Pineapple Coconut Cornbread

I visited a friend in Seattle and had dinner at a local spot in Capitol Hill.  The restaurant served a slightly sweet version of cornbread that was just perfect for dessert.  I was inspired to make a similar version and headed to the internet to find a recipe.  Adding pineapple to cornbread was a new idea to me, but it apparently is not as novel as I had thought.  There was a good collection of this tropical cornbread, and after just a few minutes of searching, low and behold, the restaurant’s recipe was actually featured in a local newspaper.  It was a hit at our annual Independence Day BBQ

http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/plain-or-fanciful-cornbread-is-tasty-either-way/

The salty-sweet contrast and the texture are the highlights of this dish.  There is just a slight aroma of pineapple hiding behind the more predominant toasted coconut.  Next time, I think I will try a twist on the pineapple upside down cake.  Caramelized pineapple in addition to pineapple throughout the cake with boost that pineapple flavor.

For square baking dish.  Use 1 1/2 times recipe for 9X13 dish

1 cup all-purpose flour

11/8 cup medium-grind cornmeal

¾ cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1¼ teaspoon kosher salt

4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

4 eggs

1½ cups frozen corn, thawed (or canned corn, drained)

1 packed cup crushed canned pineapple, drained

¼ cup creme fraiche (or sour cream)

4 ounces grated cheddar cheese

Shredded sweetened coconut to garnish

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Grease and flour a 2-quart baking dish.

3. Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt.

4. Beat butter on high. Add eggs; beat well.

5. Beat in flour mixture on low speed just until combined.

6. Stir in corn, drained pineapple, creme fraiche and grated cheese.

7. Bake about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

8. Pile a generous amount of shredded coconut on top and bake at 400 degrees F for several additional minutes to lightly toast the coconut.

NOLA Eats

We spent a few days in New Orleans last month while B had a conference for work.  We stayed at the Riverwalk which turned out to be a convenient, centralized location for the activities and restaurants we were going to.  The weather held up nicely and we didn’t had a bad meal there!

Our first meal was at Mulate’s which was recommended by the concierge.  Very casual spot with live music. We ordered a cup each of crawfish etouffe and jambalaya, Cajun seasoned alligator bites and grilled fish for little S.  Little did we know that the grilled catfish off the kid’s menu was going to seasoned with spicy Cajun flavors!  Nevertheless, everything was really good and a great introduction to this wonderful food city.  Oh, and the bread pudding studded with raisins and covered in vanilla sauce was the best!  We didn’t think that we could finish it because it was so huge…but we were wrong!

The following morning, we spent some time meandering through the streets French Quarter and Jackson Square.  It was still pretty early and although there were quite a few people out and about, it was a very calm vibe.  We decided to wait in the take-out line for beignets at Cafe du Monde, which was so delicious!  Although, they reminded me very much of Thai donuts.  Stella loved them and could almost finish an entire one by herself!  Lunch was at the Gumbo Shop where we tried the seafood and the chicken/sausage gumbos.

While B was at the conference, S and I went to the Audubon Aquarium which was so much fun for little S.  There were exhibits for jellyfish, seahorses, frogs, otters and penguins.  There was a white alligator (not an albino because his eyes were black and he had a black spot on his back).  S liked the puffer fish, petting the sting rays, watching some sort of fish pop in and out of holes and the toddlers play area.  Such a great afternoon!

Dinner was at Pesche, one that was highly anticipated.  Seafood was delicious and not your typical preparations.  Sort of modern Southern I guess.  Not as earth shattering as I expected, but good.  I would try their sister restaurant for sure.

The following morning started off late with beignets (from the Riverwalk location which did not have a line at all) and a walk back to the warehouse district whee S and I had lunch at Cochon Butcher, a popular sandwich and deli spot.  I thoroughly enjoyed my Cubano sandwich but was a little put off that I could not order it with the jalapeno sauce on the side so that I could share it with S.  At any rate, I wouldn’t say it would be worth a special trip but really hit the spot before we headed out to the Children’s Museum which was close by.

The Children’s museum was a dream for S!  She loved the Gulf inspired play fishing boats, the miniature sized grocery store and restaurants and the pioneer area where French quarter in the 1700s came to life with a general store selling wheat, soap and coffee and a courtyard where she could do laundry using a washboards and help nurse some baby pigs.  So so cute!

