Korean Spicy Tofu Soup

The other night I was in the mood for something warm and hearty. The weather has been a little chilly lately, and I felt that soup would be perfect for dinner. Creamy? No. Veggie? Nah. I couldn't quite pinpoint the craving. Until I spotted the tofu in the back of my fridge. I decided to make this Korean spicy tofu soup, soon dubu. Husband and I love it. It is a typical Korean comfort food dish. We always go out for it and I have never made it at home, although I've been meaning to try for forever. It is traditionally made in individual hot stone pots and it is bubbling and sizzling when served at restaurants. I do have a stone pot, but it is small and I wanted to make a big batch of the soup. So I used a regular pot. For my first try, it turned out great! I had to make a few substitutions and do without some ingredients, but it was barely noticeable. The recipe below is the full recipe. I will definitely be making it more regularly.

My substitutions: I used firm tofu chopped into cubes instead of a tube of soft tofu. Also, I had no chili oil, so I heated a little olive oil in a pan and added dried chili pepper flakes. Let this sizzle for a bit and it makes a basic chili oil.

Ingredients:                                                                                            

1 tube of extra soft tofu

6 oz. ground beef

A few portabello mushrooms chopped

1 chopped yellow onion

1/2 cup of chopped green onions

Spoon of minced garlic

1 tbsp miso paste (deng-jang)

1.5 tsp of red pepper paste (gochu-jang)

Chili oil

Sesame oil

Seafood soup powder

Directions:

In a bowl mix together the miso paste, pepper paste, chili oil, sesame oil and garlic. In a pot heat up a little oil. Add in the paste mixture until it's heated and becomes soft. Then add in the ground beef and cook over medium heat. After the beef is cooked through, add 4 cups of water. (I used half chicken broth and half water). I then added a few spoons of seafood soup powder. [Usually this soup has some seafood in it, but I prefer it without the clams and shrimp. The seafood powder adds the right amount of flavor without it being fishy]. Cover and bring to a boil. After it begins to boil, add the tofu, onions and mushrooms and a last drop of chili oil. When it's cooked through, turn off the heat and crack an egg in it right before serving. 

Serve with a side of rice.

Super Bowl XLIV

Another Super Bowl has come and gone. This is definitely one of those days in the year when all diets go out the window. Husband and I hosted a party and yes, there was a lot of fried chicken along with pizza, sausage, meatballs, wings, chips and dips. I decided to not care about eating poorly, but I made myself feel a little better by cutting up some veggie sticks. This week I'm back on the diet...for now!

Long Stemmed Calla Lilies

I don't know what makes me more happy, fresh flowers around the house or beautifully scented candles. Aren't these long stemmed Callas so pretty? It's an easy way to spruce up the place. Affordable too! $3.49 for one bunch at Trader Joe's!

Sauteed Kale

So I finally did it. I went out and bought the dreaded kale. Mom has been trying to get me to eat it for years, but I thought it was bitter and it grossed me out. Yes, I know it is an amazing superfood filled with tons of nutrients and that is also has no fat, calories nor cholesterol. But I had a hard time getting past it's tough texture and unpleasant flavor. Until now! Lately, I've been seeing it on different menus and the way it is prepared actually sounds tasty. M Cafe de Chaya a restaurant here in LA that offers healthy microbiotic cuisine has several kale items on it's menu. I'm in love with the green kale lemonade and the kale with spicy peanut sauce. I recently got my hands on the recipe, so I hope to make it at home and do a post on it soon.

Tonight I made pork chops for dinner (I know, not so healthy) but it ended up being a side to the kale. I heated a little olive oil in a sauce pan and added some minced garlic. I then added 4 stalks of kale that had the leaves ripped off the stem. Discard the stems. I then added a little vegetable stock to the pan and covered it with a lid to soften it up a bit. After about 5 minutes or when the liquid inside has evaporated, I turned off the heat and added a little salt and pepper. My gourmet friend, NP, suggested adding a little bit of vinegar to help with the bitterness, so I added a little red wine vinegar at the end. Then I sprinkled it with sesame seeds and served it with a "side" of pork chop. Husband loved it! He ate it all up first before even touching the pork chop.

I'm really excited about this and several friends have offered up their kale recipes. I can't wait to try them all and I promise to post when I do.

Eat Less & Move More

I am finally back after not writing for almost a month! I have been a little busier since the new year has begun. I've been seeing more clients and I am working to uphold some of my resolutions for 2010. One of the goals at the top of my list is the most recurring one: Lose some major LBs!! I'm sure most of you can understand this one and agree that it is not easy. I was talking to a friend, NP, last night and we both agreed that we are eaters and we enjoy cooking, wining and dining! This is never going to change, so instead of depriving ourselves, we need to just step up the exercise regimen.

So what I've been doing this whole month instead of posting here is attempting to eat less and move more. That means cooking less delicious foods, eating more of boring fiber and protein, counting calories on Calorie King and working out on my new Wii Fit everyday. J and I got the Wii Fit for Christmas from my Middle Sister and I'm determined to make good use of it. I create my own routines full of cardio, yoga and strengthening exercises. I've created a weight goal and each time I use it, it weighs me and tells me my BMI. It has been pretty addicting and it beats going to the gym. Of course I can't rely on a video game alone, so I've decided to try walking for 30 min in the morning with my Husband and hiking a couple times a month. We recently went on the Hollywood Sign Hike to see the sun rise and it was a really great workout, not to mention also so romantic! It is a short hike that is not too steep and it offers a beautiful view of Los Angeles and the Valleys. I am totally addicted and plan on going with my Dad this weekend.

So I apologize for being so delinquent in my posting, but you see, I'm still trying to lose that honeymoon weight. I plan on writing more about working out and also more about healthy eating choices. So Happy New Year once again and here's to being healthy, successful and happy in 2010!

The sun rising over downtown LA

Korean New Years Day Tradition

Dduk-Mandu-Guk is a "must eat" on New Years Day for Koreans everywhere. We've been eating it for breakfast/brunch every January 1st for as long as I can remember. It is a delicious soup that consists of beef, little chewy rice cakes, and dumplings. It is garnished with a little bit of green onions, egg and roasted bits of seaweed. It is your typical Korean comfort food. It goes really well with a bowl of rice. My mother also cooks a mini feast to go along with this soup and we take the time to pay respects to our grandparents who have passed away. Husband and I also pay our respects to my parents (this gesture is called seh-beh) who in turn shower us with wise words and blessings (and if you're lucky, money!) for the new year.

Happy 2010!

It is not only a new day, a new month or even a new year...but it is a new decade! It is a time for new beginnings. We are in charge of our own lives and at this point anything is possible. I wish for everyone good health, success and happiness. Here are some tips on how to start your new year productively. Take responsibility for your own life and happiness.

1. Change your perception. Your past failures do not define your future.

2. Increase your learning.

3. Eliminate wasteful activities and people that drain your energy with their indecisiveness and negativity.

4. Set realistic goals and don't be so hard on yourself.

5. Get support. Hold yourself accountable.

6. Take action now. There will always be reasons and excuses to not do something.

Live Now, Do Now!