Foodie Friday: Bò né

I'm a breakfast gal. Sometimes I'll even swap another meal with breakfast. I mean, there's brunch...and then there's brinner, right? I like a good fan tuan rice roll for breakfast, but recently I also tried Vietnamese Bò né. I didn't know what the dish was, but it sounded cool. Apparently, it's steak and eggs done Vietnamese-style. Bò né means "dodging beef" because the steak comes out on a piping hot skillet--and you'd need to dodge the butter or oil. Of course, it's been tastily … [Read more...]

Mother’s Day

"You are kind-hearted, hospitable, cheerful and well-liked." I’ve never celebrated Mother’s Day while staying in place before. It’s definitely different. What should I expect--backyard flowers? (Not to knock those. In my childhood, I used to cut our backyard roses and place them in a vase for my mom.) As it turned out, no backyard blooms for me. (This, though, may have more to do with the fact that I have a black thumb when it comes to gardening.)My family did an amazing job of gifting me … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday First: Pancake Machine

I tried out a... Pancake machine: a device that pops out pancakes That’s right. It’s a pancake machine! When I recently stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, I discovered this gem of a device. The batter is stored inside it. With a press of a button, it creates two steaming hot pancakes! The pancakes have just the right amount of chewiness, too. A breakfast winner to me!   … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Chorizo

Chorizo: spiced pork sausage Breakfasts are huge in Mexico! And I mean, portion size. I don't know how folks eat so much in the morning. The bread basket alone is intimidating. (I'm usually a simple toast kind of gal.) However, I did enjoy my eggs with chorizo. It's sausage packed full of flavor. I've had chorizo here in the States, but somehow the spices burst onto my tongue more in Mexico. What breakfast foods have you tried recently? … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Hello Kitty Toast

Hello Kitty Toast: a little hello kitty on my bread I've always wanted a Hello Kitty toaster because it seems super cute. (And since my friend was moving, she graciously passed on her old one--thanks, T!) Anyway, I thought maybe the Hello Kitty would fill up the entire bread slice, but nope--it's just a little kitty in the corner. I'd like to say the toast tastes so much different, but it's about the same. (Although my kids are actually not enamored by the new toaster since it makes the … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday First: Vegemite Sandwich

Well, I finally tried the traditional Down Under staple. Vegemite sandwich: yeast extract on bread Really, when you describe it that way, it doesn't seem so exciting. I think the dark brown Australian paste that makes up the key ingredient is an acquired taste. It's supposed to be chock-full of B vitamins, though! The flavor really reminded me of fermented soy beans. Think: really salty and thick soy sauce. It won't be my standard breakfast food, but all the more power to you Aussies! As … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday First: Breakfast Pizza

Ate my first... Breakfast pizza: pizza with eggs! I know people who eat pizza for breakfast (I never really got into it). But I never actually ate a breakfast pizza until now. It's surprisingly delicious. A whole new way of eating eggs. I think that it's more of a splurge for once in a while, though--I still like my eggs plain and unadorned. What breakfast foods do you enjoy? … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday First: Beignet

Ooh la la! I finally ate my first... Beignet: a French doughnut (French-American writer, Evelyne Holingue: This post is for you!) This deep-fried doughnut isn't like the typical American version. It's not spherical and doesn't have a hole in the middle. Instead, it's square-shaped and has a dusting of powdered sugar on top. People often eat it for breakfast, but I ate mine as a dessert. It's very sweet and hits the spot after a meal, especially when it's piping hot from the fryer! I've … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Fan Tuan

Fan tuan: sticky rice roll It's a Chinese breakfast burrito! Glutinous rice is wrapped around different fillings. Common insides include you zha gui, shredded pork, and pickled vegetables. These rice rolls are great for breakfast on the go because they usually end up pre-wrapped from the preparation process (think: sushi). I love the way the gooeyness of the outside rice pairs with the crunch of vegetables and the Chinese doughnut. What a great way to start the day! Any breakfast treat … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday First: Hungarian Omelet

Recently, I tried my first... Hungarian omelet: the usual egg dish, but with a tomato mixture inside  I've had my fair share of breakfast dishes, but I just discovered the Hungarian omelet at a local diner. Some of these omelets come vegetarian-style, but the waitress described their concoction as egg with a "spaghetti meat type of sauce." The dish came with a dollop of sour cream and did have a lot of tomatoes in it, but it wasn't as sweet as the pasta version. I think the key to the … [Read more...]