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Return of the Dragon(fruit) and Treasured Times

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It’s been a very busy season of going back to school and adjusting to this new normal. The kids have been going to school in person 1-2 days a week, and the rest of the days are at home online learning. I’ve been like a teacher’s assistant guiding the lessons, an IT help desk navigating Tech issues, and a secretary keeping track of a schedule of zoom/google classroom meetings, in addition to all the other things Mommy’s do at home. Despite the craziness, I’m thankful to be able to be home with the kids in this season of life. I am thankful that I can be the one to help them and care for them through these inconsistent times and constant changes. I love hearing the little moments of laughter from them, and seeing the cute things they invent, and feeling their snuggly arms around me. These are treasured times! The mornings are hectic, but there are afternoons of slowness where we all settle down. Usually during their snack time, I let the kids watch some tv. I get some mommy time where I...
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Dragonfruit Flower Tart

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 My husband loves dragonfruit! I had never had one until I met him. I remember seeing it when he first bought it and wondering what is this bright pink fruit with greenish tipped spikes?! The inside of the fruit is such a contrast with the outside. It could be white with black seeds or a beautiful magenta pink with black seeds inside depending on which dragonfruit you buy. I was immediately drawn to the one with the vibrant pink color, and knew I would be using it to make new culinary creations. My niece’s birthday was coming and I thought I could make a dragonfruit flower tart for the celebration. It is not only pretty but light and refreshing with its luscious dragonfruit slices. Hope you will try it! Dragonfruit Flower Tart Ingredients : For crust: 3/4 cup all purpose flour 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar One large egg Pinch of sea salt 6 tablespoons butter, cold and cut in cubes For filling: 3 large egg yolks 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 teaspoons...
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Pikachu White Peach Mango Tart

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 My kids started watching Pokémon daily when quarantine began in March. They loved it and soon my daughter was quizzing me on who different Pokémon are and what do they evolve into. I don’t know if it’s because my brain does not remember things the way they used to, or perhaps because over nearly 900 Pokémon types are not stored in my memory, but the only Pokémon that I remember in all its forms is Pikachu. I was coming up with ideas of what to make for a fruit tart contest, and Pikachu was on my mind. I knew my kids would love it, and thus Pikachu tart was born. If you or your kids like Pokémon as much as mine, try this tart out! Pikachu White Peach Mango Tart Ingredients : For crust: 3/4 cup all purpose flour 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar One large egg Pinch of sea salt 6 tablespoons butter, cold and cut in cubes For filling: 3 large egg yolks 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 3/4 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 champagne mangoes, cut in thin...
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Meringue Lime Coconut Tartlets

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 I usually get ideas from walking around the supermarket and seeing what's on sale. Haha, I don't like to pay full price unless necessary. I saw a sale for a bag of 6 limes, so I thought this week, I'll make some new recipes with lime! I just love the smell of freshly squeezed lime too! We also had a huge bag of Thinsters Coconut Cookies from Costco. They are delicious, but of course I was thinking of ways I could use them as a crust. Thus, the following tartlets were created. One of the best parts about this recipe is that you can prepare the separate parts in advance if you are busy. When you are ready to serve them, then assemble and enjoy! Meringue Lime Coconut Tartlets Makes 8 tartlets Ingredients for the meringue tops: 2 egg whites (save the 2 egg yolks for the lime curd in a separate bowl) 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar pinch of salt 1/3 cup granulated sugar for the crust: 1 cup Thinsters coconut cookie crumbs (I crushed 30 cookies in a ziplock bag; you can use other c...
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Haw Flake Cupcakes

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I have fond memories of going to my grandparents’ house when I was younger, and eating haw flakes as a treat. Every Saturday morning, my grandparents loved feeding me and my siblings homemade lunches and occasional sweets including ice cream from the ice cream truck! There’s something about eating certain foods that brings back that sweet nostalgia. My husband grew up eating haw flakes too as a kid and he decided to buy some from the Chinese supermarket one day. Our kids wondered what are these little pale reddish tan disks of sugar? They ate one or two but somehow it didn’t have the same appeal to them. That’s ok, more for my husband and me! I had an idea to incorporate the haw flakes flavor into cupcakes. When you bite into a cupcake, you can see yummy bits of haw flake scattered throughout the inside of the cupcake! Haw Flake Cupcakes Makes 12 cupcakes Ingredients For cupcakes: 9 individual packs of Haw Flakes, (reserve 1 pack to decorate cupcakes later) 3/4 cup all purpose flour 3/...
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Growth

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This past month, I've been inspired by all the wonderful creations that people all around the world have been making on Facebook and Instagram. It makes me want to try new things. Sometimes, things go well and sometimes pretty wrong. Through those mistakes, I've learned and want to get better.  Growth is at times imperceptible. We take small steps day by day, and those little steps help us grow. I'm learning to be patient with myself and to not give up. Earlier in the year, I went to a parenting workshop where we learned that it's not "practice makes perfect", it's "practice makes progress." That's something I want to remind myself and my kids through these experiences. That it's ok to mess up because that's how we learn and grow and improve. I tried several new things that I want to share with you. Hope you will join me in trying new things and feel free to comment below and share! This was the first time I ever tried to make Choux p...
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Pesto Penne with Roasted Salmon, Tomatoes, and Eggplant

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I love that summertime brings the arrival of fresh garden goodies! I've always admired people who can take care of a garden as I can see it takes a lot of work. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law spend hours in the backyard tending to their flowers and fruits and vegetables. They've weeded the garden and picked off bugs that were munching on the leaves of their veggies. It is a labor of love for them and I'm so thankful that they share what they produce with us. They gave us some sweet cherry tomatoes, lovely plum tomatoes, Italian basil, and vibrant purple Japanese eggplant. Here's the recipe I came up with combining those delicious ingredients. Ingredients 16 oz Penne Pasta 2 or 3 Japanese eggplant (peel alternating stripes lengthwise, then cut in 1/2" coins) 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes or sliced plum tomatoes 1/4 cup olive oil salt and pepper to taste 4 or 5 pieces of Salmon (cut to serving size)  2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons lemon juice salt and pepper ...
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Cherry Tomato Basil Tarts

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This weekend, we went to Pennsylvania to visit my husband's family. My mother-in-law has a wonderful garden with lots of veggies and tomatoes! It's lovely to see my son spending time with his grandma and bonding by picking tomatoes from the garden. He was very proud when he showed me the bundle of cherry tomatoes that he picked. Such beautiful reds and even some green and yellow! My mother-in-law gave me some fragrant Italian basil as well. I was excited to return home and create something new with these ingredients. Years ago, I made a tomato herb tart for friends, but I had forgotten to write down exactly how I made it. The memory of the fresh garden-picked tomatoes roasted in the oven atop some creamy cheese and herbs on a crusty buttery tart was still etched in my mind. I've recreated the recipe, but this time added bacon! The salty, yummy crispy bacon would go well with the sweet tomatoes. These tarts are so awesomely delicious! Hope you will try to make them at home t...
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