Cooking with Michelle 101- Kongnamul Bap (Bean Sprout Rice)

Lately I've been obsessed with eating bean sprouts. I have it at least once or twice a week. They're so easy to cook and add any extra substance to my meal. I can't get enough of them. This recipe is for 1 serving being that I had some meat left over and I needed to use it up. Did you see how much a pound cost me?? I'm trying to eat "better" now and organic meat is definitely hitting the piggy bank. It's worth it though. The taste and quality is a lot better in my opinion (even if it is psychological.)

1/4 lb ground beef (or a palm full)
2 handfuls of bean sprouts
1 small cup of cooked rice (I used brown)
1/2 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp garlic
a dash of black pepper
a dash of sea salt
a dash of sesame seeds


Mix all the ingredients,except for the sprouts, pepper flakes and rice, with the beef. Let the beef marinate in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes.

While meat is marinating, cook the rice and steam the bean sprouts. When sprouts are done, season with the pepper flakes, a little bit of sesame oil, salt and pepper.

Once meat is done marinating, cook it until browned.

Get the cooked rice and mix in a dash of sesame oil. Top the rice with the cooked meat and then top off with the sprouts. Enjoy.

Out for lunch

Today we got together with Anthony's mom and grandfather for some good ol' korean lunch. They're leaving to Korea in a couple days so we wanted to get together to discuss final plans for our trip. Anthony's mom is so lucky because her Asiana plane ticket cost her half the price that it would be normally. Her friend had won it in a raffle and then sold it to her for like $600!! Man, talk about lucky. Anthony and I wanted to fly Asiana, but it wasn't worth $1,600. Singapore will do just fine. :)

They'll get a head start in Korea, then when we arrive in a couple months they'll pick us up from the airport. Right now isn't the ideal time to go being that the weather is still freezing cold, but his mom's ticket had a certain deadline that it had to be used by. So much for us traveling light because what ever didn't fit in his mom's suitcase is now coming with us to bring over. :( *snaps fingers*

You know when you've become a regular at a restaurant when the server remembers your order. ;P I always get the spicy pork combo meal. Yum. Anthony always gets his jampong soup, while Anthony's mom and grandfather got the bibimbop bowl.

I'm just so thankful that Anthony's parents like me, especially his mom. You never want to be on a Korean mom's bad side. *shivers* Her and I have always clicked and get along so well. In reality, her and I are spitting personalities. It's so weird. One of the first things Anthony told me when we started dating was that I reminded him of his mom so much. At the time I wasn't to fond of that remark and didn't know whether that was a good thing or not. He kept reassuring me that it was a good thing, and then when I finally met her I was put at ease.

I will never forget that day I was meeting Anthony's parents for the first time. I didn't know what to wear, how much makeup was too much, or what to say first. My palms were sweating so much and I swear my heart was pounding so fast it wasn't normal. We all know how quick parents are to judge and it didn't help that Anthony always mentioned how feisty his mom was. Would she curse me to hell, maybe mumble about me in korean, think I wasn't good enough for her son?? So many frightening thoughts were coming over me. Haha.

Little did I know I was going to be that daughter she never had. We practically share the same taste in shoes, nails, and fashion. Wow, was this possible? Anthony's mom is not your average "ajima," I'll tell you that. Her body is always adorned with bling bling, hair is always done, nails always polished, designer handbag to match the occasion, and a shoe collection bigger than mine! She's the ideal mother-in-law. :)

Baoan Temple, Dalongdong, Taipei

One of the most beautiful temples in Taipei

The Baoan Temple 保安宮 in Taipei (officially Dalongdong Baoan Temple 大龍峒保安宮) is a beautiful temple located in the northern part of Datong district called Dalongdong 大龍峒 (sometimes written as Dalungtung). It's dedicated to Chinese folk religions and it's origins date back to 1742, when the temple was smaller and made of wood. By 1760 it was extended and in 1804 the construction of the current meticulously adorned structure made of bricks, stones and concrete has begun. It was completed by 1830. Later it was renovated and extended several times, but the core of the temple's structure is over 180 years old (source and more about history here). The temple is simply beautiful, nothing could describe it better. There are so many details, so many small things that have deep meaning, it's just amazing (more about architecture here). This temple, in contrast to the very solemn Confucius temple nearby, is very vibrant and every time I've visited, there were aplenty of people praying and burning incense. If you want to experience how Taiwanese worship, go to this temple. It's definitely one of the must see temples in Taipei.

