Korean Rice Cake - Dduck

My parents and sister came from Korea to see my newborn baby. They brought dduck (Korean rice cake) made from rice, rasin, and variety of beans. Dduck is sweat and sticky. Korean have this food on special day, such as wedding day, birthday, New year's day, and Thanksgiving day (Chu-suk).

Korean Traditional Snack - Han Gwa

This is a Korean traditional snack - Han Gwa.

World's Healthiest Foods: Soy (Japan)

Health.com
World's Healthiest Foods: Soy (Japan)
by Joan Raymond

A typical Japanese eats soy for breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. “We eat tofu every day,” says Mamie Nishide, a cooking instructor and recipe developer who’s a native of Nara, Japan. Soybeans, first grown in tropical Asia thousands of years ago, are used in everything in Japan from soy sauce (as ubiquitous as ketchup) to vegetable oil, tofu, and the fermented soybean paste called miso. Japanese eat more soybeans than anyone else, and the long-lived Okinawans top the list at about 60 to 120 grams per person each day, compared with practically zero grams for the average American.

Why to try it: Protein-packed soy is high in isoflavones, estrogen-like substances linked to the prevention of cancer and osteoporosis. But its biggest draw may be the dozens of studies showing soy is good for your heart; the FDA even allows certain soy products (with at least 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving) to have a heart-healthy claim on their labels. Plus, some studies have shown that a diet rich in soy can reduce breast-cancer risk. Asian women, for example, have a much lower incidence of the disease compared with their Western counterparts. But other studies suggest that high levels of soy might actually increase breast-cancer risk in women who live in the United States, especially among those with a family history of the disease. (If you have a history of breast cancer or a high incidence in your family, talk to your doctor about how much soy is safe.)

What to do with it: Use cooked soybeans instead of garbanzo beans in your next batch of hummus, and add frozen edamame (whole soybeans) to stir-fries. Tofu typically comes in 1-pound blocks for about $1.99 at grocery and health-food stores.

World's Healthiest Foods: Kimchi (Korea)

Health, March 2006
World's Healthiest Foods: Kimchi (Korea)
by Joan Raymond

Koreans eat so much of this super-spicy condiment (40 pounds of it per person each year) that natives say “kimchi” instead of “cheese” when getting their pictures taken.

The reddish fermented cabbage (and sometimes radish) dish—made with a mix of garlic, salt, vinegar, chile peppers, and other spices—is served at every meal, either alone or mixed with rice or noodles. And it’s part of a high-fiber, low-fat diet that has kept obesity at bay in Korea.

Kimchi also is used in everything from soups to pancakes, and as a topping on pizza and burgers.

Why to try it: Kimchi (or kimchee) is loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, but its biggest benefit may be in its “healthy bacteria” called lactobacilli, found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt. This good bacteria helps with digestion, plus it seems to help stop and even prevent yeast infections, according to a recent study. And more good news: Some studies show fermented cabbage has compounds that may prevent the growth of cancer.

What to do with it: There’s no need to make your own; just pick it up in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or an Asian market for around $4 per 32-ounce jar (Sunja’s is one popular brand). You can wake up your morning by scrambling eggs with kimchi, diced tomatoes, and mushrooms. Use it as a wrap filling or to top a baked potato. Or try Spicy Beef and Kimchi Stew, which won our test kitchen’s top rating.

Japanese radish side dish

Dolls from grandmother-in-law

We will put our baby's embrial code in these dolls made by my grandmother-in-law.
These dolls are made from old Kimono.

Steamed Rice with mushroom, carrot, and chicken (takikomigohan)

Japanese snack made from bean

Cookies for girl's day from Japan

"March 3rd is Japanese Girl's Day called hina matsuri (hina doll festival) or momo no sekku (peach flower festival.) A set of hina dolls wearing kimono is displayed at home of Japanese girls. It's a festival for Japanese girls. People pray for girls' happiness and health, eating special food such as chirashi-zushi (colorful sushi), clam soup, sakura mochi (sweet rice cakes), and more.

Hina matsuri originated in China, and it was established in Japan during Edo Period (1603-1867.) Different types of hina dolls were created around Japan.

If you would like to buy Japanese hina dolls, visit Kyugetsu Site."

