Learning to Cook (Everything) from Scratch

I have to admit. I am quite proud of myself! I have been looking up how to make all kinds of things from scratch because I can't find them here. For instance, did you know that vanilla extract is really easy to make at home? Google it. You will find that pure vanilla extract can be made with unflavored vodka and a vanilla bean. Awesome! and cheap! Plus, you'll never run out again! Every time the bottle gets low, you just refill the vodka and let it sit. Now I just have to find vanilla beans, but I've heard it can be done, even here in Seoul...

The Italian Dish

One of the other moms here says that she makes homemade ricotta cheese all the time. I haven't gotten brave enough to do that (though I probably will when I get desperate), but I did make refried black beans from scratch last week. I got brave one day and purchased my dried black beans from the back of a truck down the street from us. Then I soaked them over night, and mashed them (with a fork!) in some oil and sauteed garlic and onion. They definitely did not look like the kind of refried beans you get from a can--and therefore my children did not eat their burritos--but the flavor was really good and I enjoyed them. Unfortunately, this was also the night that Eric came home so sick (wish I'd known...I definitely would have saved it for a different night!), so I was the only one who ate my dinner. But, I still have two bags of soaked beans in the freezer ready to be re-fried. Also, I was able to make two or three more burritos with the beans I did cook and put them in the freezer for a night we needed a quick dinner, so Eric was able to enjoy them another night even though his appetite isn't up to par yet. For the recipe, go to Great Refried Beans

Simply Recipes

The other food I'm really excited about is popcorn! Honestly, I wasn't sure I would be eating any popcorn here in Korea. For those of you that really know me, you know that is a huge problem! But, on that first Costco trip, I did see the big box of microwave popcorn. So, I knew that when I was desperate, I'd be able to get my fix. Thankfully, though, I didn't buy it. I saw popcorn kernels in the international section of one of the local grocery stores, so instead, I googled stovetop popcorn and found a great recipe.  Now, I am enjoying delicious popcorn, and if Eric is really lucky, I may even get rid of the hot air popper when we get back to the States!

What Would I Bring?

One of the conversations I have with other women on staff is what we would bring if we could go back home and re-pack...I try not to think of it in a negative light, but more as what I would tell someone who was coming here for the first time. For those of you who already have plans to visit: we are very much looking forward to seeing you and we are also very much looking forward to what you can bring us! :)

1. Spices--I brought some Italian seasonings (though why I didn't go out and buy new, full jars I will never know...and guess what? They have Italian seasonings here!). I think I would bring every spice from my cabinet that I use regularly. I was able to find salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder easily. I thought I'd be able to find cayenne pepper easily...not so.

2. Baking supplies--I would bring baking soda, baking powder, vanilla extract, baking sheets, and cooling racks. I've found baking soda and powder but in very small amounts for about $5 each. I have yet to find any of the others. Measuring cups and measuring spoons are also impossible to find. And, they're small...I could have fit them in easily!

3. Broom--I know, this sounds weird, and it would be pretty impossible to pack, but the brooms here are really short and they hurt your back especially when you have wood floors and you sweep 3 times a day!

4. Refried beans--my kids love these and after 3 weeks without them, we went on the hunt for them at the international market in our neighborhood. We successfully bought the one and only can they had...for $4.50. If you'd ever told me I'd pay that much for a can of beans, I would have laughed in your face!

I know that there are many other things, but these are some of the small things that it probably would have been easy to throw in if I'd known. Oh well...you live and learn, right?

Food Stuffs

The first several years in our house, I was the one in charge of grocery shopping, and I was always trying to build up a small pantry. It drove Eric crazy that instead of buying just the two cans of chicken broth that I needed for the week, I would throw in an extra one “just in case”. About a year ago, he took over the grocery shopping. Strangely, he also started stock-piling. He has managed to completely fill our cabinets in the garage with rice, pasta, sauces, canned vegetables, fruits, and beans! We have been working on cleaning them out ever since we find out we are moving, but I think we’re still going to have chili twice a week for the next month to get rid of all of those kidney beans!! So, if you’re in need of something, stop at our house before you head to the store!
We also learned this week that seasonings can be very difficult to find in Korea, so we are planning on taking some Italian seasonings and Mexican seasonings with us because we tend to rely on those. We also decided that a waffle maker will make life easier for the kids. I don't think they go a week without eating waffles right now, and I think they're going to have a hard time transitioning to rice for breakfast!