Let me show you some photos of the temple (March, 2011):

One of my best shots from the front side.

Detail from the roof.

People praying.

The backside of the temple.

Baoan Temple on a cloudy day.

[My DATONG overview][My TAIPEI page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Taipei Confucius Temple

One of the most beautiful temples in Taipei

The Taipei Confucius Temple 臺北孔子廟 (sometimes simply 台北孔廟) is a famous temple in Taipei, located in the northern part of Datong district, commonly known as Dalongdong (or Talungtung). The similarly beautiful Baoan Temple is right nearby. Unlike the Buddhist and Taoist temples, which are colorfully adorned and full of people praying and burning incense, the Confucius temple is more solemn and quiet. Confucianism is not a religion, it's a philosophy, a way of life (read more). The original Taipei Confucian temple was built between 1879 and 1884 during the Qing dynasty and then destroyed by the Japanese in the late 1890s and completely torn down in 1907. It originally stood near the South Gate in today's Zhongzheng, the Japanese built a Girls' high school on the same spot. Some Taiwanese however had the idea to rebuild the temple and they started to raise funds. Construction begun in Dalongdong in 1925 and was completed in 1939 and the temple still stands there today (source and more history here).

For me this beautiful temple represents perfection in every way. It's truly a great piece of architecture. Walking around the area and observing all the fine details and immersing yourself in the beautiful garden makes you calm and focused. If you need to recharge your energy, go and visit this amazing structure. This temple also represents the power of Taiwanese people, the power of solidarity and the high regard for culture and its preservation. I am most certain, that you will be impressed by this temple.

Here are my photos from March 2011:

The courtyard.

Bonsai trees on the floor, pine trees on the right: Their scent is dominant.

A bell.

The altar inside the Taipei Confucius temple.

My best shot of the Confucius temple that day.

[My DATONG overview][My TAIPEI page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

March Korean Vogue

(source)

New Love- Shellac Nails

So, I finally tested out the shellac nail polish. As you might have read from my post  last year, I've been wanting to try it out.

I must say I'm very satisfied and  impressed. The process is almost identical to a regular manicure with the only expection of 2 extra coatings. The drying time is instant and the results are great.

I've had my nails done with the shellac for almost a week now and they're still shiny as if I just got them done an hour ago.

I found myself testing the strength of the polish by making sure I did the dishes every night, picked off some stickers from food packages, and also decided to do some intensive bathroom scrubbing. After all that, no chipping what so ever had occurred. Unbelievable.....this is my new found addiction.

Better yet, since last year the shellac polish have came out with more colors to choose from. I highly recommend this nail service over any acrylic and regular polish any day. Plus, we all need a little pampering now and then. ;)

Sexiest woman of 2011: Lee Hyori

Beautiful poster of the Korean diva

Lee Hyori on a poster sent to me by my Korean friend. She looks gorgeous, even with blonde hair. Amazing lips, incredible eyes: Lee Hyori is the sexiest woman alive in 2011. God bless her...

More Hyori articles here>>

Yinshan Temple 鄞山寺, Danshui

A beautiful old temple in Danshui

The Yinshan temple 鄞山寺 in Danshui is a very old and well preserved Buddhist temple (寺) dating back to the year 1822. That's nearly 200 years, which makes it one of the oldest in the area. According to the information board nearby, this is the only well preserved Buddhist temple in Taiwan, that worships Dīpankara Buddha. My girlfriend told me, that the whole area has a very good feng shui and the way the temple and the pond are laid out resembles a toad. For me, it was fascinating to see such a well preserved architecture from the Qing dynasty, because it's a very rare sight. This temple is truly a gem and it's very easy to find, even though it's not located in the old center (Only 10 min walk from the MRT station, see a map here).

