Salted Duck Eggs

中文：咸鸭蛋

The authentic salted eggs in Asian are usually made with duck eggs.  They are usually served as a side dish or appetizer for congee or porridge.  My friend went to a local farm to pick up some really fresh duck eggs.  And we both make salted eggs! O(∩_∩)O~ 

If you don’t have access to fresh duck eggs, just substitute with regular chicken eggs.  I posted the recipe with chicken eggs before.

Compared to chicken eggs, the salted eggs make with duck eggs have more flavors and better taste.

Ingredients:


24 fresh duck eggs
1 cup table salt
1/2 cup Chinese rice liquor （I substitute with vodka）
plastic wraps

Directions:

Rinse the eggs under running cold water.  Pat dry with kitchen towel and then allow the eggs to get completely dry at room temperature.

Soak each egg in vodka for 20 to 30 seconds. 

Coat with a thin layer of salt

Wrap up with plastic wra

Add the eggs to a Ziploc bag.  Seal and mark the date.  Wait for 30 days.

30 days later, remove the plastic wraps and rinse off the salt.  Cook the eggs in boiling water for 10 minutes.  And then cool them down in ice water. 

After the eggs are completely cooled down, it is time to enjoy them with congee.

The yolk is the best part in the whole egg!  O(∩_∩)O~

Iced Coffee

中文：冰咖啡

The most popular drink in our house during summer time goes to iced coffee! O(∩_∩)O~

It is super easy to make at home.  Can you believe it?  Such a nice cup of iced coffee takes less than 1 minute from start to finish.  I bet it takes you longer time to wait in line in your local coffee stores.  

Ingredients: (1 serving)

2 shots of espresso coffee
equal amount of hot water
1 tablespoon maple syrup (use more if you have a sweet tooth)
1/4 cup whole milk (use more or less according to personal taste)
ice cubes


Directions：

Make double shots espresso with espresso machine

Add equal amount of hot water to the espresso.  You have a cup of Amerciano coffee. If you like strong coffee, skip the water or use less.

Fill the cup with ice cubes.  Pour coffee on top

Add milk

Add maple syrup

Now you have a really nice cup of iced coffeeO(∩_∩)O~

Sea Salt Caramel Popcorns

Caramel popcorn is another popular flavor in our house.  It takes longer time to make.  But it is well worth of every second you spend waiting for it to be ready.   O(∩_∩)O~ 

Ingredients：

1/2 to 2/3 cup popcorn kernels
2 tablespoons oil
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup of packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

 

Directions：

Heat the popcorn pan over medium high heat.

Add oil and popcorn kernels. Cover with lid

Soon corn kernels will begin to pop.

Swirl the handle on top when corn kernel s are popping.  It will help them to heat and pop more evenly.

Preheat the oven to 250F/121C

Time to make sea salt caramel sauce now

Add brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to a small sauce pan.  Heat the pan over medium high heat until it comes to boil.  Continue to cook for another 4 to 5 minutes.    Stir with a whisk or wooden spoon from time to time.

Remove from heat.  Add sea salt, vanilla extract and baking soda.  Stir with a whisk until everything is well combined.

Pour the caramel sauce into popped corns. 

Swirl the hand on top so that the caramel sauce can evenly coat the popcorns. 

This pop corn pan works so well that all the popcorns are evenly coated in no time! 

Line up a big cookie pan with silicone baking mat or parchment paper.  Spread the popcorns on top with a wooden spoon.

Bake in the oven for 45 to 60 minutes.  Stir with wooden spoon every 15 to 20 minutes.

And now we can finally enjoy them O(∩_∩)O~

Espresso Float with Chocolate Ice Cream

Somebody ordered an espresso float with ice cream when I was standing in line in a cute local coffee store.  I copied his order.  And guess what?  I was hooked immediately!  How come I never thought about pairing ice cream with espresso together? 

It is really easy and simple to DIY it at home too. 

Ingredients：(1 serving)

2 shots of espresso
1 to 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream
caramel sauce (optional)

Directions：

Make double shots espresso with espresso machine.

If you find double shots are too strong, switch to single shot.

Add a big scoop of chocolate ice cream.  You can use any other flavor ice cream too.  I think chocolate ice cream is a better choice to go with espresso than other ice creams.

There is no way I am going to stop at 1 scoop.  I must have 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream！O(∩_∩)O~

I made my own chocolate ice cream too so that I can make sure I get real dark and intense chocolate flavor in the ice cream.  Top it with homemade caramel sauce.  It goes so well with freshly pumped espresso coffee.

Thin Vegetable Pancakes

中文菜谱： 马齿苋杂粮煎饼

Portulaca oleracea might be considered as weed by most people in America.  But it is served as edible vegetable in Asian countries.  

 

It has a slight sour taste.   When cooked, it has similar sliminess like okra.  So I usually chop it up and add to pancakes.

Ingredients：

1 egg
2/3 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 cup of multi whole grain flour (I grind my own multi grain flour:)
1/4 cup of all purpose flour
1 handful of portulaca oleracea
freshly ground black pepper
salt to taste
sriracha sauce  (optional)

Directions：

 

Rinse the portulaca oleracea under cold running water.  Drain well and chop coarsely. 

In a medium bowl, add egg, milk, oil, multi grain flour, flour, salt and pepper. 

Whisk everything together and add chopped portulaca olerace

Mix well again with a whisk

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat.  Spray with oil and add 1/4 batter.  Spread it as thinly as possible with a crepe spreader or spatula. 

When the bottom side is golden brown, flip the pancake over.  Cook until the other side is golden brown too

I usually make 4 to 5 pancakes out of the ingredients listed above.  They are perfect for a quick and nutritious breakfast.

Sriracha sauce pairs well with almost everything! O(∩_∩)O~