Our favorite dinner in NOLA was a Bayona, where I had the a WONDERFUL quail salad.  The quail was tempura-fried accompanied by a perfectly balanced sweet and sour vinaigrette.  Little S devoured it too!

The next day was started off with a street car ride to the Garden District where we had a casual lunch at Milkbar, walked quite a ways to Creole Creamery for a well-deserved treat.  Little S got her favorite:  strawberry with rainbow sprinkles.  The grown-ups had a flight including Magnolia and Petit Four.  Dinner was not that impressive at JW Fins.  Too much hype for what it delivered.

Protected: January trips before baby

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The Countdown Continues

Four months from today marks the expected arrival of our little sweet pea (we’ve been calling her that for quite some time).  I have to say that the pregnancy was going very smoothly in the beginning.  No nausea or weird food cravings.  I had a few weeks of increased appetite that forced me to eat lunch at 10:30 every morning, but that has subsided.

The 8 week ultrasound revealed her little fingers and legs and a pretty clear side profile that mom and dad were excited to see.  She was situated with her head on my right side.

We revealed that we were pregnant to many of my friends on week 13 by hosting make-your-own grilled pizza and sundae party.  Some of our closer friends found out very early, including our friends who we saw at M&P’s wedding in August

By the 18th week ultrasound, sweet pea had done a 180 with her head on my left side.  It was at that ultrasound that we found out that we were going to be having a little girl (although it wasn’t that apparent to us based on the images).  B was right in that we were going to have a little girl.  He told me that day that he didn’t know anything about little girls since he had never lived with one.  I reassured him by saying that daddies have it easy with little girls.  They love their daddies and save the arguing for moms!

Towards the end of the first trimester, I wasn’t feeling tired, but I slept whenever I would lie down.  Regardless, I tried to stay active as much as I could, although I was easily winded.  I was very proud that I was able to conquer Angel’s Landing again, but this time 15 weeks pregnant.  Trekking upstream through The Narrows was also quite a feat with the extra weight.

15 weeks pregnant

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving week at week 20, I first felt sweet pea kick.  I was sitting at work when I suddenly felt 3 pokes on the left side of my belly.  I was certain that it was sweet pea!

Thanksgiving weekend was very special for B since it was the first time he felt her kick.  You could also see her poke out of my belly.  That was when B really started to talk to her, play music and even read her Paddington Bear, a book that her auntie bought her.

20 weeks pregnant

The following weekend at week 22, I was awoken by sweet pea in the morning.  I was lying on my right side, and she was kicking my right side.  I rolled onto my back, and over the course of a few minutes, she kicked in the middle of my belly, then on he left side.  Later that morning, B could feel her making circles, and I could see her swirl around my belly button.

Later that same week, I started suffering from sciatica which limited my mobility.  I have started walking more gingerly since it hurt to step onto my right foot.  I’m hoping that as sweet pea moves, it will alleviate the pain.

I have enjoyed being pregnant and I feel like I’m already bonding with my little sweet pea.  I love curling in bed to spend quiet time with her when I can.  B and I are spending a lot of time together at home which I appreciate.  And as much as I am enjoying our time together as a couple, I am trying to patiently wait for the day I finally get to meet sweet pea face to face.

Southeast Asia Travels part I: Penang

We have been back from South East Asia for almost 3 months now and it is so hard to sum up such a great experience in words-for me at least. My husband and I visited relatives, and it was especially special for my husband who left Vietnem at the young age of 3 when the country’s was quite uncertain. Reunions and homecomings are always very special, and I am so glad that we were able to do it.

Destination#1: Penang, Malaysia

I have been visiting my mom’s home town ever since I was a little kid. My mom lived in a shop house that is located in historic Georgetown, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site! It’s quite a trip for my mom to think that their everyday life as Chinese immigrants is now considered a significant part of Penang life and history. My mom’s childhood home on Beach St has been revitalized with shops and attractions to entice visitors who have discovered this little unassuming gem.

I have several relatives who still live in Penang and have seen it grow and change right before their eyes. The famous hawker stands have now relocated into food stalls situated in shopping malls, and high end shops are popping up to appeal to foreign visitors, primarily from Thailand and Hong Kong-a very different setting from what my mom grew up with.  Thankfully the essence of the food has remained intact during the urbanization.

