Open Thread Thursday

Babies! Babies! Babies!

Halloween's over, but the HOLIDAYS are just beginning . . .

It's Open Thread Thursday . . . What's on YOUR mind?

--The Kimchi Mamas

Comments

[Angie in Texas]

the weather has finally started getting cooler here in south texas . . . and i can start cooking in the kitchen again.

any good (easy) comfort-food recipes?

[mary]

ttuk gook is my go to comfort food.

[Mary]

this interfacing with twitter is kind of touch and go

[Milly]

I'm thinking about visiting with the in laws during the holidays! Hopefully I'll learn to make homemade mandu from my mother in law... soooooo yummy!

[Julie Kang]

Hey Angie! I just discovered the easiest beef stew recipe ever. It looks like a long ingredient list, but it's mostly staples:

• 1-1 1/2 lbs. lean beef cut into 3/4-1" cubes (I just get mine pre-cut)
• 2 T flour
• Salt and pepper
• 2 T cooking oil
• 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
• 2 beef bouillon cubes
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 T minced onion
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
• 1-2 small shots of Tabasco or 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (if desired)
• About 3 cups peeled potatoes, cut into cubes (If reds, you don't have to peel 'em)
• 3-4 med. carrots, peeled and chunked
• 3 large stalks of celery, chopped into small chunks

Shake meat in a plastic bag with flour and a little salt and pepper.

Brown in oil over high heat, stirring frequently. Add onion near end of browning.

Turn heat down to low, just barely cover meat with water, and add bouillon, garlic powder, thyme, basil, and bay leaf.

Simmer in covered pot 1/2 hour or so (more if meat is tough). Add tomato sauce. Stir occasionally.

When meat is just about tender enough, add carrots, celery, and potatoes, in that order, at about 1–2 minute intervals. Simmer further until vegetables are tender, about 1/2 hour - 45 minutes, adding more water, if needed, just to keep covered.

Stir occasionally, checking for doneness of vegetables. Add Tabasco or cayenne, and more salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

[Asianmommy]

Thanks for the recipe, Julie. I'll have to try it!

[Angie in Texas]

she PASSED! . . . it only took 950 times . . .

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_ODD_SKOREA_ASPIRING_DRIVER?SITE=TXSAE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[ohm_ma]

I hope it doesn't take her 950 tries to pass the road test!

[Diane]

Did anyone read the Nov. 2 New Yorker interview of a woman who escaped from North Korea? The description of the famine is heartbreaking. Link to interview of author of story.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2009/10/barbara-demick-conversation-north-korea.html