A Week of Treat Yourself Birthday Celebrations
Here’s what I eat in a week during my Birthday Week, from a Steak Uni Bowl Book Club Birthday Celebration to some of the BEST Cantonese-style seafood for birthday dinner in Vancouver. This weekend is actually my birthday, and I’m turning 31! This was my first birthday without my dad, When I was younger I wanted big birthday celebrations, and today, I just want good food and good people that I love. Come spend my birthday weekend with me eating, cooking, and cherishing every little moment.
Homemade Chicken Congee
Does anyone else also crave Homemade Chicken Congee whenever the weather gets cold? Growing up I never really loved congee because I always associate it with being sick. As I got older, I swear congee just feels like the coziest warmest hug from the inside out. It’s soft, it’s creamy, and just so nourishing. Today we’re using bone broth to make a veggie packed chicken congee, which means extra collagen, rich flavors, and tons of fiber. You can make this in bulk and keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, or freeze the rest for later.
- 2 cups Cooked Rice day-old chilled
- 1 Rotisserie Chicken separate the bone from the meat
- 1 Zucchini chopped
- ½ Carrot chopped
- 10 shiitake mushroom chopped
- 2 stalks green onion
- 5 cloves garlic peeled
- 3 slices ginger
- 6 cups bone broth
- 2 cups napa cabbage sliced
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 0.5 tbsp dashi powder optional
Homemade Granola
Since i have all the ingredients, I’ve decided to make homemade granola. This granola makes me so excited to wake up in the morning! Having crunchy granola and sweet strawberry jam in the fridge makes its so easy to put together a granola bowl for breakfast in no time. Whether it’s over creamy yogurt, or fluffy chia seed pudding, or even ice cream, it honestly tastes so good.
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 cup peanut butter, melted
- 2 cups oats
- ¼ cup flax seeds
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups rice puffs
- ½ cup Chocolate Chips
Sukiyaki
If you’re ever feeling lazy and don’t feel like cooking but still want to impress your guests, try making Japanese Beef Hot Pot, or Sukiyaki. Since it’s hot pot you can totally customize it with your favorite ingredients. Today, I’m adding in thinly sliced beef, lots of veggie, konjac noodles, and torched tofu. This actually adds an amazingly smoky depth and flavor.
The best part about Sukiyaki is that you can cook as you go, adding in more veggie and sauce as needed. The beef and veggie soaks up all that sweet-savory broth. Dipped into the raw egg, it’s chef’s kiss!
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1-2 stalks green onions separate white and green parts
- 1 pack hot pot sliced beef or any thinly sliced fatty beef, around 250 g
- 1/2 pack Medium-firm Tofu
- 1 pack Frozen Udon
- 4-6 Shiitake Mushrooms
- 1 cup Shimeji Mushrooms
- 1 pack Enoki Mushrooms
- 1 bundle Chrysanthemum Greens small bundle, Or any leafy greens
- 1 raw egg
Sukiyaki Sauce Base
- 100 ml Soy Sauce
- 50 ml Mirin
- 50 ml sake
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tsp dashi powder
Chia Pudding Bowl
I’ve been starting every morning with this Strawberry Chia Pudding Granola Bowl. It has both the fluffiness of chia pudding and that smooth creaminess of yogurt, plus a TON of fruit. With homemade granola and strawberry jam, this fruity breakfast bowl saves me so much time in the morning! I can have a complete breakfast without any hassle at all, because all the ingredients are already done!
- 1/4 cup chia pudding
- 1/4 cup yogurt
- 2 teaspoons strawberry jam
- 1/2 banana, sliced
- 1/4 cup strawberries, quartered
- 1/4 cup homemade granola
- 1 tablespoon honey
January Book Review
This birthday week was special in a lot of ways. I celebrated my birthday with friends and family during our book club night, and it honestly couldn’t have been more perfect. We all gathered around the table, chatting about books, life, and everything in between. It was comforting and warm, exactly what I needed for my first birthday without my dad. Sharing it with the people I love made the night unforgettable. Since I love to chat about what I read with my friends, I wanted to share a review of the first 5 books I finished this year with you!
Mom’s Pork Knuckle Noodle Soup 豬腳麵線
Honestly the only thing I was really excited for for my birthday this year was eating my mom’s pork knuckle noodle soup 豬腳麵線 and spending time with her. I know we’re not supposed to brag, but I seriously have the best mom in the world. like I said, my mom is my best friend.
They say nothing tastes better than your mom’s cooking, and I couldn’t agree more. If you didn’t know, this dish is the quintessential Taiwanese birthday dish. The Pork Knuckles soaked in so much of that yummy braise, you definitely need big bowls of noodles to go with. The super flavorful, bouncy skin is simply the best part. It was so good, Dom had two bowls too!
Birthday Dinner at Sanbo Chinese Restaurant 誼園茶餐廳
For my 31st birthday dinner, my father-in-law treated me to insanely good seafood at Sanbo Chinese Restaurant 誼園茶餐廳 in Richmond. I almost wanted to gatekeep this place, but of course I had to share. This is officially one of my favorite places to get Cantonese Style Seafood. You can enjoy the natural flavors of seafood and other cooked in traditional Cantonese family style. Every dish was next level!
My birthday treat was their King Crab, cooked 3 different ways: steamed crab legs, garlic crab legs, and crab fried rice. The real star is actually their famous soy sauce chicken 豉油雞. It was so tender so flavorful that I need to recreate a recipe for this dish.
I have to say I am so thankful for my in-laws. I honestly think I got really lucky because they are so so loving and supportive. If you’re thinking of a spot for your next family event, and would like some delicious seafood, Sanbo is the one. They’re open most days until 10 PM, except for Tuesdays.
