MinJungKim.com Braindump v 6.0 Gah. I’m still doing this?

ZOMG FOOD PRON!

Via a facebook ap, I’ve discovered this fabulous foodie blog called Kitchen Wench

Just loads and loads of international and KOREAN food PRON and recipes.

Hurray!

May your day rawk this hard.

Recipe for the MJ-Colada

What is the perfect drink to perk up a dreary day?

Why the MJ-Colada of course!

Ingredients:

• Instant Ice Tea Mix (Yeah the kind you get from Costco in a huge tub) (Enough to make approximately 4 cups of Ice Tea)
• Strawberries (Frozen is fine! 1 Cup)
• Strawberry Jelly (1-2 tablespoons) (You could use sugar instead. But why? WHY?!)
• Coconut Rum
• Crushed Ice

Directions:

Blend together into a thick slurry the Ice Tea Mix with Water, Strawberries and Jelly.

(FYI: My handmixer rocks.)

In Old Fashioned glass assemble the drink in the following order.

• Crushed Ice on bottom.
• 1 Shot of Coconut rum (belly shaker) in the middle.
• Top with half cup of the Strawberry Yum(tm).

Glass should be gently swirled to allow flavors to appropriately mingle and blend.

Sip and enjoy as if on the beach and not in the foggy sunset district.

Getting slightly irritated.

Now while I’m a professed fan of the Potter Series, adore the “work” of Lemony Snickett, have read all things Narnia, and recently enjoyed both the Golden Compass and Nanny Mcphee, I’m just going to come out and say this.

I’m DONE with clever little white British kids for a while.

No. Seriously.

Charming, clever, creative, little, noble creatures with high adventures with your ruddy cheeks and biscuits and tea.

I’m over you.

I need other recommendations in the meantime.

Something ethnic? American? Other countries perhaps in translation?

Ideas peoples?

Beach Citizenry

Today seemed pretty normal for a Saturday.
Sunny and gorgeous.

I woke up (missing my honey who was out of town) and rallied to shower.

Checked the weather and decided the day was too glorious to wait indoors.

So of course I logged on to warcraft.

Not, with the intention of getting sucked in to play indoors all day but rather to rally and see if Jason S. and Jackson might want to get some sunshine too and head out to the beach.

Of course, they were in game. With Ernie. And rallying to finally hit the Outlands. (Huzzah!)

By late afternoon we were ready to head out and I picked up both Jason and Jackson and mozied down to Ocean Beach. (After a stop off in Jtown for snacks first, of course).

The beach was CROWDED as clearly our idea of sunshine, fresh air, and playfulness is not an original one on a gorgeous day as was today.

Corrientes Peligrosas

Originally uploaded by Moncrief Speaks.

As we walked along getting sand under our toes we saw a guy standing about armpit deep in the rough waves waving his arm about.

Inner Monologue: “Is he saying Help? Alf? Al? Hemp? Is he just waving to friends? Is he joking?” I pointed yon at the guy.

Then we saw him collapse and fall.

Jackson and Jason immediately set forth to go help him up.

As they helped him to his feet a passerby walking his dog (herein the rest of the story called Citizen Dogwalker) rushed to me.

Citizen Dogwalker “Is he ok?Has anyone called the 911?”

Me: “No. Call 911.”

Jackson and Jason had helped Swimmer 1. to his feet and closer to shore where he promptly collapsed again, coughing.

Swimmer 1’s friend came to see how he was doing and was told by Swimmer 1 “How come you didn’t come when I was yelling HELP?!” She looked stunned and shocked.

Citizen Dogwalker had at this point flagged down the beach police patrol.

Beach Police patrol guy was questioning Swimmer 1 re: if he needed an ambulance and if anyone else was in the water with him.

Swimmer 1 responded “No, I’m alone. Charlie’s already come in, right?”

The Friend of Swimmer 1 said “No, he’s not in. Where is he?”

At that point, Jackson went out back towards the water (knee deep) to start looking for another head bobbing in the water. He was joined by 3 other Citizens who went as far out as they safely could in the rough waves to look and see if they could spot anyone.

At that point 3 very crucial things happened.

Beach Patrol called Surf and Rescue and the Citizen Dogwalker had run down the beach to see if anyone in a wetsuit or a surfer could possibly rally in the desperately shrinking window of time where someone could be dragged further out into the oceans by the riptide. The 3 Citizens and Jackson were out aligned along the water to spot.

Citizen Surfer arrived and was promptly pointed towards where a bobbing head was exhaustedly flailing and swam out to Charlie, reaching him, having him grasp his surfboard and stay afloat.

For a desperate few minutes as the sirens from Fire Engines, Surf and Patrol, and an Ambulance came to our location, the Citizen Surfer and Charlie were dragged back out by the riptide and eventually, exhaustedly made it to where the 3 Citizens were. The 3 Citizens promptly hoisted Charlie over their shoulders and brought him in towards dry land.

