Cream Puffs

I used the pastry recipe here.

And I used this filling recipe.

Add rum to the cream for extra goodness.

Street Food

Easy Peach Cobbler

We don't really grow peaches in Thailand.   I guess the ones I've seen were imported.  But in the USA, in the Deep South, where my husband is from, peaches are popular and locally-grown.  This summer we ate a bunch.   They were very sweet, and all grown in South Carolina.  Click here for the cobbler recipe I used.

"Paris to Bangkok"

Cooking Class in Thailand

The Thai House from Swig Social on Vimeo.

Caramel Cake

I baked this caramel cake for my husband on his birthday back in June.  It was my third time trying one.  He said this one was pretty close to perfect!  I used Southern Living's recipe.

Update (10/4):  I just recently baked another caramel cake, using the same recipe.

 

Pound Cake with Lemon Icing

Mussel Night

I steamed some mussels last night in a white wine, tomato broth. 

And for sides, it was hand cut fries (frites) and garlic-butter toasted baguette. 

 

 

Gogi Berries, a Superfood

In Thailand, goji berries are often put in soups.  I do that from time-to-time when I cook here in the United States.  You can buy by the berries at most health food stores.  Whole Foods actually has a few different brands, including the type shown in this video.  For breakfast, try adding some goji berries to your oatmeal.

Give Me Some Chocolate Cake!

I followed Ina Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake recipe. 

I shared some of the cake with a colleagues and they said it was very delicious.  I used cacao (healthier) instead of cocoa powder (recommended) and local Dynamite Sumatran coffee for the icing instead of an instant coffee listed in the recipe.  The key is try to improvise a bit.

"The cake was out of this world delicious.  Best chocolate cake I've ever had.  Seriously, no kidding."  Ralph

Chia Fruit Jello

 

Chia Seeds are a superfood.  In Thailand they are put into desserts and soy milk.  Here in the US, I made a some Jello dessert cups using chia seeds.  It was quite refreshing, and healthy.  Click here for a recipe I followed.

 

Homemade Kimchi

This is after I mixed it all together and packed it into jars.

Then I let it sit outside at room temperature for almost two weeks.  The fermentation process can be done in different ways.  I would study the video below and also research online.

This is the final product.  Of course, I now refrigerate it.

 

 

Click here for a very interesting article on ways to cook with Kimchi.

Shrimp Cakes

I made these for a Christmas Party!

 

 

The Essentials

These are the essential cooking sauces I use.  In fact, for my husband and me, these types of sauces, and the quantity, are exactly what we need for a year.  And I would guess that we eat Thai or Asia 70% of the time when I cook at home.  Nowadays, we're eating at home more and more.