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Who knew that a simple dish of dumplings would lead to my friends pleading to be invited to a private cooking lesson featuring dumplings? According to a popular dictionary, dumplings are small lumps of dough cooked by steaming, boiling or frying usually eaten with meat in soup. Of course my definition of a dumpling; savory or sweet deliciousness wrapped by another important layer of yumminess; is no where technical correct in culinary nor laymen terms. As a child I associate

Sometimes I dream of what it would look like for me to live in New York City. The smell, people, non-stop activities of daily life and of course the food. The first time I had the chance to visit all I could think in my mind was "This is Seoul but in English." I wasn't overwhelmed by the surge of people, rapid speech of individuals nor the hurried pace of daily life of the millions of residents who call the city home. Enthralled and captivated by everything I saw I dreamt of

Breaking bread at a new friend's table is the path to a long enduring friendship, plus great recipes. "Breaking Bread" is symbolic of trust, friendship and deep respect for the people you invite to partake of a meal. We are well into 2017 and I wonder how many of us are still striving to reach our New Year's Resolution goals. One of my goals was learning to appreciate being invited to a seat at a dinner table. Enjoying the conversations and honoring the people who find me wo

Broken dishes are best with loved ones.

With celebrating another year of living on the this Earth I often revisit what foods marked eras in my life. The following list are just some of the times in my life. 1. French Fries Up until kindergarten these were a staple in my diet. When my family and I ate in fine restaurants or fast food joints the only thing I would eat were these delectable fried bites. I remember my father ordering a full meal for me and much to his horror the only thing I would touch were my beloved

During this time of year I tend to get wrapped up in fitting in all of the holiday planning, dinners, and family gatherings; and sometime forget why I should be thankful. Looking at the life I continue to live I see that with my numerous friends and family members my needs are always met. However, sometimes my wants overloads my plate causing me to become consumed with with what I do not possess. Each time I decided to move, whether it was across the street or to the other si

Suriname, a former Dutch colony which has a rich history was a South American country I selected earlier this year to research their cuisine. Most people maybe unaware there is a country name Suriname located in South America that has similar historical parallels to America. This small nation was once Dutch colony has a long history which is intertwined with England, the Netherlands, India and Africa. It's cuisine is just has full. During my research of this small country, I

Growing up eating all things gluten filled without consequences came to a sudden halt several years ago. With the gluten free crazy at its height in the United States and picking up in other nations it wasn't hard to locate "gluten free processed products" in my local supermarket. I did think that my unconscious had been listening to much "gluten free this and gluten free that" so I decided not to pay much attention to my stomach screaming for attention. It was only when seve

Vacations are always welcomed as a retreat from the daily grind. For years I had dreamed of traveling to San Francisco, Spain, as well as Morocco. At the end of the last year, I was able to visit San Francisco with Shelli, a longtime friend, so now Morocco is next on the list. So while I figure out how to stay in Morocco without acquiring a tourist visa, I discovered how to take my taste buds to this exciting location instead. I wanted to make the experience as close as po

While decorating the Christmas tree this year I pondered how each ornament tasted. I'm sure many people have thought the same thing this year or years passed. Would the angel taste like cotton candy? Would your grandmother's favorite ornament have faint traces of warm peach cobbler she was famous for making each summer? Is the red nose of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer a fiery cinnamon red hot? How about your favorite gingerbread house that you made in kindergarten? Does it s

As a child my palate soley desired french fries and cream of wheat as the only food options. Sometimes I could be bribed into sampling other things but never rice. All kinds of rice: steamed, fried, caked or even stuffed in pudding did not make it past my tightly squeezed lips. Whenever I went over to eat at a friend or family gathering rice was always featured I inwardly cringed and begin developing plans of how to make sure rice never reached my mouth. Yes, I was the guest

Going home for the holidays is always interesting. Since I have launched my business, friends and family have requested repeats of dishes I cooked years ago. For example, when I went home a few weeks ago I was instructed that the Lewis's Annual Christmas Brunch, eaten after all the gifts have been opened must include pumpkin bread, a Dutch Apple Baby, and maple/aguave syrup or I was uninvited this year. Let me rewind so and give you a brief history of the Annual Christmas B

Growing up I saw carrots as the arch enemy of my tastebuds. No matter how they were presented; raw, steamed, candied, or hidden in soups, I ran away. Even the adage of eat your carrots to improve your eyesight did not sit well with me. And yes, now I have coke bottle glasses and I thank technology for slim fit lenses. However, when I decided to relocate to Asia for work I met a carrot that I liked. It wasn't dressed up and made to appear as another desirable vegetable. This t

Did you know you can make a quick side dish, with plain yogurt (organic is best) and a half tablespoon of finely chop some dill? How about wowing your dinner party guest by presenting dilled butter to accompany the seafood, potatoes or bread. It is a simple as combining minced fresh dill with half a cup of softened butter, chill in ice cube molds and serve. My favorite dish are steamed green beans with dill. Four simple ingredients take the beans from ordinary to extraordi