Where Has The Time Gone?

Well, it has been OVER a year since I've posted on my blog. I blame life. It has this nasty habit of getting in the way of my leisure activities! Funny how that happens...

I last wrote as we were heading back to New York last Easter. A year later and now we're gearing up for our next trip home in just a few weeks time! I'm counting down the days.

So much has happened since I last wrote. It will take me weeks to catch up on all of the posts that I have neglected, but I'm going to do my best to include some of the travel, the food, the visitors and the adventures that we've had in the past year.

And then, of course, there's the wedding, which in my humble opinion deserves a blog of its own! But I'll recap the big weekend with a few of our favorite photos.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as I catch up on blog posts and I hope to catch up in person at the end of May!

xoxo
Gillian

525,600 Minutes

This week officially marks the one year anniversary of living in Hong Kong. One year and we're still alive....One year and it feels like I've blinked and all of a sudden it's March again...One year and Hong Kong feels like home, filled with an incredible group of friends (Hong Kong family) and so much adventure!

We arrived last year not really knowing anyone. It's a funny thing trying to make new friends in a strange city but in Hong Kong it's surprisingly easy. One of the things I have loved most about HK is just how welcoming everyone is and how gracious people are with their friendships and contacts. There's no jealousy or possessiveness- just a big community of  like minded people who want to constantly be making new friends. Everyone opened up their little black book to us, and before we knew it we had friends from all over the world to call our own.

It took putting ourselves in some uncomfortable situations. I remember being invited to a girl's birthday party shortly after moving here. It was so sweet- I had only met her once- but she encouraged Pat and me to come along. Pat had to work late so I sucked it up and went alone. There were, of course, awkward silences and forcing myself in people's conversations and introducing myself to strangers at the bar. But I spoke with some great people that night, many of whom I am friends with one year later.  There are so many more examples of that,  and I'm so thankful I pushed myself to go to each and every potentially awkward event, ask for stranger's numbers, and just generally say "yes". And then there are friend dates....Just like real dating, some are great and others not so much.

We've done and seen a lot in a year. Great trips abroad to Hanoi, Taipei, Malaysia, Japan, Shanghai and Bali. We've hiked mountains and gone scuba diving, rode on motorbikes and in sidecars, ate strange street meat and drank moonshine. It has been a year of great adventure, where we've learned about ourselves and challenged ourselves. If anything, this year has whet my appetite to travel more and continue to explore this great big crazy wonderful world.

But, as I sit here writing this, I am en route to NYC. My always home. And I'm bursting to see my family! My niece who now walks and talks! My grandma who is 94 and according to the local Stamford newspaper still lifts weights! My friends who have also had amazingly thrilling years: new careers, new homes, engagements, marriages, pregnancy, babies! And no matter how many countries I visit or where I live, coming back to New York will always be coming home.

So here's to another year, filled with wonder and weddings (!), love and laughter, adventure and awe.

Love, 

Gillian 

I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so...

*** What's up with blogspot? My photos post in a weird order. Sorry for the layout, but enjoy anyway!

Just in time for Chinese New Year...I am finally getting around to writing about how we spent our Christmas, which seems like a lifetime ago! Funny how quickly time goes once we’ve stepped back into our normal routines.

Over Christmas, Pat and I spent an awesome eight days in Japan. There’s so much I loved about the country but one thing that really stands out is just how nice everyone is. When we looked lost (which we did, more than once) strangers stopped unsolicited and offered directions. Even those who couldn’t speak English spent a few minutes on their phone trying to communicate with us via google maps. Everyone seems to take great pride in what they do, and it truly shows. And the bowing! I love the bowing.

Our itinerary was jam packed with awesome activities and a lot of travel. A huge shout out to Pat’s childhood friend, Timmy, who a) organized our entire trip, b) spent the week playing tour guide and c) brought a suitcase of costumes everywhere we went – just in case. Timmy has lived in Japan for more than six years and his Japanese is great – a huge help. 

Here was our route:

Day 1- Arrive Osaka, take a train to Nagoya; Day 2 – Train to Matsumoto, then train to Hakuba; Day 3 and 4 – Hakuba; Day 5 – Train from Hakuba to Komaki; Day 6- Himeji; Day 7 and 8 – Osaka.

No wonder I came home exhausted!!!

I started to write this post and it was a three-page diary of just the first four days. So here’s the abridged version…my top 5 Japan highlights! 