Luckily, what hasn’t changed is Penang’s love for food! Visiting only Penang gave me a skewed view of Malaysian cuisine. I thought that what I was eating was available country-wide, but after a bit of research, I realized that Penang cuisine are specialties of the island. No wonder it’s so difficult to find the dishes I craved here in the States! Try finding Hokkien Mee and Cury Mee in San Diego!

Hawker selling Mee Goreng the traaditional way

Won Ton Mee

Laksa

Char Kway Teow

Hokkien Mee

I learned that Penang’s culture and cuisine are strongly influenced by Chinese immigrants like my grandparents. They arrived after the fisherman and portsmen occupied the areas closest to the waters. My cousin explained to me that that is why the Chinese communities are close to the water, but behind the fishing areas. Makes total sense! There is a strong British influence in Penang. Former British colonization is most apparent in the architecture rather than in the cuisine.

To round out this melting pot of cultures are Indians for mostly practice Hinduism and native Malays who are predominantly Muslim. Halal approved establishments are plentiful around the island.

It’s very interesting to me that in my mom’s day, it was possible to be financially successful without even learning Malay. My grandparents’ and mom’s generations are proof of that. My aunts and uncles went to schools where only Chinese was spoken. My mom never formally learned how to speak Malay. Businesses were run using English and often times, Chinese small business owners were able to survive with Chinese-only patrons. Times have changed now and Malay is now a mandatory language in schools, although Chinese schools still exist. My cousins work alongside many ethnicities, using English as a preferred language. As much as Penang has unified, there is still a very strong and proud heritage from every group that still lives on.

My mom’s family in Penang take food very seriously. If you are craving a certain food, my Aunt Amy will know where the best hawker is staking out. We go out to dinner, and right after we finish, we’re off to the outdoor market for supper! This visit was no different. Within 2 days, we devoured bowls of noodles and more noodles. My mom who had just come back from my aunt’s house in southern Thailand brought back the best mango with sticky rice in the region.

I never buy trinkets, and in fact, we rarely buy anything while we travel. Exploring the markets are for the sake of experiencing the local lifestyle rather than finding that perfect souvenir. The exception is food, of course! I love going to the local supermarkets to see the different produce and packaged foods. I’ve also tried to find cookbooks in English that highlight the local cuisine. I was lucky enough to find a Penang cookbook in an upscale shopping center on Guerny Drive:  Penang Heritage Food

I have yet to make a recipe from here, but even if I never cook anything from this book, I was worth getting it for my collection since Penang’s food is so dear to me. The photos, stories and history are wonderful. Now I will be able to share it with my friends at home.

Of course, I have inserted pictures to entice you to think about a visit to a little place called Penang where you can eat your way through traditional hawker stalls, delicious food courts and fine restaurants.  ENJOY!

Back Home

After almost a one month hiatus, I’m back on the computer again!  I just came home from travelling around SE Asia, primarily Vietnam, with B.  It was an insightful trip, being that it was the first time B had been back to Vietnam since his family left the country after the fall of Saigon.  B was very young and has no recollection of living there, but I know that he felt a connection with the people and surroundings there.

Although I am still quite jet-lagged and am now overcoming some sort of cold, I am revitalized and ready to go back to my normal life.  I picked up a new cookbook on Penang cuisine during my travels and I am on a mission to find some good Vietnamese and Chinese cookbooks.  I’m looking for one with good photos and most importantly-authentic.  Anyone out there have some suggestions?

More to come on our Asian travels…

death valley retreat

A weekend in Death Valley marks the 12th US national park we’ve visited together.  Like many people, images of hot, flat and barren landscapes came to my mind when I thought about Death Valley,  but I could not have been more wrong!  Hot?  Yes! But barren, no at all!  Dramatic changes in topography and beautiful sweeping views fill this huge park  It remoteness makes it an ideal camping destination since it’s an hour from any sort of other accommodation and a prefect winter getaway if you are longing for sun.  It served as a great distraction for us, as we are excitedly awaiting our Asia vacation that is a few weeks away….seems like an eternity though!

We spent Friday night in Barstow to cut down on our Saturday drive since we would be heading back to San Diego on Sunday.  We added a good 700 miles to my new car, now just over 4 weeks old with 2,000 miles!  The only other ‘significant’ town we passed through was Baker.  The road was spotted with a few ghost towns, but for the most part, we travelled alone on the road to the park.  It was a good thing we filled the gas tank before we left Barstow since the gas in the park was almost $6/gallon!

