Chicago Memories

Some pictures from my Chicago last month

Walking along Millennium Park

So focused for breakfast in Meli Cafe

Went to the Craft Beer Fest with some friends

Baseball Night

After a year of of living in St. Louis, I finally went to my first Cardinals game! I went with the girls in my department, a fun spur of the moment thing. I’m still on painkillers and antibiotics from my wisdom teeth removal so no alcohol for me but it was still fun to go. I’m not a big baseball fan, the only games I’ve ever gone to were with co-workers when I'm out traveling but I still enjoy watching. It's a lot more fun watching when you're actually there than watching on TV. I don't think I've ever actually stayed for a whole baseball game before, they're just so long and I'm basically a grandma who likes to go to bed early. But all the girls I went went agreed so we left after the 7th inning. I found out the next day that after we left, it got more exciting and the Cardinals ended up winning! Next time!

Dim Sum

I haven't had Dim Sum in so long, I had to use my sister visiting as an excuse to get some! St. Louis doesn't have too many authentic Asian restaurants but I went to Mandarin House Restaurant in Overland and it was delicious, just enjoy the pictures. 

Basic Chicken Salad for Lunch

Since I look like a chipmunk with my swollen cheeks I've been basically on a liquid diet. It's only been a couple of days but I'm already getting tired of it. Since I'm going back to work, my sister made me a huge batch of chicken salad since I can still chew with my front teeth. she made me a basic chicken salad with eggs and smashed peas and then I can add extras like avocados or mustard to change it up a little

Defrosted peas

Shredded Chicken Breasts

Hard boiled eggs

Chicken Salad!

Recovery Tomato Basil Soup

On Friday I got all four of my wisdom teeth removed. Actually the actual removal process was not bad, I was in and out within an hour. Although there's no actual pain due to the pain killers I'm taking, I can only eat soft foods. That means only soup or smoothies for me. My sister's been with me for a couple of days to take care of me and cook for me. One of my favorite things so far that she's made was Tomato Basil soup with noodles.

 First I blanched the tomatoes

After the skin broke, the tomatoes are put into a ice water bath to shock the tomatoes and make them easier to peel

Just a couple bowls of peeled and cut tomatoes

After all the tomatoes are peeled and cut, they're cooked down

Any large chunks are blended

Add basil

Finally, add heavy cream, noodles and Bon Appétit!

St. Louis Peruvian Food

This week was Restaurant Week for Downtown St. Louis so me and my sister went to try Mango. For Restaurant Week, multiple restaurants offer specials of a three course meal for $25. I've never eaten Peruvian food before so I was excited to try some dishes. I ordered Grilled Beef Hearts as my appetizer. 

The heart was grilled perfectly, they were very flavorful but the sides I believe were yuca fries and hominy which didn't have any seasoning. Eaten alone, the yuca and hominy tasted really bland but eaten together with the grilled heart, it all makes sense. 

My main course was a chicken curry type dish, It was my favorite of the meal. I'm not sure what the sauce was made up of but I could taste walnuts, olives, potatoes, and chicken. I had to restrain myself to not eat all of it. It would be good with rice, bread, basically anything. 

Dessert was a vanilla sponge cake with dulce de leche. I've never had dulce de leche before but this dish has made me convert. The light sponge cake combined with the creamy filled was perfect. 

Nian Gao

Nian Gao is a cake that's made from glutinous rice that's typically made for special occasions. I'm always asked to make some for the holidays so I made some for 4th of July!

Nian Gao

1 stick unsalted butter, melted (and cooled to room temperature)

1 1/4 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups milk, warmed to a little hotter than a fever
1 pound (16 ounces) glutinous rice flour (the green bag with the 3 elephants on it)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 (18.75 ounce) can red bean paste or sweetened red beans

1, Mix all ingredients except for red bean 2. Drop red bean paste into mixtures 3. Bake at 350F for 1 hour and 10 minutes