How to Make Rice Like an Asian

8:00 am

How to Make Rice Like an Asian

Do you know how to make rice like an Asian? I’ll share the quick (and easy?) methods that have been passed down through many generations and over many different Asian cultures.

Asians Use Their Hand for Cooking Measurements

Were you taught by your mom to use your hand as a measurement for cooking? I was and it was only much later that I found out that others were too!

Apparently, this is a common thing among Asians. Whether it’s for cooking rice or measuring vegetables and meat, you can use your hand to take a quick measure of things.

[Read more…]

A Korean-American Mom’s Korean Lunch Story

6:05 am

A Korean-American Lunch Story

Have you ever been super excited to dig into your lunch because you’re starving or just really looking forward to the deliciousness that awaits? But then you open the lid and it clears out the room. Or maybe you were eating in your dorm room or office and you started hearing people say “What’s that smell?” (If I had a dollar for every time I heard some one say that….Right?)

Come on be honest! It’s so happened to you!

It doesn’t even have to be Korean food. And it doesn’t even have to be a cultural/ethnic thing. It’s just like anyone who reheats fish in the office microwave is going to be universally hated. Strong smelling anything in confined spaces isn’t going to go over well. [Read more…]

South Korean National Foundation Day

2:32 pm

South Korean National Foundation Day

What Is South Korean National Foundation Day?

It’s basically exactly what it sounds like. It is the day that is regarded as the founding of the Korean nation. In Korea, it’s called “Gaecheonjeol,” which basically means “Opening of Heaven Celebration.”

The “Opening of Heaven” refers to a Korean legend where a man was thought to have been born from a god and a woman (who was previously a bear). This man (really a demi-god) would become the first leader of the Korean people. It is said that he created a rule of law and gave them skills in crafts and agriculture. (Apparently, he was quite the renaissance man.) Thus the founding of the first organized kingdom of Korea (Gojoseon Kingdom or Ancient Joseon) is attributed to Dangun, which is why this day may also be referred to as Dangun Day.

As such, National Foundation Day is a day of national pride in the traditions and achievements of the Korean people. [Read more…]

Chuseok (“Korean Thanksgiving”)

7:28 am

Happy Chuseok (better known as “Korean Thanksgiving”) Everyone!

What time is it?

It’s Chuseok time! It’s time for families to gather and celebrate!

Chuseok is a major holiday, if not THE major holiday in Korea (North and South). It’s celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. I don’t go by a lunar calendar. So I rely on the good ole internet to tell me when it is.

This year it’s ten days long, which is unusually long. Even though it doesn’t begin until October 4th, 2017 and ends on October 6th, the day before and after are also part of the holiday. This stretches out the holiday break to include two weekends. On top of that, the holiday includes National Foundation Day on October 3rd and Hangeul Day on October 9th this year.

Usually Chuseok is two to three days long. It’s just long enough to have the obligatory get togethers with family, gorge on food, and pay respects to ancestors. [Read more…]