowl with an electric mixture until fluffy. I added two drops of food coloring.

Note: You can easily add chocolate chips, other dried fruit, and other nuts. Feel free to omit the jam layer or any other parts as well. This seems like a difficult recipe, but its really quite easy!