snacks

Korean sweet rice cakes (gyungdan) are traditionally filled with red bean paste and coated in different grain or bean powders.  I created this rice cake recipe by chance when I was experimenting with different fillings and coatings and wound up with one that tastes like the famous ‘samoas’ girl scout cookie!  However, they are much healthier.  There are many types of Korean rice cakes, but this one is the easiest as it does not require ‘pounding’ with a pestle.  You simply make the 4-ingredient dough and boil the rice cake balls.  This particular version is filled with Nutella and coated with toasted coconut…yum!  Feel free to create your own unique variations.

Here in Korea, street breads are very popular.  These waffle-like breads are usually filled with red bean paste, chocolate, or flavored custard.  They come in all different shapes like fish shaped (bungeoppang) or even poop shaped (dongbang)!   In this simple recipe, I show you the technique for making your own Korean street bread at home.

Below, I am enjoying  some dongbang!  It’s cute isn’t it?

My precious!!

Hi everyone!

It's time to talk about 1 of my favorite things about Korea... that's right FOOD...specifically: Snacks!

Almost 3 months ago I traveled to Korea with other bloggers, the trip was awesome but we didn't really have much free time to do some shopping :( , on my last day I woke up really early to pack everything and to go a nearby supermarket to do some snack-shopping!! 
The supermarket was only a few blocks away from our hotel so I had enough time, I took my time there and I chose some stuff I had already tried like Pepperos, Ramen and Chocopies!, I also HAD to buy Doritos for my sister since she asked me for this when I told her about buying snacks. 

So, this is what I got :) 

Pineapple buns are a popular treat in Hong Kong.  They get their name from their shape and look, which resembles a pineapple.  What makes these buns so special is the sugar cookie topping, I had never tried anything like them before.  I made mine unique by adding cinnamon sugar on top, like a snicker-doodle.  These are delicious as a breakfast pastry or a snack, serve with Hong Kong Style Milk Tea for an authentic taste!

Servings: makes 8 buns

Ingredients:

For the Buns:

-1 cup white wheat flour

-1 cup whole wheat flour

-1 tsp salt

-2 Tbls sugar

-1 egg

When I was in Hong Kong recently, I drank milk tea everyday because it was so delicious!  I made sure to watch how they made it, so I could copy it back at home.  Milk tea is a dreamy blend of creamer, simple syrup, and strong brewed tea.

Hong Kong Style Milk Tea

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

-1 cup hot water

-1 tea bag (Lipton Yellow Label is authentic, ceylon or earl grey work well, but any black tea is fine)

-1 1/2 Tbls light coffee creamer, powder (unsweetened original)

-1 1/2 Tbls unflavored coffee syrup (simple syrup)

Direcetions

Kimbap is eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner here in Korea.  It is truly a staple in the Korean diet.  Usually, seaweed and white rice are wrapped around spam, egg, tuna, and vegetables.  In this version, I use mixed-grain rice, tuna, and vegetables.

Healthy Kimbap

Servings: makes 3 rolls

Ingredients:

-3 sheets of nori ‘gim’ for kimbap

-1 1/2 cups cooked mixed-grain rice, cooled

-1/2 tsp salt

-1 tsp sugar

-2 tsp rice vinegar

-1 small package of pickled radish and burdock root sticks

-1/2 small carrot, cut into thin strips

-1/2 package of firm tofu (I like the pulmuone brand shown below)