Galbi Jjim.

... "The temperatures lately in Chicago have been really cool and almost too cool for my liking for this time of the year. On my way home from ORD/MDW this afternoon, I wanted 'comfort food.' I needed something packed with umami and I was itching for Korean food ...

Galbi Jjim (Korean Beef Short Ribs): Beef Short Ribs. Water. Soy Sauce. Garlic. Onion. Soju. Brown Sugar. Carrot. Daikon. Shiitake. Chestnuts. Gingko Nuts. Mulyeot (Corn Syrup). Sesame Oil. S & P.

I served it with the a fresh pot of white rice - which is a standard with any Asian meal. Galbi Jjim is usually served on special occasions, i.e., holidays and birthdays, but ... why wait for a holiday? Celebrate life! Celebrate with food! I was surprised that I didn't add gochujang (Korean Red Pepper Paste). It didn't need the heat ... just the bowl itself warmed through with the warm rice and steam off the top of it from the galbi jjim alone gave me the warmth I needed on this very cool night ... not to mention, James and the dogs snuggling up next to me." /closes my eyes and buries my self under the blankets and devours ...

TWITTER - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - PERISCOPE: @thepantrypanda
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/thepantrypanda
WEBSITE: http://www.thepantrypanda.com/
BEARS IN THE KITCHEN: http://www.bearsinthekitchenn.com/

Beef en Cocotte with Caramelized Onions. Green Bean Tomato Salad. Roastd Smashed Potatoes.

... "Once in a blue moon, I decide to take an 'office day' at home to catch up on paperwork from being in field. I definitely needed it today. I really wanted to cook today and James was begging me have dinner ready before he got home from work. I put on my thinking cap and scrolled through my 'mental Rolodex' of recipes and put this together ...

Beef en Cocotte with Caramelized Onions: Top Sirloin Beef Roast. S & P. VO. Onion. Garlic. Dry Sherry. LS Chicken Broth. US Butter.

Green Bean Tomato Salad: OO. Parsley. Balsamic Vinegar. Garlic. S & P.

Roasted Smashed Potatoes: Red Bliss Potatoes. Water. EVOO. Thyme. S & P.

It's been three weeks since I used my kitchen to make anything - I haven't even made French press coffee nor used our Keurig! So, the feeling of using my own cookware and eating off our own plates gave me that 'warm fuzzy' feeling.

I'm not proud of this photograph - James and I were really hungry and we scarfed dinner down and I was rushed. After dinner, I had to pack up my bags and head to Indiana for the night. I kissed James and the dogs 'good night' and barged out the door with my gear. Before I got into my car and drove off, I turned around and looked at our front door. I smiled -- the feeling and satisfaction of a home cooked meal will always outdo a five-star dinner anytime." /wishes I make dessert


TWITTER - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - PERISCOPE: @thepantrypanda
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/thepantrypanda
WEBSITE: http://www.thepantrypanda.com/
BEARS IN THE KITCHEN: http://www.bearsinthekitchenn.com/

Hotteok.

... "I rarely post any baked goods yet alone breakfast food. I woke up this morning on the sectional and starting catching up with the food(ie) shows that I missed this week from traveling. I was craving donuts and coffee for breakfast ... I came across "Korean Food Made Simple" and Judy Joo was making something that was a substitute ...

Hotteok (Salted Caramel Pancakes): Whole Milk. White Sugar. Instant Dry Yeast. Sea Salt. Bread Flour. Sweet Glutinous Rice Flour. Corn Flour. Muscovado Sugar. Honey Roasted Peanuts. Cinnamon.

I was thinking to myself, I don't bake ... I don't have the patience. Heck, James and I always get breakfast on Saturday mornings. He was surprised that I made breakfast ... yet alone ... the smell of sweet caramel and honey roasted peanuts ... who wouldn't want a sweet treat for breakfast!?"/makes another pot of Timmie's dark roast coffee ...

TWITTER - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - PERISCOPE: @thepantrypanda
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/thepantrypanda
WEBSITE: http://www.thepantrypanda.com/
BEARS IN THE KITCHEN: http://www.bearsinthekitchenn.com/

Carnitas. Refried Beans. Mexican Rice.

... "After a busy Sunday morning of church and errands and taking James​ and the kids (our two dogs, Wally and Eva) to my veterinarian's annual get-together - I wanted to make something to sum up my food experiences for the week ... I had a conversation this morning with my friend, Pew Pew​ - that I had to 'elevate' my taco game. I said, 'BRING IT.'

Carnitas: BL Pork Butt. S & P. Cumin. Onion. Bay. Dried Oregano. Lime. Water. Orange. Corn Tortilla. Cilantro.

Refried Beans:  LS Chicken Broth. Pinto Bean. VO. Salt Pork. Onion. Jalapeño . Poblano. Salt. Garlic. Cumin. Cilantro. Lime Juice. Queso Fresco.

Mexican Rice: Tomato. Onion. Jalapeño. LG White Rice. CO. Garlic. LS Chicken Broth. Tomato Paste. Salt. Cilantro.

I love a challenge. Especially a being challenge with the hot and humid weather as it was today. Challenges don't 'scurr' me, like James' new Pac-Man's ghost T-shirt he got the other weekend at Level 257. Challenge accepted. Challenge conquered." /celebrated with another fruit punch Jarritos

TWITTER - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - PERISCOPE: @thepantrypanda
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/thepantrypanda
WEBSITE: http://www.thepantrypanda.com/
BEARS IN THE KITCHEN: http://www.bearsinthekitchenn.com/

Roasted Barbecue Pork with Homemade Kimchi. Light Quinoa Pilaf.