These are some of my photos from March, 2011:

The front part.

The main inner yard.

Another small inner yard on the side.

The pond.

For more detailed photos, check this blogger's photo album.

[My DANSHUI overview][All photos by MKL, 2011]

The Real Taiwan in photos: Weddings

A very typical image at Taiwanese wedding dinners

Taiwanese place a great importance on weddings and wedding dinners. It's the day where normal girls become princesses and proud fathers enjoy great honor in front of family, friends, relatives and business partners. Weddings are a mix of good food, good show, good image and a good script for a romantic novel. From performances to video slide shows and a full course dinner, Taiwanese weddings are perfection in every way. And that moment, when the bride and groom present themselves to the honored guests will be remembered as one of the most precious moments of their lives.

Related: Taiwanese wedding dinner>>

The Real Taiwan in photos: Night Markets

A very typical image on Taiwan's night markets

Night Markets are the essence of Taiwan's night life. Be it young or old, rich or poor, every Taiwanese will love to return to one of his favorite stalls and eat his favorite dish. You'll see students, rich businessmen and retired soldiers eating their favorite bowl of noodles together. Night markets and food bring Taiwanese people together. The photo above was taken near National Taiwan Normal University, the night market nearby is very popular with young people.

Related: My list of Taiwan's Night Markets>>

The Real Taiwan in photos: Queueing

This is a very typical image in Taipei's metro

I took this photo while leaving a Taipei MRT station. Taiwanese people always stand on the right side of the escalator, the left side is reserved for those who are in rush and need to pass by. I find this admirable and thoughtful and I gladly join the group dynamic. I only wish people were so mindful of others (let's say pedestrians), when they ride cars and scooters. That's a completely different image, though.

Related: Kaohsiung MRT>>

Good, cheap, and dirty

How do you tip?

 Being that I was a server for 5 years I consider myself a pretty good tipper.  So, I feel that I fall under the "Good" tipping status. But there are two different types of good- To me good means you tip according to the service, and not relying on the total bill to help determine whatever amount you feel should be left. If you put on that fake smile, ask how my food tastes, and if you can get me anything else, you're pretty much in the clear.

Anthony is a good tipper as well. But he's a different good. His is in a sense that he tips 18%-20% regardless of how poor the service was. Now that's a pretty good tipper. Following the black book of tipping norms are what some people are taught o believe. Well, I read a different book. I, on the other hand, my fall under being cheap as well I guess. No, maybe just wrong and dirty? I don't know, you determine. If you suck, you suck. There's no squeezing even a dollar out of me. Plan and simple right? Wrong.....not when I'm with the significant other.

It's hard when I go out to eat with Anthony. He always makes me feel like the bad guy. If I feel that service wasn't up to standard I might consider the 15%. If it was just totally bombed, then I say heck with it, I pay the amount on my debit card, put a big ol ZERO on the tip line and then walk out. As we're walking out, here comes Anthony throwing six bucks on the table out of guilt.
"What are you doing??!!" I'll grunt to him.

 "Come on, Michelle. You can't NOT tip. That's embarrassing. You use to be a server. You understand how it feels to make a living of tips." He'll reply trying to make me feel guilty.

"Uhhhh, yeah. I was. So therefor I know the importance of delivery and attentiveness. The only time we saw our server was when she actually took our order. The runner brought out our food. A bus boy filled our waters....twice. Another bus boy took away our dirty dishes. Oh wait, we say our server twice because that's when she put on a smile and handed us our check in hopes that we didn't notice that I was STILL waiting for that appetizer she forgot to put in." I pout.

"I just don't want my food spit in next time we decide to come here again. You know, you never forget the face that stiffs you."

*Siiiigggghh* Fine fine.

