Can't live without my Joe

Cup o Joe that is!


UCC 3 in 1 coffee packets: During my recent trip to Hong Kong I discovered my current caffeine obsession. Not being able to find anywhere for coffee besides Starbucks, I desperately turned to 7-11. What has it come to when I must chose between a powder coffee mix or a microwave cup of pre-made coffee?! Yikes! To my surprise, not only did I love the coffee packets, they turned out to be incredibly convenient. During the trip I kept packets in my purse for emergency pick me ups. They were perfect on my last snowboarding trip and would be great at any camp site!

UCC is available at most Asian markets. Each box of 10 servings costs $3.00 which is less than a mocha at your local coffee house.


Dutor Coffee Co: Since visiting Tokyo in April of 2007 I have been awaiting the expansion of Dutor to the US.

One of my few childhood memories is of mom sipping coffee at the dining table reading or working. I was so facscinated by all of it, the pretty cups, the lipstick, her perfectly feathered and hightlighted hair and heels she wore every day. She would take her last sip and place the cup on the matching saucer, straighten out the dress she had on and depart, click-click-click all the way to her car. And I would think, when I grow up...

Two decades later here I am sipping on coffee in my dress and heels, just like mom.

My favs list!

What do I think about as I lay in bed waiting for sleep? Well, food most of the time. Here is a list of my addictions that keep me up at night wondering when I'll get my next fix.

Zebra mocha
Where to get it: Tarek's Caffe at 901 Columbus @ Lombard
Comments: It best hot and only when Tarek makes it himself. It must be the extra love he puts in. 901 is a comfy little cafe. You can watch movies on the cushy sofa, read on the bench next to the window or sit outside with an iced drink on sunny days. Luckily in North Beach the sunny days are not hard to come by and you can often find Tarek outside hamming it up with customers.

Canelé de Bordeux

Where I get them: La Boulange
Comments: These are so good with morning coffee and difficult to eat just one. I love the custard center with the chewy crust. It's a treat saved for quiet Sunday mornings.




Pork Buns
Where I get them: Lingba Lounge
Comments: Just one bite of his tasty buns and you'll know why Cody's got such a devilsh grin. It's got to be a sin to be this good! Mmm, mmm, mmm... Marinated pork on a steamed bun topped with fresh cilantro and spicy pickled cucumbers. I could inhale about 10 of these in a sitting but luckily for my heart and love-handles they come 2 per order.


Strawberry Basil Gimlet
Where to get it: Rye
Comments: Best ordered with vodka instead of gin. After many attemps to make the drink myself I went back to Rye for more research. First one, good. Second one, GOOD. I don't remember what happened after that but I bet it was good...


Seven Courses of Beef
Where I get them: Pagolac
Comments: For a person that doesn't each much meat these days I still get craving for my seven courses. Why do I like it so much? Besides the different flavors you experience in one meal, you get to play with your food too! It's fun to create your own lettuce wraps, cook the meat at your table. If you don't mind smelling like beef and butter I say this is a great date place for people that actually eat on dates.

Crab Cake Sandwiches

Where to get it: Hayes Street Grill at the
Ferry Building Farmer's Market
Comments: "GOOD MORNING JAMES!" I say all perky with a big toothy smile. For the past 3 years this has been my Saturday greeting as his loyal diner. Morning person I am not, but if you whisper crab cake sandwich in my ear I will bolt out of bed and be dressed in 30 seconds. Sunglasses, check! Reusable Ferry Building shopping bag, check! Hand whipes for post sandwich mess, CHECK CHECK CHECK!


Enjoy!

Left-over Kalua Pig tortilla wraps

Ingredients

Left-over Kalua pig
Fresh salsa
rice
flour tortilla
shredded mexican cheese
hot sauce

Instructions

mix first 3 ingredients to taste
cook in slow cooker on high for an hour and half
place a tortilla in buttered pan
top with cheese, pork mixture and hot sauce
let cheese melt a little bit and fold tortilla to burrito shape

melted cheese will hold the ends together

Kalua Pig for lunch

Ingredients

4 pounds pork butt
half tablespoon of red hawaiian salt
1 teaspoon of mesquite liquid smoke
1/4 head of cabbage shredded

Instructions

Drive to 4 different markets to find ingredients
rub salt and liquid smoke on pork butt
pierce meat with carving fork
place into slow cooker at 7pm
cook on low heat until 9am
turn meat over
shred the pork and add cabbage at 11am
cook on high heat for 1 hour

Serve with rice and mac salad, island style!

Pastores Mole take 1

Ingredients*

3 types of chilies from Mexico ordered online. (1 pound of each)
almonds, pecans, prunes, sesame seeds (1 pound of each)
2.5 ounces of cinnamon
4 tablespoons of salt
water

Instructions

drive around looking for canning supplies
Spend 1.5 hours removing seeds from chilies
bake chilies in oven to dry
toast 12 teaspoons of chili seeds till almost black
spend 1 hour pureeing ingredients in food processor
cook on stove for 4 hours
plan to jar for later use
clean up time will require an additional hour or so


Thoughts:

When someone my age says he is retired and wants to give me advice on life I try my best to listen.

"Jeanne! What do you want from life? Do you know the key to success? First you have to be able to love unconditionally. Second you need wisdom"

Standing over my stove I think, well I have been burnt, cut, defeated, shed tears of frustration, spent exhausting hours in this kitchen. Both hands are stained, dry, stinging. As I scrub off the burnt orange color I think.

Do I love it?

Unconditionally


* I did not post the whole recipe since it still needs work! Will update on take 2.