Dim Sum Fun

My most recent issue of Cuisine at Home arrived about 2 weeks ago. This is always a joyous event for me as it is usually doesn't disappoint. This issue the large article on Dim Sum caught my eye and I just had to try it!

Some of you may be asking yourself "what the heck is Dim Sum Emily"? They are Chinese dumplings that are filled with meats or vegetables. They are usually steamed or boiled and are right up my alley because they are like little snack foods!

After reading the article I decided that I needed to get a bamboo steamer. They did recommend a couple of other methods but for whatever reason I decided I needed to be "authentic". I check out Bed, Bath and Beyond and Target and couldn't find one. I was thinking I was going to have to hit up William Sonoma and spend a small fortune when a friend who was attending the same child's birthday party that day suggested the Cost Plus Word Market a few stores down. Am I the last person on Earth to know about this store? What a cool place! I didn't have a lot of time so I can't wait to go back but they had the steamer and some cool chop sticks for about $15.oo.

So...on to the actual food. I didn't brave making my own dough this time around, although it looks doable, instead I opted for the pre-made wonton wrappers and made all three protein dumplings in the article. Beef & scallions, shrimp, and pork potstickers. All three had a different cooking method. The beef was boiled, the shrimp steamed, and the pork fried & steamed.

The beef and pork were very good, the pork being my favorite. The shrimp was really not good at all, I found it flavorless. The dipping sauce of basically sweetened soy sauce was also very good.

Peter of course didn't care for any of them but kind of liked the pork. I do have to give him credit for trying them though.

I had a blast with this one, it had been a long time since I had taken on a challenging cooking project. A word of caution, you will need a good bit of time if you choose to try it. It took me about 3 hours from start to finish. Wrapping these little treats takes a loooooong time and it is not easy to make the cute little packages in the article pictures. They also seem to freeze very well, so that made the time worth it as well.

Stay tuned...

I know I have been slack on blog posts in recent weeks. To be honest I haven't had much time to sit down and do it!!! I have a post of about the Dim Sum I made last Sunday in the works, so please stay tuned!

An ultra cool birthday gift

On Thursday, March 5th I will turn 30 and I am amused at the comments I get from people that learn I have this milestone birthday coming up soon. Most people ask me how I feel, some groan and say I on my way over the hill, and some smile and say 30 was their best year ever and life has been grand ever since.



I am warmed by those that smile and say they loved turning 30. I do not have any negative feelings about turning 30, not a one. I feel that in my short life I have accomplished a lot of things, and still have a lot to do. I feel filled up everyday with the thought of how lucky I am to have lived this life and am excited for what the future holds. I have the best family and friends, both near and far, that a girl could ever ask for. I have a loving and hilarious husband that I love a little bit more everyday, a beautiful home, a stable job and a wiener dog that is more human to me than she is K9. Life is pretty close to perfect.



As I reflect on this birthday I have been thinking a lot about the person who was there from the beginning, my mom. Sometimes I think we are nothing a like. She is quirky, spontaneous, funky, and silly (just to name a few), and I have thought for a long time that I am none of these things. I am conservative, a planner, a worrier. However, the more I think about her I am reminded what a beautiful person she is and that I really do have all of those traits as well. My mom gave me the tools to be the person that I am today, she has loved me through the angst of my teenage years, the trials of young adulthood, and the joy of marriage. She has helped me find myself, and although I am sure she was frustrated more times than not, she has loved me fiercely through it all. It has been a great 30 years of being her daughter and I look forward to many many more.

So...you maybe saying to yourself, this is all very sweet Emily but what was the cool birthday gift? It is a small gift from my mom that is making me so happy! She has many talents, cooking is one and I got that passion from her, but the other is sewing. I can not sew a stitch and I am so jealous that she can! So for my birthday she made me these two really cool kitchen aprons.




I love homemade gifts, especially those that I will really use and I especially love that they came from my mom. I am looking forward to using them soon, hopefully this afternoon.

Here's to turning 30 and being excited, and to a great mom who has taught me so many life lessons.