Charlie’s lips were blue and he looked exhausted and stunned. Absolutely silent and nominally responsive but breathing.

Charlie and Swimmer 1 were taken by Ambulances and treated for hypothermia and taken to the hospital. I imagine that they are now better, safe, and most importantly alive.

This was, most certainly, not what I’d anticipated from a leisurely sojourn and trip to the beach.

I’d say absolutely that were it not for the quick response and reaction of the Citizens in this tale, that the ending to this story might be quite different. While I have huge respect for the Beach Patrol, Surf and Rescue, and EMTs that came to the scene after the boys were on the beach and drier land, there were many crucial minutes prior to that where everyday folks wound up taking great personal concern to a stranger’s welfare to make sure that this day didn’t end up in tragedy.

Thank you to the Citizen Surfer, Citizen Dogwalker, 3 Citizens, Jackson, Jason, and all else on the beach that day that stepped up.

My faith in humanity is buttressed. (It doesn’t need restoration, just a boost).
As an after note. After all was said and done and Jackson, Jason, and I had gotten to settle our nerves and adrenaline rush from the episode, we’d gotten a bite to eat at Louie’s and walked back towards our car parked in the Ocean Beach lot.

Jackson started gazing out at the ocean as if to search for more potential vulnerable souls in need for rescue.

And I had an odd flash of a visual in my head that, well, I kind of never want to have again.

And that is of Jackson West in a bright red swimsuit a la Baywatch running in slow motion across the beach and having his man boobies heave with every breath.

SXSWI 2008

SXSWI 2008

Originally uploaded by minjungkim.

This pic is of Jason and I at something like 3 AM at Magnolia Cafe.
Full of Laughs. Full of Belly. Full of Happy.

Now normally I’ve done full writeups of mischief/wackiness that has occurred at SXSW.
In a lot of ways I’ve felt my general impetus for blogging supplanted by micro-updating via twitter.

I’m wondering if other long time bloggers are experiencing this as well?

Or maybe it’s just me.

Not unlike my penchant for hating rewrites and redrafts (I’m more of a measure twice cut once type of girl) I’m wondering if my blogging is tapering down because my twitter announces feel like the *update * and that blogging should be more thoughtful announcements.

Or that I’m just a lazy blogger these days.
Or more reserved.
Or less dramatic.
Or more private.
Or yes, much of the above.

Regardless, otherwise. I’m pretty happy.
And maybe I’ll get around to that big sxsw update again soon.
I’m over being sick mostly as it is.

Oh, now this is creepy.

Naughty children as young as FIVE could be put on DNA database as Government brings in ‘baby Asbos

  Badly behaved children as young as five should be recorded on the national DNA database, a police chief said yesterday.

Gary Pugh, forensic science director for the Metropolitan Police, said children should be ‘targeted’ because future offenders can often be picked out at a young age.

The proposals come as the Government looks to crack down on potential young tearaways, introducing ‘baby Asbos’ for children as young as ten to stop them going off the rails.

Is there a word…

For the absolutely retarded phenomenon of losing your voice and thereby feeling as if you have no access whatsoever to communicate with the outside world?

I am straining my voice talking instead of typing.

Which is stupid.

Because, really, I have so many new stories to share.

* Gah *

Tomorrow.

Gravy. Too much fracking gravy.

Gravy. Too much fracking gravy.

Originally uploaded by minjungkim.

I’ve got a problem.

This is a recurring issue that I have when it comes to the banal and yet glorious task of cooking.

This is not a confession that I’m a bad cook. To the contrary, I’m a pretty decent cook. I’m just very inconsistant.

Inconsistancy in the frequency of my cooking.

Inconsistancy in the quality of my cooking.

(Dinner parties ~5-6 dishes, 2 are A+, 3 are Bs, and 1 will be eaten alone, afterhours, in the dark, under the stairs, seasoned with the salt of shame from my tears and served with a rusty spoon which will in fact actually improve the failed creation’s flavor)

But my most pressing problem in the kitchen is not, as many folks may encounter, in the cleanup of the aftermath (though my hubby may differ in opinion on my general chaotic culinary endevors).

It is in SCALE. Understanding the SCALE of cooking.

For 1. For 2. I just can’t do it.

I can’t cook for a group under 6.

No matter how much I try, things just grow out of hand.

For instance this evening.

Now yesterday I’d made a batch of biscuits. Nothing fancy, just out of the box biscuits. Tasty but missing something.

Tonights midnight cooking inspiration was to concoct some sausage country gravy to go with the biscuits.

Mind you, I have little more than a dozen biscuits left. I only wanted to make a small pot of gravy.

So here’s how it went.

MJ dethaws the Jimmy Dean and tosses is into the pan.

