Unpacking, Packing, Unpacking~ Minced Pork with Marinated Cucumbers
So its Sunday, been a busy few days, and I've officially been back in the US for a little over a week now. So much unpacking and packing to do... Both physically and mentally.
Since I've been home I've already been missing the flavors and food of Taiwan, and its not like my grandmother and mother didnt teach me how to cook so I decided I'd pay some homage to the motherland and also... I was craving this over rice.
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Minced Pork with Marinated Cucumbers
1 Lb Ground Pork
1 Tbsp Minced Ginger
1 Tbsp Fried Shallots
1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1 Shiitake Mushroom (Dried and reconstituted and minced)
1/4 Cup Marinated Cucumbers (Minced, also I buy a Taiwanese brand)
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
3 Tbsp Cucumber Marinade
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (Piau Shiang, by Kimlan)
2 Tbsp Mirin
2 Tbsp Sake
1 Cup Water
1 Tsp Sesame Oil
Optional:
1/4 Cup "Thai" Basil torn into bits
Instructions:
1. In a wok or deep skillet on high, brown ground pork with ginger until golden brown.
2. Add in the sake first for 2 minutes or until the alcohol has sufficiently burned off, then drop to medium and add in all of your other ingredients holding the basil and sesame oil for the end.
3. Allow to simmer and the flavors to amalgamate and meld together for 25-30 minutes on a medium to low heat.
4. Once the pork is tender, check for seasoning again and finish on high with the basil. Then cut the heat and mix in the sesame oil. 5. Serve this over a bowl of rice along with some veggies and you have a simple, quick, healthy meal.
I make this randomly and just heat a little bit at a time over some hot rice for some protein and a quick meal. Its easily a side and you can put it over some steamed or blanched vegetables for a pop of flavor. Makes for an easy life ya know?
__________________________________________________________________________________
So the unpacking... where to start?
Uhh, well I brought home a bunch of suitcases filled to the brim with art supplies and clothes, and when its a fraction of the price of the US, its well worth it to stuff it to the max weight limit. For the most part, the art supplies are put away or at least organized. But, OH! Before I left for Taiwan, we decided to redo the office and bedroom which means that everything is still in shambles as well... office is 90% there but the bedroom has been sitting at 75% done. We have alot more organizing to do there. And normally thats fine but with both me and my husband working full time, and me 6 days a week... we haven't had the time or energy to get things remotely ok.
As for the mental part of packing and unpacking... I am in a huge fight over being back in my "other home" which has always been a struggle. Theres alot I enjoy about being in the states... but the benefits as an adult, dont really carry the weight it used to. I'm significantly healthier in Taipei than I am in Virginia. I dont need a car, I'm able to walk everywhere and the public transportation is a dream in Taipei. Pros of being home in the states... my garden, and space. I have a decently sized 20' by 28' vegetable garden and several humongous flower beds which I thoroughly love. But it still feels like I'm lacking a few things.
I dont know how many other dualcitizens feel like this, and I'm sure I'm not the only one but, no matter where I am I dont feel fully at home in either country anymore. Almost like I'm floating between two worlds. But one world is clearly better for my mental health. Universal healthcare, easy transportation, accessiblilty, food culture... and again, don't get me wrong. There are alot of problems that Taiwan has, but on the reversed lens of things, the US has alot more compouding problems that I'm not going to even start, as this isnt a political blog and I have no intentions of getting into that here.
On another note and topic of mental health~
I switched over to a different ADHD medication and I'm still adjusting to everything. I just find it weird that I feel more normal when I'm in Taipei than I am here. Its been hard. A little distracted, but also hyper focused on other situations. Somehow sitting infront of the computer today especially, has been a challenege... I mean I wrote the recipe out in seconds but trying to gether my thoughts for the other parts of this post was a struggle. Also the constant dinging from my phone hasnt helped... almost like a dog seeing a squirrel.
To keep from me verbally rambling on, I'm going to call it here for today. I hope you enjoy the recipe though! I'm off to do some catch up work and comissions.
