Gochugaru Girl can’t quite believe the weather today.
The children say that London today is like being in Kuala Lumpur.
chicken
Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup
Gochugaru Girl invited some friends for an early Chinese New Year dinner last night.
Chinese New Year traditionally lasts for two weeks. This year it falls on 19 February. We simply decided to start celebrating (i.e. eating) a bit earlier.
Anniversary Chicken or 口水雞 – Part 2
This is a continuation of the previous post introducing 口水雞.
Taken individually, 口 is mouth, 水 is water and 雞 is chicken. This alludes to the fact that this dish is mouth-wateringly good.
Anniversary Chicken or 口水雞 – Part 1
Gochugaru Girl is saying goodbye to the old year with a spicy chicken dish.
2014 has been year of anniversaries, and here are a few of my favourites.
Samgyetang (삼계탕)
Gochugaru Girl has been waiting for this day since she visited Tosokchon Restaurant* in Seoul this April. This is because she has really wanted to make samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) at home.
Traditionally in Korea, samgyetang is eaten on the three hottest days of the year according to the lunar calendar. I am hoping that today’s predicted ‘hottest day of the year’ will be repeated at least twice before the summer ends.
Andong Jjimdak (안동 찜닭)
Gochugaru Girl does not believe in reinventing, deconstructing or otherwise meddling with classic dishes. She believes that classic dishes are classic because everyone loves them just as they are.
The dilemma is this: how do you serve a whole cut up chicken to three generations, aged 14 to 75, some of whom like chicken with bones and some of whom think bones are just for wild animals to chew on?
Chicken and Rice Salad with Roasted Vegetables
Gochugaru Girl co-leads a women’s Fellowship Group. In some countries, this is called a Cell Group. For anyone unfamiliar with these terms, it is not what you think. No one is obsessed with The Ring or is My Precious. Neither has it anything to do with Biology or imprisonment.
Our group meets weekly to study certain passages from the Bible and to pray for each other. Once a term, we have an extended session ending with lunch. The only way to manage the catering without getting hysterical is to do some of the preparation ahead of time.
Chicken Congee
Gochugaru Girl is going to the airport this afternoon to receive her parents, who are travelling in from the Far East. For their light supper, after a long flight, she has prepared the one dish that sends chills down the spine of Mr Gochugaru, who did not grow up eating it.
I am, of course, referring to porridge or congee. This is very unlike the porridge you get from oats, rather it is made with rice. It is the one dish we Orientals instinctively turn to when under the weather. Indeed, congee is so easy to digest that it is ideal for everyone from toddlers to the elderly.