Mushroom Stock

 Mushrooms are wonderful earthy treats. There are a thousand different varieties of mushrooms. Be careful if you are not a skilled mushroom hunter; you are better off buying mushrooms in a supermarket. Some mushrooms are very expensive and making them into stock is not a practical choice to make.  However, mushroom stock is very helpful to have on hand especially for vegans. I like to make mushroom stock using the button mushroom or baby portobello mushrooms. These kinds of mushroom are inexpensive to make stock. Mushroom stock is ideal to have around. It can be used as a base for mushroom soup or a sauce for making stir-fried dishes to go with meets three or vegetables. Mushrooms are also very healthy to consume daily. So let's make mushroom stock now.

 Ingredients:

2 lbs. button mushrooms, cleaned

4 garlic cloves

2 cups chopped sweet white onion

3 quarts cold water

1 tsp salt

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in a stockpot and simmer for 2 hours. 

Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve.

Pour the broth into a glass jar with lid and then refrigerate, or it can be frozen until needed.

Tip: store mushrooms in the refrigerator covered with a damp paper towel to keep them moist. Do not store them in plastic bags, or they will become slimy.

Multipurpose Marinating Sauce for Meats

Summer is the season for BBQ, so I would like to introduce to those who always visit my kitchen a very unique marinade for all kinds of meats. I also use this marinade for seafood dishes like mackerel, tuna, and salmon. To add more flavor for this marinade, I add garlic oil to it.  I will provide a garlic oil recipe instruction below this recipe. In the Asian kitchen, garlic oil plays a big role for preparing Asian dishes. With this kind of marinade source in your hands, you will not hesitate to show off your cooking skills.  I guarantee that any type of meat preparation will have a super result after marinating with this sauce. 

Ingredients:

 1/4 cup soy powder sauce

1/4 cup oyster sauce

1/4 cup garlic oil*

2 tbs garlic powder

1 tbs onion powder

1 tbs 5 spice (ngu vi huong)

2 tbs blak pepper or white pepper

1 tbs paprika

1 tbs seasoning (chicken powder or mushroom powder)

1/4 cup corn syrup

2 tbs honey

1 tbs brown sugar

1/4 cup cooking wine** 

 Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Store the sauce in a glass jar with lid. It will last for months in the refrigerator.

I use 1/4 cup of the sauce for 2 lbs of chicken. You can adjust the sauce according to your family’s taste. Also adjust the sweet and salty to your liking.

*Garlic oil recipe:

1/2 cup minced garlic

1 cup oil (I use 1/2 peanut oil and grape seeds oil)

In a sauté pan, cook garlic and oil over medium low heat until the garlic turns golden brown. Keep your eyes on the garlic near the end of cooking because it is easy to burn it. Store the garlic oil in a glass jar with lid. I will share many easy recipes later using this oil.

**The cooking wine that I use for this recipe is called "Ruou Mai Que Lo". I will share the recipe at a later time. However, if you live near and Asian grocery store, this wine is sold there. 

Learn to forget the past

The word "Forget" sounds lightweight, but it actually weighs a thousand pounds. "Forgetting" is not easy, especially for those who hurt us.

The misery of human life is often entangled in thoughts because of these words: Let go of it, think uninformed, see not clearly, and cannot forget.

During a lifetime, one can meet so many people, experience so many bittersweet stories. But if everything was kept in their hearts, how tiring would it be?  Especially the nostalgia or the obsession often tends to reappear, making us sink in sad emotions, which is hard to let go of. That is called the past and one cannot forget.

To be happy, we need to put aside the past, strive for the present fully so that in the future, when looking back at the present all the beautiful memories have become that pass. Now the past is all happy moments and satisfaction.  Let's cherish each day we live because this is the true meaning of life. The past can be a good lesson for our future, but it should not be a burden to bear throughout life. So what can be forgotten should be forgotten, so that not only will our heart will be peaceful but also our mind will be enlightened. Your letting go of the past is a great gift to yourself.