~H
Oh, PS: I will eventually get to customizing my blog but for now while time is tight it will have to be the generic chosen theme.
Since I've been home I've already been missing the flavors and food of Taiwan, and its not like my grandmother and mother didnt teach me how to cook so I decided I'd pay some homage to the motherland and also... I was craving this over rice.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Minced Pork with Marinated Cucumbers
1 Lb Ground Pork
1 Tbsp Minced Ginger
1 Tbsp Fried Shallots
1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1 Shiitake Mushroom (Dried and reconstituted and minced)
1/4 Cup Marinated Cucumbers (Minced, also I buy a Taiwanese brand)
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
3 Tbsp Cucumber Marinade
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (Piau Shiang, by Kimlan)
2 Tbsp Mirin
2 Tbsp Sake
1 Cup Water
1 Tsp Sesame Oil
Optional:
1/4 Cup "Thai" Basil torn into bits
Instructions:
1. In a wok or deep skillet on high, brown ground pork with ginger until golden brown.
2. Add in the sake first for 2 minutes or until the alcohol has sufficiently burned off, then drop to medium and add in all of your other ingredients holding the basil and sesame oil for the end.
3. Allow to simmer and the flavors to amalgamate and meld together for 25-30 minutes on a medium to low heat.
4. Once the pork is tender, check for seasoning again and finish on high with the basil. Then cut the heat and mix in the sesame oil. 5. Serve this over a bowl of rice along with some veggies and you have a simple, quick, healthy meal.
I make this randomly and just heat a little bit at a time over some hot rice for some protein and a quick meal. Its easily a side and you can put it over some steamed or blanched vegetables for a pop of flavor. Makes for an easy life ya know?
__________________________________________________________________________________
So the unpacking... where to start?
Uhh, well I brought home a bunch of suitcases filled to the brim with art supplies and clothes, and when its a fraction of the price of the US, its well worth it to stuff it to the max weight limit. For the most part, the art supplies are put away or at least organized. But, OH! Before I left for Taiwan, we decided to redo the office and bedroom which means that everything is still in shambles as well... office is 90% there but the bedroom has been sitting at 75% done. We have alot more organizing to do there. And normally thats fine but with both me and my husband working full time, and me 6 days a week... we haven't had the time or energy to get things remotely ok.
As for the mental part of packing and unpacking... I am in a huge fight over being back in my "other home" which has always been a struggle. Theres alot I enjoy about being in the states... but the benefits as an adult, dont really carry the weight it used to. I'm significantly healthier in Taipei than I am in Virginia. I dont need a car, I'm able to walk everywhere and the public transportation is a dream in Taipei. Pros of being home in the states... my garden, and space. I have a decently sized 20' by 28' vegetable garden and several humongous flower beds which I thoroughly love. But it still feels like I'm lacking a few things.
I dont know how many other dualcitizens feel like this, and I'm sure I'm not the only one but, no matter where I am I dont feel fully at home in either country anymore. Almost like I'm floating between two worlds. But one world is clearly better for my mental health. Universal healthcare, easy transportation, accessiblilty, food culture... and again, don't get me wrong. There are alot of problems that Taiwan has, but on the reversed lens of things, the US has alot more compouding problems that I'm not going to even start, as this isnt a political blog and I have no intentions of getting into that here.
On another note and topic of mental health~
I switched over to a different ADHD medication and I'm still adjusting to everything. I just find it weird that I feel more normal when I'm in Taipei than I am here. Its been hard. A little distracted, but also hyper focused on other situations. Somehow sitting infront of the computer today especially, has been a challenege... I mean I wrote the recipe out in seconds but trying to gether my thoughts for the other parts of this post was a struggle. Also the constant dinging from my phone hasnt helped... almost like a dog seeing a squirrel.
To keep from me verbally rambling on, I'm going to call it here for today. I hope you enjoy the recipe though! I'm off to do some catch up work and comissions.
~H
Oh, PS: I will eventually get to customizing my blog but for now while time is tight it will have to be the generic chosen theme.
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