1.
Nam Sod
It's a yummy, spicy Thai dish. It's minced chicken or pork, hot chilies, peanuts, cucumbers, red onion, cilantro, lemon grass, sugar and fish sauce mixed together and served cold on a bed of lettuce. Thai Garden in Keene, New Hampshire makes the BEST version.2. Desensitized garlic
Peeled garlic cloves in a brine/olive oil solution. The label claims that there's no after taste or bad breath, but I personally reek of garlic for a day or two if I eat this in large quantities (which I always do).
3. Wasabi paste
I like to mix this in everything. Ranch dressing. Mustard. Ketchup. Ramen soup. Mayo. I even put some in the jar of desensitized garlic to give it a kick.4. Hot 'n Spicy V8
Mmmmmmmmm....Spicy vegetable goodness...5. Green bean casserole and pork chops
These need to be eaten together, and preferably the pork chops will be coated with Shake 'n Bake. Pork roast is an acceptable substitute for the pork chops. And make extra so you can have it for dinner two nights in a row (Like I did last night).6. Newman's Own Light Lime Vinaigrette
This will turn a bland plate of...anything, really...into something spectacular.7. Ramen soup
I use one of the hot varieties of ramen--Top Ramen Chili, or Maruchan makes Picante Chicken and Picante Beef. Make the noodle soup according to directions. I only add 2/3 of the flavor pack. Then I mix in half a teaspoon or so of Gilroy Farms Stir Fry Blend (a mix of crushed garlic and ginger). Then I finish it with a splash of sesame oil (which I just realized I'm out of!). If I have green onions in the house I slice a few and float them on the top. It takes your ramen from poor college student cuisine to a noodle stand in Beijing with very little effort.8. Ben & Jerry's Oatmeal Cookie Chunk ice cream.
There are no words...9. Doner Kebaps
I used to eat these a lot in Germany. They're very similar to a Gyro. It's soft, fluffy bread flattened and slightly toasted filled with crispy lamb fresh off the spit. In Europe you'll see the spits right behind the counter. They shave off meat for each individual order, so you always get nice crispy bits. The lamb is topped with "salad"--lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion and then dressed with a yogurt sauce similar to Greek tzatziki sauce.10. Italians
You can only get these in Maine. They're sort of like a sub. Sort of. But not really. The bread is like a really big hot dog bun--softer and less crusty than a sub roll. There is no such thing as lettuce on italians. A standard italian consists of ham, white American cheese (orange cheese is NOT an option), sour pickles, tomatoes, green pepper, black olives, onions and is dressed with salt, pepper and olive oil. And no matter how hard you try, the ones you make at home never taste like the real thing.There are a million other things I could add to this list (which is why I've gained 30 pounds in 6 months), but these are a pretty good representation of the 10 things I couldn't live without.
Oh, and before I go--here's Amelia eating some of the Hello Kitty Pocky I mentioned in the last post:
3 posts with references to food and the only things that put my tastebuds into hyperdrive were #5 and #8 from this post. You are WAY too fancy for me. . . and Asian. Are you sure you are from America?
ReplyDeleteBrandi,
ReplyDeleteYOu are more adventerous that I am!!! or maybe you have better taste! LOL I do not think I would ever try Wasabi paste, I do However love garlic. HUMM maybe someday I will be as cool as you :)
You know what you should have? Korean ramen soup. Just as cheap but incredibly spicy. My mom won't make it with the spice packet. I'll see if Cortney can get me some and I can send it to you. There are tons of Korean markets in the area. They should travel well.
ReplyDeleteI don't eat a lot of Asian food. I cook some Americanized versions - bulgogi, satay, fried rice, egg rolls and a couple of others. I don't like spicy so I always stick to the mee krab or pad thai at the Thai restaurants. There are a bunch of good ones in the area. I go to the chains though. hehehe My sister and her ex did a lot of exotic foods though and would go to the restaurants where the waitstaff could barely speak the language. :)
I don't eat a lot of the Polish foods the inlaws cook either. I am always up for dessert though! Polish has much better dessert than the Asians. Red Bean paste ice cream? Seriously? I hear it's good, but I pass every time.
Brandi, Why didn't we hand out when you were here? I want to come visit you for the food experiences. You have to call me. I need some of your asian recipes. They sound so great!!
ReplyDeleteWow Brandi -- I was just reading through old posts and realized that I must have subconsciously embedded this post in my brain, because about a week ago I posted a picture of a pint of Ben and Jerry's and under it wrote, "There are no words".
ReplyDeleteI swear I did not intentionally copy you, although if I were to rip someone off, you'd be a good choice.
Sorry (if I really just forgot) or "Holy Crap -- we have linked brains!" if this was coincidental.