What I Eat In A Week: Hosting Group Dinners

Join me for everything I eat in a week of hosting family gatherings and group dinners to nurture my personal relationships. This was a week of family and friends – and it might be the most social week I’ve had for a while! In fact, I’ve been really enjoying hosting these small get together dinners for all of my loved ones. From wine and paint double-date night, to a Homemade Korean BBQ family dinner, find ways to connect better with your family and friends with me!

Easy Breakfast Scrambled Egg Rice Bowl

I’ve been trying to make breakfast every morning as part of my routine, because starting the day with something yummy just makes everything better. My go-to busy day breakfast since college is my tried and true Easy Breakfast Scrambled Egg Rice Bowl. So simple, but so comforting. Super fluffy soy sauce-scrambled egg served on hot rice with some cucumber, kimchi, and a sprinkle of furikake. It’s quick, cozy, and so satisfying!

• 4 stalks green onions, chopped
• 3 eggs
• 1.5 tbsp soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 cucumbers, sliced
• 1 bowl of hot rice
• Kimchi
• Furikakke topping

Easy Breakfast Scrambled Egg Rice Bowl

10 minutes minutes

This Easy Brunch Scrambled Egg Rice Bowl is my tried and true recipe for a tasty, filling meal in a short time. Fluffy scrambled eggs with green onion paired with spicy-sour kimchi on top of hot, steaming rice is the best way to start your day right. This vegetarian egg rice bowl has all the protein, carbs, and fibers you need in one easy bowl. Save some time with me in the morning with this easy breakfast rice bowl!

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H-Mart and Korean Noodle Mother Daughter Date

My mom is my best friend and since it has been so tough for all of us recently, I wanted take my mom out for a quick lunch and just spend some time together. We’re craving spicy noodles, so we’re here at Yeun Kyung 연경 to get some Korean Chinese food. It’s nice to be sharing a bowl of Jjangmyeong ($13), one of my dad’s favorites, while reminiscing with my mom. The food here was so tasty, but my personal favorite from here has to be the Jjampong ($18) or Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup.

Before my dad passed, he told my mom everything would be okay, because he knew my sister and I would always lift her up and make her laugh. Even if it something as small as having noodles together, we’re all trying to find little ways to find moments of happiness and to feel loved again. For me, even the moments in H-mart where we’re discussing what to cook with each grocery item is a precious moment in time with my mom.

Every time I shop at H-Mart, I can’t resist also grabbing a bunch of these Bungeoppang, or Korean Fish Pancakes from Kim’s Korean Pancakes. You can keep them in the fridge, and air-fry the whenever you’d like! We ended up getting the red bean and Yachae-Hotteok, savory pancakes filled with glass noodles and vegetables. It’s chewy inside – but a nice and crispy outside.

Kai Dong Holiday E-Book FREE With Festivities Bundle!

Today we’re doing the photoshoot for the kai dong’s FREE holiday cookbook. In total, there’s 10 different dishes we have to photograph. It was a long day, but I’m really really excited. I got everything chopped and prepped before my photographer Vanessa got here, so everything is organized and ready to go.

I can’t believe it’s almost one year of kai dong! Starting the sauce line in my dad’s honor has been one of the most special things in my life. I’m so thankful for every single one of you who has been part of this journey. This community means the world to me: being able to share recipes, my culture, and all these little pieces of my heart with you has been incredible. Kai dong is truly one of the best parts of my life, and it’s all because of you!

I made a little gift for everyone: a FREE E-book with 10 cozy recipes for anyone who purchased the Festivities bundle to make you and your loved ones this holiday season. Thank you so much for supporting my dream, and I can’t wait to see all your yummy creation!

Paint Your Partner Dinner Date

I invited my friends over later tonight for a Paint Your Partner double date night from the trend I’ve been seeing on TikTok. Since we wanted a quick dinner before, we’re having a typical Asian family-style dinner: a garlic smashed cucumber salad, Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry and a Thai Inspired Four Season Scallion Basil Pork. For 4 people, this was plenty of delicious food!

After dinner, we grabbed our wine glasses and brought out the paintbrushes. This double date, family night, OR girl’s night-in activity is so fun, and all the materials are fairly affordable! Just pick a partner, and paint them! The best part is seeing everyone’s masterpiece at the end of the night – you never know how creative the people around you can get!

