What I Eat In A Weekend – Family Gatherings & Meal Prep
The weekends for me is a time of family gatherings, slowing down my pace, and preparing for the week ahead. Since Kai Dong is restocking this Thursday, I’ve been incredibly busy, and I wanted to make sure I took time both for myself and my family. Follow along as I wind down for the weekend with some ginger milk tea boba, bake some no knead bread, and prep for the week ahead. Whether it’s enjoying late night noodles while watching TV, or sharing a large homemade Korean barbecue meal with my parents, I’m glad I can share these authentic moments with my family.
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Winding Down The Week With Ginger Milk Tea Boba
On Thursday night I wanted to wind down for the week with a simple dessert and a book. Ginger Milk Tea Sago is an easy one-pot recipe that actually helps with blood circulation. Plus, it’s super delicious. As a kid, I used to wonder why my mom was so insistent on ginger tea. But now, as I’m getting older, I get it. There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of herbal dessert to chase away the chills and perk you up from the inside out. If you’re looking for a cozy treat that’s as good for you as it is delicious, give this warm herbal dessert a try.
Ginger Milk Tea Boba Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons loose-leaf black tea
- 3 thin slices of ginger
- 4 tablespoons red sugar or brown sugar
- 5-8 Chinese red dates
- 6 cups Water
- ¾ cup sago or mini tapioca pearls
- ½ cup milk
Tamago Sando Of My Dreams (With Some Tips & Tricks!)
I had a dream about eating Tamago Sando in Japan, and I had to make this the moment I woke up. I know my dad loves this egg salad sandwich too. So, I’m making this recipe in bulk, so I can drop them off at my parents later!
I’ve got a couple of tips for the PERFECT hard boil eggs to get your tamago sando started:
- Add a splash of vinegar to the pot of water while boiling to help the shell peel easier
- Rest the eggs in an ice bath for at least 5 minutes.
- Use a teaspoon to crack and peel the eggs.
For extra creamy egg salad, the key is separating the yolk and whites. Chop up the egg whites into smaller chunks for great texture. Then, mix the yolk with Japanese mayo for a smooth custardy sauce. Fold in the chopped up egg whites, and it’s ready for your sandwich!
Tamago Sando Ingredients
I made a refreshing Honey Yuzu Chrysanthemum Tea to go with my creamy egg sandwich. The tart yuzu flavor really cuts through the rich egg sandwich. It’s a great drink for a sunny day like today.
Honey Yuzu Chrysanthemum Tea Ingredients
- Honey
- Chrysanthemum
- Yuzu Juice
- Hot Water
- Add Honey, Chrysanthemum, Yuzu Juice, and Hot Water into a pitcher.
- Mix well and add ice.
Easy Weekend Dinner: Taiwanese Pork Chop Noodle Soup
My mom used to make Taiwanese pork chops for dinner at least once a week. It’s actually one of the first recipes I ever learned when I moved out on my own. Now, they’re an easy, comforting weekend dinner for Dom and I.
Pork chops seem easy enough to make, but sometimes they can come out tough. To prevent that, I cut some slits in the fat on the edges to prevent curling during cooking. I also tenderize the pork chop by chopping it with the back of my knife. I marinade the pork chop for at least 30 minutes to really season and continue tenderizing.
Taiwanese Fried Pork Chop Ingredients
- 2 piece of Pork Chops
- 2 tbsp of Soy Sauce
- 3 cloves of Garlic chopped
- 1 tbsp of Sugar
- 1 tbsp Chinese Cooking Wine
- 1 tbsp of Five Spice Powder
- 1 cup of Sweet Potato Flour/ Tapioca Starch
To accompany the Fried Pork Chops, I’m making a variation of my 10-minute noodle soup using Kai Dong Sun Dried QQ noodles and sauces. It’s delicious, and saves so much time. The golden shallot oil and scallion sauce adds such a rich flavor to the soup. It’s my super easy go-to noodle soup that always hits the spot.
10 Minute Noodle Soup Ingredients
- Sun Dried QQ Noodles
- Four Season Scallion Sauce
- Golden Shallot Oil
- white pepper
- Dashi powder
- green onion
- cilantro
Reminiscing Date Night at Beatnik Bistro
Dom and I have been dating for 8 years now and married for almost 3. One thing that I find important for a relationship is date night. Life can get so hectic, sometimes it can be easy to neglect spending quality time together. This weekend, we decided to revisit one of our favorite date night spots when we first started dating: Beatnik Bistro. We haven’t been here in at least 2-3 years, so it was good to relive some early memories together.
I ordered the gnocchi and Dom got the Beef Dip. The gnocchi is as good as I remembered it: garlicky cream sauce, chewy gnocchi, and perfectly seasoned chicken. Their beef dip is piled high with shaved roast beef and is such a satisfying bite. We finished our meal with a creme brûlée with the perfectly crunchy caramelized crust.
If you come to Beatnik, I also recommend the linguini, coconut prawn, and the scallops!
Puppy Race and Stadium Snacks at Abbotsford Center
We came to Abbotsford Center to watch my niece – Poporina the Dachshund – participate in the Top Dogs Dachshund race! She’s 1 of 10 participants, and we’re here to cheer her on. Before the game starts, I couldn’t pass up on the Mini Donuts at Tin Lizzy. These donuts’s sweet aroma was filling up the stadium, and I simply had to have some. The sweet fried dough paired with the crunchy sugar on top made for a yummy treat before our event. We also grabbed a Lully’s hotdog so we can eat (hot) dogs while watching the dog race.
We’re so proud of Po for winning the race! We were so surprised because she’s much younger than the other dogs, but she really did great! We’re so glad to be able to witness her victory, and to be able to support Po and my sister for this event. It was REALLY FUN!