Everyone is born and raised. No one will always be lucky enough to have success the first time they do it. Edison failed thousands of times before making the light bulb, but what he got after each failure was experience for the next experiment. But people only know him when the light bulb was actually made, and that process of failure is not well known. So when you try and still have no success, use it as a springboard to try harder in the present and build the present for the best.

So what is the word "forget" here?  If the past failures are the springboard of future success, why do we still forget the past? However, “Forgetting" here is forgetting the feelings of sadness, pain, and depression when failing, so that you always maintain your ideals, believe in yourself, and give yourself more motivation to dare to continue to fail the next time.

There is an English saying that "Freedom is not free”. Yes, everything we have in life is obtained by ourselves. However, there are also things that are destined not to belong to us, like someone who does not love us. Forget about the person who doesn't love us and look around us; there are still more worthy people. Forget about a desire too far out of reach to have peace of mind; instead enjoy the achievements of the present.

Happiness almost always exists in small things, maybe just a beautiful morning seeing the light in the sky, or maybe a friendly smile from a passerby when suddenly meeting each other's eyes. There is no need for high aspirations. Choose a simple life, strive for positive things and know how to ignore aspirations and ambitions that make us no longer ourselves.

The biggest obstacle between you and your happiness is wishing. You always wish for bigger things, different things, the things you don't have for the best. This is a completely wrong mentality. You have the right to dream, the right to strive for that dream. But that does not mean that those dreams are the only things that deserve to be grasped by you.

Life is multifaceted, and things need to be seen in many directions to get the best judgment. Think about when you are old, weak, and sick. What is the most important thing for you to preserve? Is it family love? Fame and fortune cannot be brought with you after death. True friends are ready to be friends both in difficult times and in happy times.

The answer is already in your heart. What you have to do is just grasp it boldly. "Forget" the frivolous things and focus on a good future with a sincere more conscientious attitude.

When our mind is peaceful, our life is immediately peaceful.

 

Psychological perspective

What determines a woman's beauty?

We still often think that a man only loves a woman for her outward beauty, but is this really true or not?

There are many things that makes a woman attractive to a man. But what makes a woman truly beautiful is much deeper than her skin, figure, or what you can see with your eyes. Let's learn what is the qualifying feature used to determine a  woman's beauty.

Time and age make a woman unable to retain her youthful beauty. The media hypnotizes them by setting many standard rules of beauty. That is why most women have to sacrifice their time, money, and health trying to adhere to those standards. In addition, the cosmetic industry maintains business by advising them to adjust their body one part, fix the other if they want to keep the other half attractive.

In fact, women are not independently beautiful, because there are always observers, interpreting that beauty, possibly both of the same sex and of the opposite sex. Men's perception, love, and admiration play a big role in the creation of a woman's beauty.

We can distinguish between truly beautiful people and attractive people. In theory, classical beauty is based on symmetry and proportion. However, psychologically, a perfectly beautiful subject will show the qualities of caregivers, typically parents, or siblings, and they become role models for both emotional and physical relationship matters.

We tend to pay attention to certain body parts such as the face, eyes, nose, mouth, hair, hands, and feet. However, each has different preferences, is attracted to different beauties, and this is a good thing because few subjects possess all the desirable traits. This difference makes a woman attractive in the eyes of certain, but not all, men. That also means, there is never absolute beauty because "beauty in the eyes of the beholder”.

Meanwhile, emotional maturity involves recognizing preference tendencies that cause men to focus more on what they value. Humans have a cortex that allows reason to function rather than just instinctively.

From the above, we can conclude that sexual attraction does not make a woman beautiful, but simply makes her look attractive. Love is the factor that creates real beauty in a woman. When a man truly loves a woman, he will love her way of life, and from there she will begin to become beautiful in his heart. This perception is not something unique to men, we all do. People create beauty in life and relationships. Have you ever wished you could see yourself the way others see you? That is the beauty of relationships. We can be role models and healers. If a woman’s other half always wants her to change her appearance when you go with the man, then that man doesn't necessarily love you.