- from http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanesefestivals/a/japanesegirlday.htm

Japanese Star Candy

Original Korean Kimchi

The original Korean Kimchi did not have red peper powder.
"Kimchi is a uniquely pungent mixture of fermented vegetables... Kimchi has been part of the Korean diet for centuries and is prepared in as many as 300 variations, depending on region, season and personal preference...Early Koreans preserved vegetables in salt or vinegar and toehr spices. The spicy red kimchi we eat today has been a part of Korea's dietary culture since the 17th century. Red chili pepers were introduced to Korea by Portuguese traders during China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)" (Kim, Manjo, 202-204, 1994, Korean cutural Heritage - Traditional Life Styles).

Kim Bob (Seeweed rice roll)

Kim Bob is similar to Japanese sushi, but has different ingredients, such as a carrot, spinach, radish, ham, beef, and eggs. We also put kim-chi in Kim bab sometimes.

Green tea ice cream

Green tea ice cream

How to?

1. Prepare vanilar ice cream and green tea powder.
2. Mix together.
3. Put it in a freezer for a while.
4. Enjoy healthy ice cream after 20 minutes.

Kimchi Pancake

How to make Kimchi Pancake

[Ingredients

1 cup baechu kimchi (whole cabbage kimchi), white part only, firmly packed (such as Chongga brand)

1 cup ice cold water

1 egg, lightly beaten

3 ounces lean ground pork

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 large sweet green onions or 6 scallions, white and pale

green part only, finely minced

4 1/2 tablespoons olive oil Wearing rubber gloves, shake off the stuffing from the kimchi and wrap in a paper towel. Lightly squeeze out most of the liquid, and finely chop.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine chopped kimchi, ice water, egg, ground pork, flour and green onions. Mix lightly with a pair of chopsticks. The batter should easily drip off a spoon; you can use more water to thin, if necessary. Set batter aside.

In a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Drop one-third of the kimchi batter in the skillet to make one large, thin pancake. Cook for about 2 minutes, or until the edges turn brown and crispy. Flip it over, add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil around the pancake, and cook for another minute, flattening and shaping it with a spatula. Flip again and cook for a few more seconds, to restore crispiness. Transfer the finished pancake to a tray.

Repeat twice more with the remaining oil and batter. Makes three pancakes, each about 8 inches in diameter.] (From Washington Post)

Japanese Anchovy Snack

This is Japanese anchovy snack, one of my favorite Japanese snacks. It is good for calcium.

Insam (Korean Ginseng)

"The value of Korean ginseng has been known in the world since the 4th century B. C. Books written in this era documented ginseng as emergent medicine and tonic for long-life".

Kimchi: A Super food? (from Washington Post)

Kimchi: A Superfood?

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"Kimchi has long been touted as health superfood that can cut cancer risk, lower cholesterol, improve skin, aid digestion and fight infection. The dish does contain ingredients widely believed to strengthen immunity and fight disease. For example, kimchi's fermentation process produces beneficial bacteria that destroys harmful microbes. Crushed garlic yields compounds linked to reducing blood pressure and infections. (Stanford University's Web site recommends garlic nose drops to kill cold-causing viruses.) Hot peppers contain capsaicin, believed to kill certain bacteria. Ginger's medicinal uses range from preventing motion sickness to fighting colds. Cabbage and green onions are packed with health-boosting phytonutrients. Many South Koreans even credited kimchi consumption with sparing the nation from the SARS outbreak that swept Asia in 2003. R.T."

From Washington Post

An Article about Korean Cook in Washington Post

There is a recipe for Kimchi Pancakes
Click here!

Doong-gool-rae Tea

Doong-gool-rae Tea

Doong-gool-rae tea is boiled from a dried root which is originally from mountain. The color of tea is light brown. In Korea, we think that the tea is good for digestion, blood pressure, and diabetes.

Kimchi Mandoo (dumpling)

Kimchi Mandoo

"Mandoo (mandu, mandoo gui, mahndoo, gun mandoo, yaki mandoo) are steamed or pan-fried dumplings, usually stuffed with a mixture of beef, pork and kimchi. The dumpling dough is thin, and the dumplings are flat and shaped in a half-moon, unlike their Chinese counterparts. They are served with soy sauce and a vinegar dipping sauce, which might be flavored with pickled hot peppers, bits of green onion, sesame seeds or all three" (from Washington Post).

A Primer on Korean Food - Washington Post