“Honey?! What’s the ingredients for country gravy? General white sauce right? flour, oil, milk maybe?”

“Yeah, that’s about right.”

“OK~!”

MJ takes the cooked ground sausage out the pan.

MJ uses a small bowl to mix olive oil with flour to create a roux and mixes is well. Measuring by instinct and her hands only. Looks like less than a cup at most of flour. Paltry it seems.

MJ tosses is into the pan to cook and brown, stirring as it bubbles. She tosses in salt.

MJ adds in a a 2 cups of milk and walks to the compy to watch a silly video about the security db/login/flaws of a certain microblogging everywhere messaging service.

MJ goes back to the pot to realize “HOLY SHIT THAT LOOKS THICK”.

MJ adds a cup of water to the pot to thin it out, stirring it vigorously so it’s lump free.

MJ adds a cup of water to the pot to thin it out, stirring it vigorously so it’s lump free.

MJ adds a cup of water to the pot to thin it out, stirring it vigorously so it’s lump free.

MJ adds a cup of water to the pot to thin it out, stirring it vigorously so it’s lump free.

MJ adds a cup of water to the pot to thin it out, stirring it vigorously so it’s lump free.

MJ waves hands exasperatedly in the air exclaiming that gravy is like the TRIBBLES. IT JUST GETS OUT OF CONTROL.

MJ moves the gravy into a larger pan and turns off the heat before adding the sausage back into the gravy, making sure the only lumps in her gravy are from the sausage.

MJ sits at the table at midnight, wondering what on earth she will make to go with the gravy after the biscuits run out.

So what on earth shall I do with all this FUCKING GRAVY.

…

…

At least it’s quite tasty.

Hunter wishes you good fortune in the new year.

Hunter wishes you good fortune in the new year.

Originally uploaded by minjungkim.

Smile

Because if this photo of my nephew doesn’t make you grin, then frankly, you have no soul.

And you do have a soul, don’t you?

Linguistic navel gazing.

One month into being married and I’ve noticed the surge in use of plural words.

As if  wearing a tiara on your wedding day makes you suddenly a member of royalty.

“Yes, * we * will be making it to your party.”

“Not sure if  * we * can make it.”

“* We * are so excited to see you!”

“I don’t know. Let me check. * We * might have something already.”

So the regular replacement of the oft used and bemoaned singular  has been supplanted by the new communication darling of * We *.

It’s weird. But * We * don’t really mind, do * we * .

An aside and a reminder.

First, an aside.

Last night Coley dreamt she was in a chimney floo. I dreamt my honey had a fever/flu and couldn’t remember me. Today he woke up coughy and with chills.

That’s all totally weird.

Next, a reminder.

That each day of our lives requires a moment of pause, for reflection, meditation, digestion, appreciation, and breathing.

And oh yes, every now and again, some poetry.

My favorite:

Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting ?
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

from Dream Work by Mary Oliver

Sandwich making is Serious Stuff

I have decided to interrupt my neverending upload of wedding related photos on Flickr to show off my sandwich making skills.  More wedding pix to flickr tomorrow, surely. But let us enjoy this brief aside to discuss the art and engineering behind proper sandwich making.

Yes I’m damn serious about it. Tonight, I was very pleased with the results of my homemade sandwich. It was a thing of tasty beauty.

First off: The Ingredients:

Slow cooked tender pork  - so tenderly cooked that it litterally flaked easily with a fork and needed to be renamed “tenderly tugged” pork vs. pulled pork. There was no serious pulling involved.  Instead the pork shoulder had been slowcooked with some herbs and vegs for a day and then pulled out, tugged apart, and then seasoned with a medley of yum including pepper, vinegar, sugar, worcestershire sauce,  brown mustard, and bbq sauce.

Fresh butter lettuces - organic, yo.

Fresh steak tomato - organic, yo.

Fresh wheat bread - toasted, yo.

Cheddar cheese - shredded, yo.

And whatever other sandwich condiments you desire.

The key here is good ingredients and timing.   When the pulled pork is still warm and the bread lovely toasted, all else is good with the world.

Then dear kittens, the assembly of the sandwich is important.

This is not a thing that can be willy nilly slapped on.

There is, as Alton Brown has discussed in previous episodes of Good Eats, a clear structural integrity that needs to be addressed in the sandwich assembly.

Toasted Bread Top

Tomato  (Fresh ground pepper on it)

Shredded Cheese

BBQ Tender Tugged Pork

Torn lettuces

Toasted bread bottom

The order is important to ensure that the bread doesn’t get squishy and that the messy parts have something solid and sturdy just on top of them to hold the sandwich together.

The results, my dears, is nothing short of glorious yum.

Lovely hand model would be Mr. Jason Hoffman who ate 2 of these sandwiches this evening as a testament to my amazing sandwich making abilities.