 A woman's profound beauty does not lie in her attractiveness or classical beauty standards. It defies all challenges and time. It does not require Botox, Pilates, or a strict diet. It only needs love, but the beauty of love is endless and unaffected by the ravages of life. Perhaps you have witnessed an old couple walking hand in hand and staring into each other's eyes with passionate love despite decades of life. Are you jealous of the love and the beauty of that relationship?

 In conclusion. the definition of beauty from the past until now has no definition that is considered the norm. Beautiful or not is felt by each person. Men who rate a woman as beautiful will also be different than when women judge each other. A beautiful woman not only has a beauty in appearance, but she is also radiated from her style, from her attitude of life, from her confidence, and from the temperament in her soul. As long as she has confidence, she is really beautiful.

Eggplant Tofu Burgers

Most people think that eating healthy is difficult and that it also means sacrificing taste. This is a misconception, which I believe I can dispel here in my blog. I have been eating healthy food for quite a long time because eating is one of the few things we do every single day. Therefore, practicing eating healthy food will help you to prolong your life .  Nutrient-richness is the key to creating a good meal. Nutrients do not have to come from meats or seafood. They can come from plants, nuts, and seeds. I will now introduce the vegan burger today. I promise that this is the recipe that will make your taste buds and body feel very happy.

 Ingredients:

1 small eggplant, peeled and chopped

2 large white mushrooms, chopped

1 package (14,5oz) extra firm tofu, drained

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

1/2 cup chopped green beans

1/2 cup white onions

1/4 cup green onions

2 tbs tomato paste

1 tbs soy sauce

1 egg

1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

Seasonings:

2 tbs olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Other ingredients:

Hamburger buns

Lettuce

Sriracha

Serve with rice on the side (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375° and prepare a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Chop the eggplant and mushrooms and set them aside.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; then cook the minced garlic and white onions for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the chopped eggplant and mushrooms and the Italian seasoning (I use the herbs that I have on hand.

You can use dried parsley, oregano, and thyme) salt, and pepper and stir to combine.

Cook the vegetables, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes, until soft. Add green beans and red bell pepper and tomato paste. Cook for one more minute.

Remove the cooked vegetables from the stove. At this point, you can grind the veggies into a paste or leave them whole.

Add soy sauce, egg, and bread crumbs to the mixture and mix well.

Use the potato masher to mash the tofu

 

Add cooked vegetables to the smashed tofu and mix well

Form the burger by filling a 1/2 cup measuring scoop or form by hand.

Place each burger 1 inch apart if you want to bake them. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes or until brown on the outside

Or

Heat 1 tbs of oil for 2 burgers in the nonstick pan. Pan fry the burger for 2 minutes on each side.

 Place a burger on a bun; then top with it with lettuce and sriracha. At this point, it is very much your choice of toppings, like using cheese, mayonnaise, or humus.

I like to eat my burger with cooked rice and sweet soy dipping sauce.

"Quang " Chicken Noodles

 I am a fan of all kinds of noodles from stir-fried to soup. As you may know, the name of this recipe "Quang" is one of the cities in middle of Vietnam called Quang Ngai. The Vietnamese cuisine has names of recipes for each region. For example, "bun bo hue", "bun ca Nha Trang", "pho Hanoi", etc.… This recipe is an easy one that I will share here using chicken legs or thighs. Some Quang recipes include shrimp and quail eggs. The vegetables plate to serve with Quang noodles is very special because of the herbs and Onchoi (water spinach), and banana buts (banana flour before becoming bananas). Also special is the dipping sauce for the chicken and crispy rice cake to accompany with the Quang noodles. However, I now live far from an Asian market. I cannot now have all the side dishes to go with Quang noodles, but the taste of this dish cannot stop me from creating one. Of all the Quang noodle flavors, perhaps the chicken Quang noodles is the most popular. The delicious and juicier flavor comes from the chicken with rich bone chicken broth and soft chewy fat rice noodles. Surely, it will make many diners feel pampered every time they enjoy Quang noodles. Today, I will guide you to prepare chicken Quang noodles using all the easily found ingredients in most supermarkets. 

