Hands on A Well Treat. 动手做小吃

By very few chance I have snack during business hours: just too many things I need to worry about, time, of cause, teeth, smell, make ups, clean ups....

So whenever I can treat myself while reading, cooking, or for hubby's TV time, I enjoy to play with snack. No matter homemade or store-bought, snack sending me an instant message: relax, fun, and not everyday.

动手是态度，不一定要多么艰难复杂。哪怕是小吃，自己厨房里端出来，就有了诚意和心意了。

 

Duck something. Hot n spicy! Love.... 麻辣鸭舌。我们家人人皆爱，小朋友们都十分期待。不过他们的当然不麻不辣啦。 不要说不愿意用英文解释清楚这名字，就是我自己，有时候人舌吃鸭舌，也很有一点 “Hmmm"...

 

 

 

 

 

Tender Bamboo Shot Salad 甜笋沙拉。超级简单快速。又很健康。

 

 

 

 

A regular weekday evening. Sip by sip, bite by bite, before they were gone, my cook was almost done :) 这是有天很饿了，一边备晚餐一边备自己。结果那天的菜很有创意，多少和这份私己的犒赏有关系。

 

 

My 5 minutes break while worked on my big bird this past Thanksgiving. 感恩节搬火鸡是重体力活儿，这样好的借口当然不能亏待自己。而且，这是家人未起床客人未进门时发生的事情。神不知鬼不觉的东西往往更好味。

 

 

 

 

An other 5 minutes treat while home along for piano. Best tea in collection and fresh orange directly from backyard. You can tell I may spend more time on select serve pieces rather than sit down to enjoy. But this is a treat really means to me: something I long for, something not ordinary, something WOW me, at sight, even for just a short minute. 我犒赏自己练琴的小东西。我发现对别人愈好对自己也会愈认真。没有观众的时候，觉得自己是最重要的观众，没有赞美可以期待的时候，要得到自己的肯定。

 

 

 

 

Boiled Salmon. When my first son and I was home early. Our favorite simple but full body all time go-to: miso, sake and mirin boiled salmon belly. MmmMmmYum! He replace wine w/green tea of cause. 酱烧三纹鱼肚腩。 我们家喜欢三纹鱼的只两位，可也是喜欢得紧。我们就着酒就着茶瓜分了这油滋滋的一盆，马上觉得生活真是小康呵。

 

 

 

 

Sweet & Crispy Fish. Oh I feel so much proud of my tiny fish. Sesame, soy sauce, sugar, so pure and healthy, crispy but not oily at all. If put into airtight containers, could keep crispy for over a week. 酥小鱼。这回成功了。以前不是出水就是不酥，要不就是一天就软掉了。油一盆，酱汁一盆，油温要适宜，酱汁要收干。美丽的中文，酥和脆是两个概念，小朋友从这道小吃里学会了这两个字的区别。

 

 

 

 

 

Jerky was once my fav long time ago. And now it's always on one of my boys' top list. Rather than the traditional way my mom used to do, yes, I find shortcut: marinate in Ziploc at least over night, wine & sugar in need to double than usual to enhance the taste, single layer on pan into oven (switch positions couple times if use multi pans), low heat to the perfection you prefer. Lean meat is the best to choose, but if like my little one wants some fat part, eat them while fresh, or blot the oil away while warm: it's not impressive if the white "butter" all over the jerky when keep in fridge :)  

But gee, how I miss those old day my mom took all efforts naturally dry & steam and pack them into my luggage right before winter break ends every year ---- the warmth and love stays in my memory ever since. 牛肉干。我自己的就会添辣。十分辣。我们家老大很爱肉干，鱼干也爱。其实这是不错的小吃：他去比赛或跑各类活动期间我常给他补给：蛋白质高，有饱足感，容易携带，还好吃。

 

 

 

 

 

My all time best possible treat: Hawaiian papaya.  Simple, clean, delicious. It's pure sweetness energize and satisfy me right away.  我爱加州来的华人超市因为她第一个带来了成箱的夏威夷木瓜。 虽然我对甜的一贯不太感冒，而这简直是在吃白糖。但就是这种纯粹和清甜，深深打动了我的心。

Toasted Slice Almonds. One of my friend's great idea. How many times I toasted them for dessert? Why never did I treat it as a snack? I love it. Very unexpected delicious. Plus, a Ziploc helps them go with me for everywhere for the holiday chores.  烤杏仁片。除了做点心，谁把它当小吃了？可是一试之下真棒呢。比整粒的杏仁好多了。我是什么盐糖都免放，又是一个酥字。而且，香。

 

Sweet Toasted Cashew. Anything sweet and crispy always sells well in my house :)

烤甜腰果。这个就比较受老爷小孩的欢喜了。甜嘛。也香口。不过糖少，不能放久。会不脆。

 

 

 

 

 

They go well on top of a lot of things too. 所以出一批就各式各样销掉它。

 

 

 

 

 

 

BBQ Wild Hog Kabob. I found them pair well w/Pinot Noir this time. 今晚风大降温，有什么比来串烤山猪更过瘾。

 

 

 

 

 

原味儿的。

 

 

 

 很辣嘀。

 

 

 

 

 This, is my homework this week. One of my friend went hunting and wish to review all recipes on hog. Of cause there are sausages. But I'd like to consider a simple + fun, and can help them to kill most of a hog during one big party :) Gee, a whole hog, it's been quite a few years for me to handle since last time.   朋友猎回来的野猪，送来上好的一方肉。我不免也忆起自己当年第一次面对一整只猪的豪情，和很多彷徨。烧，酱，卤，薰，都试过一遍，其实想想，有什么比烤肉更称野味呢。当年一头鹿，也是炙来最对口， 并且很让我红楼了一下呢。我用的是烤羊肉串的方子，拿洋葱泥和蛋液腌，慢火烤制时撒盐，孜然，辣椒粉，喷一点橄榄油。香喷喷的后院惹的隔壁的狗又吠了：它一定觉得我太过分，一整个夏天没完没了，这深冬的寒夜里我也不放过它。它是连吃我的心都有了。

 

After kabob in a 45F winter night in the backyard, how can you not to do a s-more to entertain all?! 哈哈，小朋友们嚷着没有学校了(no school), 当然要娱乐一下。这种甜腻腻便宜又大份的东西，就是和他们的快乐幸福划等号。

 

 

 

 

 Mine's with Godiva Extra Dark Santo Domingo Choc, kiddos consider it's too bitter, but I love it to balance well with the sweetness of marshmallows. I actually remove one piece of graham but still feel way soooo full. 我自己的一份用了85%的黑巧克力，少了一张饼，结果还是撑s。咳，有功夫整，还得有功夫吃下去哪。