Now as far as a dirty tipper. These are usually the old men that think their little jokes are actually funny or lame teenagers trying to get a reaction out of you.

Care for an example?-

 One time I was waiting on some regulars (that happened to be teenagers that just sat around, sipped on water, and played with their tarot cards.) I knew their order by heart, so I made sure I had their lemon water there ready for them. Instead of actually paying for lemonade they made lemon water. Mmm, how tasty.....
All of a sudden I got slammed with 5 other tables. Of course I admit I totally ignored the teenagers knowing that they weren't going to order anything. Plus, we all knew they always left a 50 cent tip. Who would want to bust their butts for that?? In the end, when the smoke had cleared they were snapping their fingers for the check. I forgot they ordered 1 cup of coffee (but had all their other friends sip out of it because they were too cheap to buy another $1.40 cup.) I was paid in pennies......and after I embarrassingly cleared the table my "tip" was found underneath the sticky coins. Written on the dirty napkin was- "Here's a tip for you: Always use protection. Ha Ha. *smiley face drawn at the end*" With that they actually left me a sealed condom; might I note it was strawberry flavored as well. Bravo Bravo. That definitely got me stirred up. Luckily my manger was very supportive and banned them from coming back. I mean, how stupid to do that at a restaurant you come to every other day?? Common sense, people.


And then there's the cheap tipper. Ah, yes. I actually have a friend that is classified under this group quite well. I have to admit I always dodge my way out of going to restaurants with her. The last straw was when we ate out at Olive Garden. She thought it was suitable to bring her 2 yr old and on top of that ordered him what I was hoping she wouldn't. Yeah, she did.....she ordered him spaghetti! Noooo!! Why?? I don't want my nice clothes ruined as your baby is flinging food in my eye. And the worst part is that I can't even yell or scold him because, well, it's not MY baby. Couldn't she have gotten him chicken fingers? He's only 2!! His appetite is big enough to get satisfied on just 1 bread stick. So, as I'm suffering through this experience the table is getting smothered in marinara sauce, noodles are all over the floor, and bread sticks broken up all over the place.

The check comes and we spilt it down the middle. The server was great and very patient with the wild child. Secretly I felt her pain. That's every server's worst nightmare- babies eating spaghetti.....or crackers. Pretty much anything that will be time consuming to clean up afterwards. So, I lay a 5 dollar bill on the table as part as my tip for the meal. My friend whips out 2 bucks. What?? Are you kidding me?? We have the equal amount of food and you're going to tip less than me?? Actually her bill was more because she had the child size spaghetti, juice, and a soda. Her bill was $10 more than mine and you leave $2!! I don't care if your bill is only $3. If you bring a baby in leaving a mess like the one he did, you better throw in an extra couple of dollars. The server was so nice that she even gave my friend's baby free fruit while we were waiting for the bread sticks to come out of the oven. This is the gratitude she shows her?? I was painfully embarrassed. I asked my friend if she planned on leaving more. She said, "No, why? Two dollars is good! That's the most I ever tip anyway, anywhere, anyhow. If service is mediocre then I tip a dollar."

 I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I couldn't believe I addressed this person as my friend in this oh so public restaurant. It's been 6 months now and still counting. I think she's starting to get the hint that A.) I won't eat out if she has the baby and B.) only if it's somewhere cheap like Bread Beyond. *sigh*

What is your golden rule for tipping?

Here's pictures from our breakfast this morning. Yummy chorizo and steak.

That guy's leg was bigger than the width of my chest!! Whoa...

The Real Taiwan in photos: Scooters

This is a very typical image on Taipei's roads

I took this photo at a big intersection somewhere in Datong 大同區, Taipei's western district. For many Taiwanese, the scooter is the most convenient way of transportation. That's why you'll see a lot of them on Taiwan's roads. Taiwan has probably the highest scooter density in the world (according to my assessment). If you ever come to Taiwan, this will most likely be the first thing you'll notice.

Related: Taiwan scooterland>>