Garlic Smashed Cucumber

• 2 English Cucumber 
• 10 cloves Garlic (chopped) 
• 4 tbsp oil 
• 2 tbsp of Sugar 
• 1 tsp of Salt 
• 3 tbsp Black Vinegar 
• 1.5 tbsp Soy Sauce 
• 1 tsp Sesame Seeds 
• Cilantro 

Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad

30 minutes minutes

Savory and garlicky smashed cucumber salad is refreshing and pairs perfectly with every meal. Fresh garlic oil drizzled on top of crunchy cucumber; you need to try my Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad because I promise you will fall in love! This cucumber salad is perfect for making for kids as it is not spicy but still has all the savory flavors you find at restaurants. Prepare this Garlic Smashed Cucumber Salad in bulk to enjoy throughout the week.

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Four Season Scallion Holy Basil Pork Stir Fry

• 300 g ground pork or chicken or 1 cup
• 2 tbsp Everyday Garlic Oil
• 2-3 Thai bird’s eye chilies chopped (adjust to spice level)
• 1 cup green beans chopped
• 1 cup fresh Thai holy basil leaves regular basil can be used if thai basil is unavailable
• 2 eggs for topping, optional
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 3 tbsp Four Season Scallion Sauce

Thai Inspired Four Season Holy Basil Pork Stir Fry

15 minutes minutes

Save time cooking with this Thai Inspired Holy Basil Pork Stir Fry, made with kai dong sauces in 15 minutes! Anytime I have Thai basil in the fridge, and not a lot of time, this is the quick and easy ground pork lunch dish to make. Top this Thai holy basil pork with a fried egg and a steaming bowl of white rice, and you'll have a satisfyingly spicy meal that gives you that kick you need to finish your day.

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Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry

• 2 pieces Steak
• 1 Egg White
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp Corn Starch
• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 onion
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1.5 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
• 2 tablespoon Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce

Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry

45 minutes minutes

This Better Than Takeout Sizzling Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry was one of my entrees for my recent get together – and it was a hit! Umami-packed, peppery steak stir-fried with crunchy bell peppers – this steak dish is amazing with rice. This is the easiest stir-fry dish to make for any occasion – from a Wednesday night dinner to group get together. Made with oyster sauce, soy sauce, and kai dong Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce, it’s the familiar Chinese take-out flavors we all know and love – but better!

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KBBQ and Bossum Family Dinner

My mom, my sister, and my brother-in-law are actually coming over for dinner, so I’m going to make something simple but yummy. I think we are craving Korean food, so I’m making Bossam, pork belly with kimchi and marinated short ribs. It’s a simple meal – but it’s so much fun to eat for family gatherings because you get to make your own bites. These pork belly and short rib lettuce wraps are an amazing way to cater to everyone’s taste buds!

Pork Belly With Kimchi

• 4 pounds Pork belly
• 1 onion
• 1 Apple
• 1 Leek
• 2 stalks green onion
• 7 cloves garlic
• 3-4 slices ginger
• 2-3 Bay leaves
• 1 tbsp Black peppercorn
• 1 splash soju or rice wine
• 4 tbsp Soy sauce
• 1.5 tbsp Honey

Bossam Inspired Korean Soy Glazed Pork Belly Wraps

1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

For large family gatherings, I love making these Bossam Inspired Korean Soy Glazed Pork Belly Wraps. They're easy to make, and super fun to eat – especially with family and friends. I made this for our family dinner for 5 people and it was a hit! Rich, fatty pork belly sandwiched between fresh lettuce and sour-spicy kimchi, this tasty Korean pork recipe will keep your dinner party lively. If you're looking for tasty dish that is fun for all ages to eat, this Korean Pork Belly Wrap is the recipe.

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Marinated Korean Short Ribs

• 1 apple 
• 1 onion white or yellow 
• 1 Korean pear, if cannot find, double the apple 
• 10-15 cloves of garlic, minced 
• 1 inch ginger 
• 1 cup soy sauce 
• ¼ cup mirin 
• 3 tablespoon honey 
• 1 tsp black pepper – adjust to your own liking 
• 1.5 tbsp sesame oil

Easy Korean BBQ Meat Marinade

10 minutes minutes

This Korean BBQ Meat marinade is a game changer! I use it not only for beef, but also for pork and chicken. The natural fruit juices of apple and pear provide a natural sweetness while making the meat super super juicy and tender. 

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