Late Night Noodles: Air Fried Steak And Kai Dong Noodles
We got home late from our little family gathering a bit hungry, so we decided a quick late night meal: Air Fried Steak and Kai Dong Dried Noodles. Don’t judge me, but air frying steak is so simple. It’s mess-free, perfect every single time, and so easy to put together. For the perfect late night meal, we combined it with a delicious, super quick bowl of Kai Dong noodles and a nice, jammy boiled egg. These noodles are made with the Handcut Noodles and a 1:1:1 mix of the 3 Kai Dong sauces.
Air Fried Steak Ingredients
- Your Favorite Steak Seasoning
- Steak
- Oil
- Season steak with your favorite seasoning
- Drizzle on a little bit of oil to make it extra crispy.
- Air Fry at 450 for 6 minutes on each side.
I’m excited to announce Kai Dong is restocking our products this week! A lot of you have been asking for this restock, and I’m so so so thankful for your love and patience. Since the last restock, I’ve personally gone through 9 bottles of Mama’s chili oil and 6 bottles each of scallion sauce and shallot oil. I really believe in bringing all of you products that I would use myself, and it’s safe to say, I love using these sauces. They’re such a deliciously convenient addition to you pantry, you’ll be using it on everything…like me!
Kai Dong Noodle Ingredients
This Kai Dong noodle recipe is available in my free ebook, available with every Kai Dong purchase. It’s a variation on my 10-minute spicy noodles recipes using Kai Dong sauces to recreate the same flavors.
- Mama’s Chili Oil
- Four Season Scallion Sauce
- Golden Shallot Oil
- Sun Dried Hand-cut Noodles
Prepping For The Coming Week with No Knead Bread
I make this no knead bread dough every Saturday night and bake them on Sunday, and it comes out perfect every week! This weekend, I’m making this bread with 2 different toppings: Olive, and Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomatoes. This easy bread recipe has been a game changer for me! It contains no oil, no sugar, uses slow rise yeast – plus, no knead!
This is my mom’s recipe, and she’d LOVE to hear about your tries at this no knead bread recipe. Let me know how you like it and what fillings to try next!
No Knead Bread Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups room temperature water
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
Homemade KBBQ: Perfect For Weekend Family Gatherings
For dinner, my parents are coming over for the ultimate Korean BBQ feast – AT HOME! Korean BBQ seems like a complex restaurant-only meal, but it’s actually super easy to do at home. It’s a meal that’s perfect for large family gatherings and parties with close friends, and so easy to prep.
During the day, I make a KBBQ marinade to let the meat soak in the flavor before dinner. This marinade is such a game changer! I use it not only for beef, but also for pork and chicken. I love that it’s not overpowering. The natural fruit juices of apple and pear provide a natural sweetness while making the meat super super juicy and tender. Whatever we don’t finish tonight, I store in a resealable bag to eat throughout the week.
Korean BBQ Meat Marinade Ingredients
- 1 apple
- 1 pear
- 1 onion
- 1 Ginger
- Garlic
- Soy Sauce
- Mirin
- Sesame Oil
- Black Pepper
- Honey
- Grate the apple, pear, onion, and ginger.
- Strain everything in a cheesecloth so the juices become extra pure
- Add Garlic, Soy Sauce, Mirin, Sesame Oil, Black Pepper, and Honey.
- Marinate the meat in the sauce for at least 30 minutes.
Don’t Forget The Banchon – Make Ahead Side Dishes
Of course, the perfect Korean BBQ night won’t be complete without a variety of side dishes, or banchon. Today, I’m making 4 different types of banchon: Korean Spinach Salad, Spicy Bean Sprouts, Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad, and Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad. These are all great side dishes to make in bulk and ahead of time. Whatever we don’t finish today, will last us through the week as lunchbox and dinner sides.
Korean Spinach Salad Ingredients
- 1.5 lb of Fresh Spinach (with the stems on)
- 4 cloves of Garlic minced
- 3 tbsp of Soy Sauce
- 3.5 tbsp of Sesame Oil
- 1 stalk of Green Onion chopped
- 2 tbsp of Sesame Seeds crushed
- 1 tsp of Sugar
- 0.5 tbsp of Korean Red Chili Flakes
- 0.5 tbsp of Korean Chili Paste
Spicy Korean Bean Sprout Ingredients
- 1 Green Onion (chopped)
- 1-2 Garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp of Sesame Oil
- 2-3 tsp of Gochugaru (Korean Red pepper Flakes)
- ¼ tsp of Sugar
- ¼ tsp of Black Pepper
- 1 tsp of Soy Sauce or Fish Sauce
- ½ tbsp of Crushed Roasted Sesame Seeds
Sweet and Sour Cucumber Ingredients
- 1 whole English Cucumber (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 Tbsp of Sugar
- 1 Tsp of Salt
Marinate
- 3 Tbsp of Rice Vinegar or Sushi Seasoning
- 1 tsp of Sugar
- 1 tsp of Salt
- 1 tsp of Sesame Seeds
- 1 Tbsp of Cilantro
Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad Ingredients
- 2 whole Cucumbers
- 4 cloves of minced Garlic
- 1⁄2 thinly sliced Onion
- 2 tbsp of Korean Chilli Paste
- 0.5 tbsp of Korean Chilli Flakes
- 1.5 tbsp of Sesame Oil
- 1 tbsp of Grounded Sesame Seeds
- 1.5 tbsp of Sugar
- 1 tsp of Salt
For more recipes using Kai Dong Ingredients, check out these easy dinner idea recipes:
