Family

Thanksgiving Series: Full with Grace

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Image Thanksgiving preparation begins early in our home.  We start creating a grocery list and shop for the goods the weekend before the long-awaited day.  On Sunday or Monday, the turkey receives thorough cleaning and has its insides removed.  Afterwards, my mom first washes the big bird in a mixture of chardonnay and Japanese wine.  Then, she soaks the turkey with her special seasoning and preserves it in a clear turkey bag.  She proceeds to pour the leftover seasoning inside and shakes the bag.  On the actual day of festivities, the turkey undergoes another round of prepping.  But the night before Thanksgiving, we bake some cornbread to use for our stuffing.  Cornbread plus cornbread stuffing mix? Isn't that too much? Not at all.  The cornbread adds a touch of sweetness and moisture to the dry mix.  I swoon over the heavenly aroma of rising yeast and wait happily by the warm oven.

Like every Thanksgiving, this year's was no less successful.  I wish I had been able to photograph the beautifully roasted turkey that sat on a silver platter of decorative garnishes, but with stomachs growling, I thought it'd be rude for me to stall such feast.  The turkey, succulent and flavorful (thyme, herbs, wine), paired well with the slaw salad and cranberry sauce.  Of course, I always look forward to my mom's stuffing and secret yams, and they did not disappoint that night.  (Surprise: We substitute butter with margarine, and for some reason, everything tastes better!)  And as usual, Mama Kim's creamed corn, green beans, and mashed potatoes were crowd-pleasers as well.

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While good food uplifts spirits, the mirth and grateful hearts surrounding us are what truly makes Thanksgiving a marvelous day of celebration.  Sharing our thanks and encouraging each other, I could not ask for more.  I hope all of you enjoyed resting and gorging on an array of dishes.  :)

Good night, and see you on Monday!

LOVE, pristine christine

Throwback Thursday & Friday Fun: Little Italy at Home

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I grew up with lovers of international food.  My dad, whose family was one of the wealthiest 1% in Korea prior to moving to the states in the 1970s, indulged in delicacies very few could imagine eating at that time.  My grandpa exposed my mom to American snacks and sweet from an early age, and since then, she has cultivated an immense appreciation for different cuisines.  In fact, our family's comfort food is not rice but mozzarella, basil, homemade pesto, and pasta.  Al dente farfalle smothered in fresh tomato bruschetta takes me back to my childhood and teen years when I'd immediately brighten up after eating a spoonful during lunch at school.  Cooped up in the newspaper room, fixing up layouts and editing articles and finishing homework after pulling all-nighters for my other classes, I'd scoop the cold pasta my mom packed for lunch into my mouth.  I was stressed and maybe even frustrated with my staff, but the warmth and love encapsulated in the seemingly small bite cheered me up.  

An Italian at heart, as I always say, I can rarely decline the perfect combination of warmly toasted slice of wheat bread, homemade pesto, fresh buffalo mozzarella, roman tomato, and basil either.  That is unfortunately my guilty pleasure.  It was never the cakes, pies, or chocolate that swayed me.  It was the magical herb, cheese, and olive oil; they elevated the rather banal bread and red fruit/tomato to a whole new level.  

I love living in Little Italy at home, albeit not an exact replicate of the real Italy.  But it doesn't hurt to use our imagination, so ladies, lovers, gentlemen... treat yourself to a night out in Italy on this grand Friday evening.

INGREDIENTS
Buffalo mozzarella, farfalle, fresh tomato bruschetta, sea salt (boil farfalle in sea salt), pesto, tomato, basil, sourdough/bagel/baguette

Buonanotte! 
pristine christine