Ingredients:

4 chicken legs or thighs, bones in and cut into chunks or your liking

4 hard-boiled eggs, shell removed

Marinade ingredients:

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp min1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tsp turmeric

Spices:

2 garlic cloves

1 shallot

1 tsp chilli flakes or paprika

1 tsp turmeric

1/2 white onion, chopped

1/4 cup raw or roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

Season with fish sauce, salt, and sugar

Other ingredients:

3 cups broth

10 oz. coconut water

Anato seeds oil (optional)

Vietnamese vegetables plate

Vietnamese dipping sauce

Wide flat rice noodles

Chopped cilantro and green onions

Roasted peanuts on the side

Directions: 

Rub chicken with salt; then rinse with clean water. Put chicken in a bowl with all the marinade ingredients. Mix well and let the meat become infused with the spices for 1 hour.

Heat the oil in the pot; then fry the garlic, onion, shallot,  and turmeric until fragrant. Add the chicken. Pan fry until brown. Stir in the chopped peanuts.

Then pour in the coconut water and broth and bring to boil. Skim off any residue floating on the surface. 

When the meat are cooked, season to taste again and turn off the heat.  One tbps anato seeds oil can be added for color of the soup (your choice). The cooking time is about 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is tender.

Co

ok the rice noodles as directed on the side of the packet.. 

How to make the dipping sauce for chicken:

Combine 1 tbs crushed garlic, 1 tbs sugar, 1 tbs lemon juice, and 2 tbs fish sauce. Stir and mix. Adjust the taste of this sauce to your liking, perhaps more sweet or salty.

To assemble Quang noodles:

Place the noodles in a bowl; then top with chicken and eggs (cut egg in half). Fill bowl with just enough broth to cover the noodles. Sprinkle on some roasted peanuts, fried onions, and chopped cilantro. Garnish with Vietnamese vegetable plate and crispy rice. Also, serve the dipping sauce on the side.

Tuna Stew with Tomatoes

Braised Japanese mackerel in tomatoes is really a dish that consumes a lot of cooked rice when it is served. This family meal can make family members want to eat one bowl of rice after another. Although Japanese mackerel is small but fatty and absorbed with rich spices and covered with a layer of bright red tomatoes with a sour, salty, stimulating taste. I revised this recipe to create my own because I do not live nearby a Korean or Japanese grocery store to buy mackerel. I use the tuna fillet that is sold at Costco. The sauce is easy to make, and most of the ingredients will be easy to find at Walmart. For sure, it is a good recipe to keep.

 Ingredients:

Two -6 oz. tuna fillets, cut into chunks

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp seasonings (your choice)

2 medium size ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges

1 shallots, chopped

3 green onions (separate the white and green parts) 

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tbs peanut oil 

Stew sauce ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut water

1 tbs fish sauce

1 tbs soy sauce

2 tbs honey or sugar

1 tsp black pepper

Other ingredients:

Cooked rice 

Directions:

Place cut fish into a bowl. Add sugar, salt, seasonings,  minced shallots, garlic and minced white part of onion. Put in the refrigerator to marinate for about 15 minutes for the fish to infuse spices.

Combine the sauce ingredients and set aside.

Put the pot on the stove and add oil. Then pour in the marinated fish. Pan fry the fish on both sides (about 2 minutes).

Place tomatoes on top of the fish. 

Add stew sauce to the pot and bring to boil.

Adjust the seasonings when the stock starts to boil.

Cover pot and continue cooking until the sauce has thickened. 

Uncover the pot in the last few minutes of cooking. Then turn off the heat.

The fish is now ready to serve.

Tip: add chili flakes or jalapeno to enhance the spicy flavor.