SKIING:

Japan is known to have great slopes, and so skiing was one of the things that made a winter Japan trip to attractive to us. From the second we stepped off the train in Hakuba, there was constant snowfall. We stayed at an awesome lodge called Tabi Tabi , which was a 10-minute walk to the mountain. We skied for two days – stopping for hot ramen lunches and big cups of sake (yes - they serve sake in cups- yikes!)

White Out! This was the view from the top on day 1. I couldn't even see my skis!

KARAOKE and PHOTO BOOTHS:

Rooms filled with crazy photo booths

Wacky photo stickers with x rated drawings. Boys will be boys.

Hey, when in Japan….My karaoke started off shy but finished strong, with a pretty good Fiona Apple solo. And this was at 3pm in the afternoon! Karaoke is all over Japan and might be my new favorite pastime. You know what else they have in Japan – huge “stores” filled with photo booths. The photos automatically give you the crazy big anime eyes and then you can choose weird Japanese backgrounds and draw all over your photo. I loved it. I could really get used to Japan!

FOOD:

It’s a misconception that all Japanese food is healthy! While we did have some awesome sushi and an amazing blow fish dinner, we also had our fair share of fried chicken (apparently huge in Japan), fried octopus balls, and more. Edamame is served as a bar snack here – like peanuts, only better!

 

Karaage (fried chicken) trucks!

Ski lunch. Not bad.

This place makes you fish for your dinner. So cool.

conveyor belt sushi

Saying hi to my blow fish dinner and blow fish sashimi

 

CASTLES AND SHRINES:
Hong Kong has temples; Japan has castles. My favorite was the Matsumoto castle, which is incredibly picturesque.  Himeji boasts awesome shrines at the top of a mountain, where there are also walking paths and a monastery. So peaceful and inspiring.

CATCHING UP WITH OLD FRIENDS:
We spent the week with Pat's childhood friend, Timmy. It was so cool to see him in his element in Japan - and he's seemingly fluent in Japanese - even cooler. Thanks, Timoshi, for being a great host! The last day of the trip we met up with my friend from high school, Koki. Koki and I hadn't seen each other since 2000 - which is a long time ago now! And who ever would have thought way back then that we would reunite thirteen years later in Japan?? Too cool

Pat and Timmy!

Mazel tov to Timmy and Mayumi, who got engaged just a few days after we visited!

On our last day in Japan with Koki after an epic afternoon of eating and karaoke!

Well, finally, I've posted Japan. I still have so much more to write and SO many more photos from the trip. Maybe I'll need a Japan part II post.  Lots more to blog about, including two trips to mainland this month and a very special visitor!

Tomorrow we're off to Bali for Chinese New Year.  Wishing everyone lots of love and laughter in the year of the water snake!! Happy New Year...or as they say....Kung Hei Fat Choi!

xogillian

Compost Cookies: Milk Bar Special

Happy New Year! My first post in 2013 and it goes against every resolution I made this year. I've been delaying on writing this entry for a while. And of course, now it comes at the worst of times, when most of us have sworn of sweets for 2013, singing this will be the year I give up sugar! File this one away - you'll want to save the Compost Cookie recipe for a rainy day when those sugar-free-carb-free-calorie-free-taste-free "treats" just won't do. Trust me. Every bite will be worth it.

I first made these cookies for Thanksgiving, when a  bunch of us NYers were getting together to celebrate the holiday. And nothing says New York like Momofuko Milk Bar, so I decided to test out these Compost Cookies.

These are no ordinary cookies (if you've eaten at Milk Bar you know nothing there is ordinary!). These cookies are the perfect combination of sweet and salty - chewy and gooey - chocolate and chips (potato!). Some of the ingredients were hard to track down in Hong Kong but generally these were pretty easy to make.

I got some weird looks while baking these. You're putting those pretzels where?! In The cookie batter?! Traditional cookies these are not. But you're guaranteed to love every bite. 

Milk Bar Compost Cookies

Makes 2 dozen cookies

What You'll need:

chopped Almond Roca

2 C unsalted butter at room temperature 

• 1 C granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons glucose (available at Olivers)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• • 
    
  • GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:
• 1 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs 
• 1/4 C milk powder
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 3/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 stick melted butter
• 1/4 C heavy cream
• What To Do:                             In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugars and glucose on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the egg and vanilla, and beat for an additional 7 to 8 minutes.  
• Reduce the speed to low and add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix just until the dough comes together, no longer than 1 minute, being careful not to overmix the dough. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
                                                                  Still on low speed, add the chocolate and butterscotch chips, the graham crust, oats and coffee and mix just until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add the potato chips and pretzels and beat, still on low speed, just until incorporated, being careful not to overmix or break too many of the pretzels or potato chips. (You deserve a pat on the back if one of your cookies bakes with a whole pretzel standing up in the center.)
  Using a 2-ounce ice cream scoop or a 1/3-cup measure, portion out the dough onto a parchment-lined sheet pan, spacing each portion roughly 4 inches apart. Pat the tops of the cookie dough domes flat. Wrap the sheet pan tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour, up to one week. Do not bake the cookies while at room temperature — they will not bake up properly.
  Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake the cookies, one tray at a time on the center rack, 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the cookies halfway through baking for even cooking. The cookies will puff, crackle and spread while baking, and should be very faintly browned on the edges yet still bright in the center. Give them an extra minute or so if needed.
  Cool the cookies completely on the sheet pans before transferring to a plate or an airtight container for storage. At room temperature, the cookies will keep fresh for 5 days; frozen, they will keep for up to 1 month.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
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•   Indulge, enjoy and savor!
  

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  • 1 Tsp Kosher Salt
  • 3/4 C mini chocolate chips
  • 1/2 C mini butterscotch chips (I used chopped Almond Roca, available in HK supermarkets)
  • 1/2 C graham cracker crumb (recipe below)
  • 1/3 C rolled oats
  • 2 1/2 tsp ground coffee (not instant)
  • 2 C potato chips (Milk Bar suggests Cape Cod)
  • 1 C mini pretzels

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    graham cracker crumbs

  
  

  
  

  

  a little bit of love (and salt)
  
  
  

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Pumpkin Soup Shooters

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday -food, food, football!  I was sad to not spend Thanksgiving at home for the first time in my life (and of course missed Big Wednesday back in the 'dale), but we had a great time celebrating with our new Hong Kong extended family.

Our friends Rachel and Neal hosted a delicious dinner on Saturday - with all the traditional fixin's! The last few years at home, my contribution has always been a Thanksgiving soup, and so I decided that this year I would bring that tradition to Hong Kong.

Tried and true, I made this soup last Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit! Last year I made it with squash, but this year I used Japanese pumpkin, which is really easy to find pre-cut in any market here.  The original recipe from Sunset magazine suggests serving this soup in mini pumpkins - a beautiful presentation! I served it in tall shot glasses as a passed hors d'oeuvre.

Pumpkin Soup with Pumpkin Seed Mint Pesto

What You'll Need:

For The Soup:
1 large onion, chopped

• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger 
• 2 tablespoons evoo
• 4 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 4 1/2 cups peeled, 1-in. chunks pumpkin or other orange fleshed squash 
• 4 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 
  
• For the Pesto:
• 1 small garlic clove
• 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, plus slivered leaves
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup evoo
• 1/4 cup salted roasted pumpkin seeds

What To Do:

1. Start with the soup: Sauté the onion and ginger in oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat until golden, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and coriander and cook until softened, 1 minute, then add pumpkin, broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer, covered, until pumpkin is very tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Purée in batches in a blender or with an immersion blender until very smooth.
2. Make your pesto: Combine garlic, whole mint leaves, salt, and 1 tbsp. oil in a food processor.  Add remaining oil and pumpkin seeds and pound until coarsely crushed.

Serve: Drop small spoonfuls of pesto over bowls of soup, garnish with slivered mint, and serve remaining pesto on the side.

Serves 4-5

Enjoy! 

1. 
   

Weekend Getaway To Taipei: Street Food Overdose!!

Last weekend Pat and I went with our friends Matt and Jess to Taipei, Taiwan. I was surprised to learn that the flight from Hong Kong is only an hour and a half long. That's easier than heading out to Montauk for the weekend!

We arrived late Friday night and dropped our bags off at Hotel Eclat before heading straight to one of Taipei's many night markets. The markets are filled with stalls and stalls of food. This was my kind of place! I was also surprised at how much shopping there was in the market! Jess and I browsed for some cute, cheap, finds (scarves, jewelry, jeggings!) inbetween stopping for snacks.

Here are some street market pics. It's all about food, food, food! My favorite was a small, dumpling like bun that was filled with pork (Jessica is buying one above!). I also loved the tempura-style sweet potato fries!

sausage on a stick with a variety of sauces!

There were a lot of seafood options -including the squid, octopus and prawns!

Yes - that's real life! A truck full of hanging hogs.

Why were these cute puppies right next to the street market?!

While most of our trip was about gorging ourselves with delicious street meats, we did manage to visit a few sites. Stay tuned for Taipei Part 2 for more stories and photos!

xx Gillian