We tried this straightforward recipe from Maangchi: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/oi-muchim Our modifications: first, we used 3 Persian cucumbers instead of 1 English cucumber. Second, we omitted the onion. Finally, we added the optional ingredient, about 1 tsp sugar. This was a quick and tasty recipe, probably our favorite version of this Korean cucumber dish. (July 2025)
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SkinnyTaste’s Hamburger Helper with minced turkey
My husband and I had a craving for Hamburger Helper from our childhood, but we wanted to make a healthier, scratch version. We tried this SkinnyTaste recipe: https://www.skinnytaste.com/homemade-hamburger-helper/. Our modifications: first, instead of beef, we used 3/4 lb of minced turkey and 1/4 tsp Kashmiri low-heat ground pepper (instead of paprika). We also sopped up…… Continue reading SkinnyTaste’s Hamburger Helper with minced turkey
Dominican onion, apple, and spice tea (el té de cebolla)
I am recovering from a weeks-long illness that has left me with a lingering cough. A friend shared her grandmother’s Southern home remedy, an onion simmered in water with a wide variety spices and aromatics. I felt inspired by this Dominican recipe: https://loisa.com/blogs/comida-real/dominicans-are-boosting-their-immune-systems-with-this-traditional-onion-tea, which I modified by adding the wide variety of spices and aromatics…… Continue reading Dominican onion, apple, and spice tea (el té de cebolla)
Burmese sour soup with chayote and catfish (chin-yay hin, version 2)
This is a Burmese recipe from my friend’s sister Ma Thicht, who is an incredible home cook. Basic soup ingredients: 1 medium bottle gourd (or two chayote squash), peeled and cut into 1/2” bite-sized slices; bamboo shoot tips, sliced into 1/4” lengthwise slices (see Note 1 below); 2 tsp (or up to 1 Tbsp) shrimp…… Continue reading Burmese sour soup with chayote and catfish (chin-yay hin, version 2)
Simple romaine lettuce salad
We made this simple salad to accompany soy-honey chicken drumsticks and jasmine rice. The recipe was simple, with a light hand at dressing: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/281305/simple-romaine-salad/ (July 2025)
Seared lemon-pepper chicken breasts
This NYT recipe sounded intriguing, so we tried it this evening: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026851-lemon-pepper-chicken-breasts?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share We served it with roasted broccolini and jasmine rice (not shown). This was enjoyable to eat, but we found the lemon butter garlic sauce heavy and gratuitous. This was a tasty dish. (May 2025)
Lemon herb roasted chicken with potatoes and asparagus
We spotted this recipe from Instagram and decided to try it: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIaSusnhCLA/?igsh=MTFsb3hkZjNpY210OA== The instructions were scant (and sometimes inconsistent with the video), but we followed the ingredient list in the second photo (below). Our modifications: first, due to our overly sensitive smoke alarm, we used canola oil instead of olive oil based on our overly…… Continue reading Lemon herb roasted chicken with potatoes and asparagus
Baked ziti with roasted cauliflower, bell pepper, and shallots
We love making casseroles for Sunday dinners and weekday lunch, so we tried this Cookie + Kate recipe: https://cookieandkate.com/baked-ziti-recipe-with-roasted-vegetables/ Our modifications: first, to reduce sodium, we mixed 24 oz Rao’s marinara with 8 oz no-salt tomato sauce to make 32 oz (4 cups) of red sauce. We also added crushed red pepper flakes (approx. 1/2…… Continue reading Baked ziti with roasted cauliflower, bell pepper, and shallots
Instant Pot minestrone soup
We had a craving for minestrone soup. We are still new to Instant Pot, so we decided to try this recipe. The soup turned out well overall. Our modifications: first, we used lacinato kale, stems removed and hand-torn. Second, we found the soup too chunky (esp. with the 3/4 cup ditalini pasta) and added an…… Continue reading Instant Pot minestrone soup
Maangchi’s updated Korean steamed egg in an earthenware pot (ddeukbaegi gyeran jjim)
We tried Maangchi’s simpler recipe today: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/ttukbaegi-gyeranjjim Our modifications: we used 4 large eggs and added 1 tsp fish sauce to 1 cup chicken broth. This was a more straightforward dish than her original 2011 recipe, and more broth got absorbed into the egg mixture. (Apr. 2025)
Cooking Adventures 