Heat

Kimchi Hot Pot with Ginger/Gimchi Jjigae

I’m kind of spoiled by Oregon weather – gorgeous Summer and mild Winter. Utah friends letting me know that it has been crazy cold and tons of snow down there so I should not complain but it’s has been little chilly lately. We also have friends in Mineso-tta who act as if 30 below is nothin to them and probably is. My husband who did a contract gig there in beginning parts of 21st century speaks like a Minnesotan “Going up north to the lake, you want to come with?” Ah…no.. I’m good.

On a cold night like this though, you desire some heat. This dish hit the spot. I made a vegetarian version of kimchi hot pot soup but thinly sliced pork would add depth to this dish, so easy and nomo nomo mashisso! (Korean - very, very delicious!). 

Kimchi Hot Pot  for Two people

• Sesame Oil  1 Tablespoon
• Napa Cabbage (baechu) kimchi 3/4 cup to 1 cup sliced with its liquid.
• Garlic 2 cloves minced
• Water 2 cups
• Sake 1 Tablespoon (optional)
• Soy sauce 2 teaspoons
• Soft tofu half package sliced – add rest of tofu after you finish eating the first batch.
• Thinly sliced dried ginger 1-2 g (optional)
• Green onion or garlic chives (にら）2 stalks, cut into 2 inch lengths.
• White sesame seeds 1 Tablespoon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Korean chili paste about 1/2 Tablespoon (optional)

1. Heat sesame oil in a stone pot or heavy bottom pan.
2. Add kimchi and garlic sauté for 1 minute at medium low heat.
3. Pour in water and  bring to boil.
4. Add sake, soy sauce, tofu, ginger, and green onion. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
5. Salt and pepper to taste. If you like a more spicy flavor, add Korean chili paste a little at a time till desired spiciness is achieved. 
6. Top with sesame seeds and julienned green onion soaked in ice cold water for 2-3 minutes as garnish (optional). 

If you would like to use pork in this dish – sauté 1/2 pound (or less, more whatever) thinly sliced pork with kimchi and then just follow the recipe from there. I sometimes add miso paste to bring out umami flavor. I used mild kimchi because my husband can’t take the heat. Although adding ginger is optional, it makes your body warm and supposedly burns more fat – part of magic formula. The bottom of food drying net. It is open so that air can flow easily.

I stopped by Trader Joe’s  the other day and couldn’t resist buying lavender roses. I never stick to the grocery list. The roses are pretty yet have no fragrance, I feel like I over paid.

There were many frosty mornings.Looks like snow, feel like…brrrr.Even the Burning Bush is extinguished by the frost.

Spiders must like fire hydrant as much as dogs do. I saw four spider webs.

A handsome middle aged man left a handsome shoe print. “Honey it’s too cold, let’s go home!”

My husband took me not to the lake but to Baskin Robins. Really? In this weather? Yap! We were the only two customers there.
His pick is almost always vanilla or strawberry. He’s simple minded.

This poster is over 20 years old. Hummm they must be like 30 years old now? I wonder if they have a contract that says Baskin Robin ice cream is free for life?

Grilled ginger garlic shrimp oven rice noodle for supper last night – low fat ginger diet. I already am craving for sweets (the ice cream didn’t count). I got on the scale this morning…I lost..3 ounces...what?! It must be slow acting magic formula.