Air Fryer Miso Salmon
Since it’s my birthday I want to make one of my favorite brunches of all time: Air Fryer Miso Salmon, hot rice, and miso soup. Just thinking about this particular meal always makes me drool. I’ve shared this recipe so many times but trust me, Air fryer Miso Salmon never gets old. Packed with umami, creamy, and so moist thanks to the magic of Japanese Mayo. Don’t be shy! Coat your salmon generously because this will really help lock in all the moisture and flavor!
- 2 pieces of Salmon with the skin on (around 5-7 oz each)
- 5 tbsp of Japanese Mayo
- 1.5 tbsp of Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp of Lemon Juice
- Lemon zest (optional)
- A pinch of paprika
- Salt and Pepper
Miso Soup
I also quickly prepped a speedy miso soup. I first loaded it up with tofu for protein. Then, I added Napa cabbage and mushroom for fiber. Of course, you’ll need a big scoop of miso paste for that rich comforting flavor. Finish it off with green onion and it’s done in just minutes.
- 2 cups of Dashi Stock
- 1.5 tbsp of Miso Paste
- 1 cup of diced Tofu
- 1/2 napa cabbage
- 1 pack shimeji mushrooms
Juicy Fruit Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Next, I made a simple salad with fresh lettuce, juicy fruits, and crunchy candied walnuts. I happened to grab these pretty blueberries from Mexico at Costco and I felt so lucky to have these giant fresh berries in February! To pair with my yummy berries, I’m using my one minute salad dressing featuring olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard, black pepper, and honey. It’s so easy and so good! Just like that, you got a quick meal in under 20 minutes.
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1.5 tablespoon honey (adjust for sweetness if desired)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (adjust to taste)
Birthday Date Night At Main Street
It’s Dom and I’s birthday week date night, and we’re heading to Main Street! Today, Dom is taking me shopping for my birthday gifts, from an adorable croissant bag to a brand new pair of running shoes. Afterwards, we grabbed a quick snack at the Fish Counter, before enjoying a matcha latte tasting!
The Fish Counter
Since we’re both starving after our run, we decided to get a quick snack at the Fish Counter before heading over to our matcha tasting. The Fish Counter is a counter-serve restaurant serving sustainable, simple but tasty seafood dishes on one counter, and a fish market on the opposite side.
Of course we had to get the Fish and Chips! You can choose between cod, halibut, Salmon, or snapper for your Fish and Chips, which is $13 – $21CAD depending on choice of fish. It’s super fresh, and the fries are nice and crispy. We also got the BC Bouillabaisse ($15 CAD), a rich saffron-seafood broth with tomatoes, pepper, and big chunks of fresh fish. It is a simple soup that warms you right up. If you have dietary restrictions, they also offer gluten free fish batter and vegan chowder in their menu!
Cultivate Tea
I’ve been loving my morning matcha latte, so we had to go to Cultivate Tea, a specialty tea shop. They sell everything tea related, from ceremonial matcha to ceramic tea ware. We’re actually here for a matcha latte tasting experiences starting from $35 CAD per person.
You can try 3 different options of matcha, chosen specifically for matcha latte. Our flight included Matcha Hana, Matcha Yamabuki, and Uji Hojicha. Every one of our matcha latte was super creamy and rich. But, Dom and I really liked matcha #2, Matcha Yamabuki, which had a more umami, almost seaweed-like flavor.
It is also my first time trying hojicha, a green tea that has been slowly toasted instead of steamed, so it has a caramelized flavor. This particular one is from Uji, which is actually where a lot of matcha comes from. I was surprised at how good it was! They’re open everyday except Tuesday in the Main Street area. If you’re curious about tea and want to try a tasting, you can make a reservation of their website as well!
Oven Roasted Honey Soy Glazed BBQ Ribs
I’m very excited for my family to come over tonight. I’m making these BBQ Glazed Ribs that everyone loved on our 14 course family meal while Dom’s grandma was visiting. This time, I’m making a slight variation with a black pepper rub and a teriyaki glaze.
Let me tell you, this was such a good idea that I will 100% be adding this to my next big friend and family gathering! It’s so easy to prep. The ribs come out really really tender and packed was so much flavor. It’s broiled until nice and sticky, packed with smoky black pepper flavor!
Ribs:
- 1 large rack of ribs (about 7 pounds or 3.2 kg)
- 3 cups fresh orange juice
Dry Rub:
- 2 tablespoons five-spice powder
- 2 teaspoons white pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Honey Soy Glaze:
- 1 cup soy sauce
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons five-spice powder
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
Macaroni Salad
Let’s make one of my most popular recipe – Hawaiian-inspired Macaroni Salad. This salad is so creamy and packed with so much veggies. It’s honestly perfect for meal prep or hosting since you can make it ahead of time. I love it because you can use any veggie you have on hand since I’m actually leaving to Taiwan in a few days. I decided to clear up my fridge and use up all the veggies I had left: celery, onion, green onion and bell peppers.
- 16-ounce uncooked Elbow Macaroni
- ½ cup of Japanese Mayo
- ¼ cup of American Mayo
- 3 tbsp of Rice Vinegar
- 2 tbsp of Mustard
- 4 tbsp of Milk
- 1 tbsp of Sugar
- Black Pepper
- 2 teaspoons of Dashi Powder
Toppings:
- Chopped celery (~⅓ cup)
- Shredded Carrots (~¼ cup)
- Sweet Corn (~½ cup)
- Chopped Red Onion (~¼ cup)
- Chopped Green Onion (3 stalks)
- Imitation Crab Meat (~½ cup)