Our first view of the park was from Zibriskie Point:

A short jaunt down the trail was a fun little break after being in the car for 3 hours:

We then drove to the Badwater salt flats, the lowest point in the United States.  It’s amazing that Mt Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous US, was only 100 miles away from us.  This is where we had a little fun with our fisheye lens.

A quick drive through the Artist’s Palette and the Devil’s Golf Course, and it was already time to drive into the village for quick bite to eat and lemonade.  We finished our day hiking the Golden Canyon Trail and exploing the Mesquite Sand Dunes.

We drove out of the park to Beatty, a seemingly deserted and somewhat delapidated little town which it think is only in existance to rest weary travelers’ heads.  The main drag was filled with saloons and a few motels.  We settled in and was out early for a BBQ dinner.

We were up pretty early considering it was Daylight Savings that weekend (drat!) and out on the Mosaic Canyon Trail by 9AM for our last hike before entering civilization, refreshed and rejuvenated.

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a jaunt through the desert

B and I took advantage of the weekend and the cool winter weather and headed northeast to Joshua Tree.  We were fortunate that the unusual snow storm that dropped 12 inches did not affect our travel plans.  By the beginning of the weekend, all of the roads in the park were reopened.  It was the perfect way to my nearly week-old car to take the 3-hour drive.

The weather was sunny but cool in the low 60s.  The joshua trees seemed to be lined up in perfect rows, almost as if they were cultivated.  We took some easy hikes around Hidden Valley where we saw some other interesting vegetation and weekend warriors climbing the huge boulders.

We drove in a little further to Jumbo Rocks, clusters of giant rocks perfect for climbing and scrambling.  We took the hike, after looking at the ambiguous map, to Skull Rock.  We were not at al impressed, but the nature rail loop was nice.

Our final hike was to the 49 Lost Palms Oasis.  Palm trees and water after hiking through the dry and arid environment is something that you see in cartoons, but the cracks in the earth that allow water release is real.  The oasis was small, but I think that it was well worth seeing something since there aren’t too many around here as far as I know.

A highlight was driving out of the park as the sun set.  Serene, quiet, like being in another world….

We stayed with our friend who relocated to Rancho Mirage a few years ago.  He lives in a beautiful townhouse with a golf course for a backyard.  He drove us around the beautiful and over-the-top neighborhood before bringing us to Woody’s for DELICIOUS burgers!  The front of the restaurant was a simple burger joint with just a counter running along the kitchen.  Behind the counters, a jazz quartet was setting up for their first set.  The band was great, playing classics like Take 5 and Cantaloop as well as others that I didn’t recognize.  My music minor came in handy when our conversation moved toward blues influence in rock and opera, all over my Western burger-Angus burger topped with coleslaw, onion ring and BBQ sauce 🙂

After a day of driving, hiking and seeing sights, we were looking forward to a hot shower and the wonderfully comfy bed.  We slept for a solid 10 hours!  What a great weekend!

After being loyal to my first new car for 15 years, I took the plunge of getting a new car!  I got very comfortable with my blue CRV.  I was dependable, low maintenance and familiar.  I knew exactly how to parallel park it, how much pressure the brakes need, the seat was set up perfectly…but alas, we must move on.

I test drove just 2 different cars after we determined that we should get a non-sedan, considering that already had one and we are anticipating an expansion of our family soon.  I tried the RAV4 first, and I really like the power the optional V6 engine provided.  I’m not all into the bells and whistles of the interior, so the pretty basic aesthetic of the inside was enough for me.  In any case, it as a big step up from my old Honda anyhow.  To sweeten the deal, there were great incentives to close out the ’11 models even though there were very minimal changes to the new model.

The all-new CRV didn’t really impress me.  They seemed to have focused on the interior and left this giant-feeling car with an engine with just 40HP more than my older and smaller CRV.  There was no power or kick….fancy on the inside, but couldn’t perform.

In the end, we got a 265HP V6 sport for the same price as Honda’s EX-L model, definitely the better choice for me!  I’ve got my radio presets programmed, and I’m still trying to get used to the extra power-almost doubled of my last car…but that really isn’t a problem;)

it’s plane on!

Just purchased our tickets to Asia for our trip this coming April.  Can’t wait to start planning yet another trip, his time to Bangkok, Penang and Vietnam.  Much decision-making o be made, but at least it won’t be as complicated as Argentina.