... "The last couple of restaurants that I ate at totally left me unsatisfied and I needed to get back into the kitchen. James told me that his coworkers told him he looked fat. I reassured James that no matter what he looked like on the outside, it is what is inside that counts. He didn't buy that. James asked me to bust out my Weight Watchers cookbooks that have been collecting dust since I reverted back to my ATK/CC/CI ways and he wanted Korean ...

Roasted Barbecue Pork with Homemade Kimchi: Nappa Cabbage. Carrot. Scallions. Apple Rice Vinegar. Benishoga (Pickled Red Ginger Root). Gochujang. Gochugaru. Soy Sauce. Hoisin Sauce. Pork Tenderloin. Greenleaf Lettuce.

Light Quinoa Pilaf: Onion. OO. S & P. LS Chicken Broth. Lemon Zest. Lemon Juice.

I had flashbacks to the bo ssam that I made a couple of months ago. I swapped out white rice for quinoa ... a healthier alternative??? James and I need to jump back on the bandwagon to cook healthier and loose weight again via daily Jazzercise (yes, Jazzercise and P90X) ... would this be the REBOOT of us losing weight? I really need to get back down between 190 - 210 pounds. As for James ... he wants to get back to 200 pounds. IMHO, being married and not to mention eating delicious food all the time will - in due time, stick to your ribs ... well, our bellies and butts." /wants a full slab of ribs with cornbread and deep fried okra now ...

TWITTER - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - PERISCOPE: @thepantrypanda
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/thepantrypanda
WEBSITE: http://www.thepantrypanda.com/
BEARS IN THE KITCHEN: http://www.bearsinthekitchenn.com/

Orzo Risotto with Seared Scallops and Tomatoes.

... "With James and the dogs out of town again until Wednesday night - the house was cold and empty. I needed to cook for someone. So, I asked my neighbor, Pat Morelli's mom, Fran ... what she wanted for dinner. She said scallops ... so I rushed to the international supermarket to get the ingredients for ...

Orzo Risotto with Seared Scallops and Tomatoes: Sea Scallops. S & P. OO. Garlic. Cherry Tomatoes. Capers. Orzo. Shallot. Oregano. Chardonnay. Water. US Butter. Parsley.

It's so hard to cook for two. My parents always taught me to cook for a party of eight with leftovers ... well, I succeeded. As I presented a plate to Fran, her eyes lit up and smiled. She grabbed a vintage and chilled bottle chardonnay and graciously opened it. We both sat down to dinner and conversed about the 'good old times.' As we both raised our glasses to toast to celebrate life ... I did my usual 'side-look' and and grinned. Food always brings friends together. Too bad that James is in SJC (San Jose, CA) not enjoying himself. Too bad, too sad ... more food for me." /closes my eyes and enjoys the finer things in life in a simplistic way

TWITTER - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST: @thepantrypanda
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/thepantrypanda
WEBSITE: http://www.thepantrypanda.com/
BEARS IN THE KITCHEN: http://www.bearsinthekitchenn.com/

Camp Brisket 2015.

Before I went to Camp Brisket 2015, I didn't know much about BBQ - yet alone BBQ brisket. This two day event was packed with a great panel of BBQ and meat masters from Texas A&M University, Ohio State University, and Certified Angus Beef, BBQ brisket taste testings, beer and wine pairings from Lagunitas Brewing Company and Jim Beam, and much more.

There was a taste testing of BBQ brisket that was prepared earlier in the day and guests judged the grade/quality of brisket and what wood was used. I chose the all four woods and the four quality of brisket correctly! YAY! The grade/quality were USDA Choice, USDA, Select, USDA Prime, and Wagyu. The choices of woods were: apple, pecan, oak, and mesquite.

The only thing I knew about BBQ brisket was just to eat it. The BBQ knowledge from the panel was overwhelming. They know their meat. They know brisket. They showed us everything - from 'The Science of Brisket' to setting up a Weber Smokey Mountain Barbeque Smoker at the end of the first night.

The next morning, was jam-packed one. When I arrived at Weber Grill, the smells were heavenly. I followed my nose to the front door and I was already salivating! The morning consisted of four breakout sessions: a) wrapped/unwrapped BBQ, b) accessories and knife selection, c) brisket fabrication, and d) alcohol/beer pairings with BBQ with Lagunitas Brewing Company and Jim Beam.

After the the breakout sessions, the briskets that were made from the previous night were sliced and taste tested by all the guests ... then, lunch was served ...

I have to say that I ate so much brisket that I had the meat sweats and fell into a deep food coma afterwards! I thought I had some good brisket in my travels throughout the United States, but the brisket I had during this event nullifies everything I had in my past. The flavor and juiciness of the brisket was overwhelming. IT. WAS. SO. GOOD!

There was one thing I need to mention, the Jalapeno and Cheese Beef Sausage from Southside Market & Barbeque was DELICIOUS. I haven't had sausage with peppers in it before and these sausages make my taste buds sing!

In summary, I learned a lot and tasted a lot of from Camp Brisket at Weber Grill Restaurant. I met some great pioneers in the BBQ industry met some new foodies. If you ever get the chance to attend this event or any other Weber Grill event - you won't be disappointed!

For more information about Camp Brisket - contact me directly. /wants more brisket ...