I Made My First (Red Velvet) Wedding Cake

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

When my cousin Jerry and his (then) fiance Mary asked if I would make their wedding cake, I was kind of in deep shock. I love them and was elated to have the opportunity to be part of their wedding in a special way. Still, the thought that kept whirling around my brain was, “Why on Earth would you let someone who’s never made a wedding cake before, make your wedding cake?”

I tried to manage their expectations without making it sound like I didn’t want the responsibility because I really did. Still, I didn’t want to create a disappointing wedding cake, even now the thought is unbearable. Some how Jerry, Mary, and Lon seemed so confident that it wouldn’t be a problem for me that it gave me the confidence to do it.

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posted by jessica at 09:19 PM 8 Comments » Add a Comment
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Three Egg Sprinkles

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

We had a small potluck last Friday, which would have been super easy to prepare for had I not cut my finger and have to go to the hospital for stitches on Wednesday. It really wasn’t too bad (the tetanus shot was worse) except that the ER doc instructed me to not cook, wash dishes, or do much else with my left hand for a few days. Great!

savory sprinkles

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posted by jessica at 10:26 PM 5 Comments » Add a Comment
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“No Kitchen Required” on BBC America

Monday, April 2, 2012

On Saturday night, we made our way to the secret location of NY Bite Club (an underground supper club) where we ate an extra generously portioned tasting menu of dishes from Chihuahua, Mexico and drank cocktails by the famous Joaquin Simo of Death & Co. 433 East 6th Street, New York, NY 10009

Naked & Famous Cocktail

The evening was paid for by BBC America who put together one of the best PR events I’ve been to in a long time. (Remember the Con-Agra fiasco?) We were there to watch a few scenes from their new ten-episode show, “No Kitchen Required,” and instead of making us all sit and watch, iPads dotted the room with a few scenes showing through the night. You could watch when you wanted to. Read the rest of this entry »

posted by jessica at 09:50 PM No Comments » Add a Comment
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Kale Caesar Salad with Whole Wheat Croutons

Saturday, March 17, 2012

My friend Angie introduced me to Emporio 231 Mott Street, New York, NY 10013. Very good Italian food and the price is great if you book through Savored (invite link). When a couple of us gathered there for a girls’ night out, we were seated when Angie said, “you have to try the Kale Salad!” Of course, we all loved it–Angie is a taste bud.  On the menu, they call it Cavolo Nero which just means black leaf kale, the type they use. What they don’t say or write is that it was essentially a Caesar Salad made with kale instead of romaine lettuce. I immediately thought to myself: I’ll make this for the girls next time they come over. I did and they all approved of this recipe 100%. What I consider 8 to 10 servings was gobbled up by six people.

As if great-taste is not valuable enough as a salad characteristic, this salad also offers a unique trait in that it can (and should) be dressed ahead of time! Usually you can’t dress a salad and let it sit, all the greens will wilt and it will look oh-so sad. Not this one, the kale will maintain its curly leaves and fluffy look. (Now, if only my hair could.)

Kale Caesar Salad

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posted by jessica at 12:26 PM 5 Comments » Add a Comment
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Our Little Pepper is One!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Cayenne (our daughter) turned one! We get a lot of questions (online and off) about how she eats and what we feed her. It’s time we did a blog post all about Caya’s food.
Caya Pepper

As soon as Caya could sit up, we had her in a high chair at the table with us for every meal.  When Caya was six months old we started her on solid foods, using the baby-led weaning method and we’re thrilled that we did! She never ate “baby food” and we didn’t have to puree stuff. You just allow your baby to pick up the food and eat it. It helps to start with softer foods and the book recommends two-inch long stick shapes initially (they are easier to hold). We found that wetter foods were easier as well and it is best to peel foods like grapes and cherry tomatoes in the beginning too. It’s amazing how quickly she gained the fine motor skills (pincer grip) she needed and how much she could eat without any teeth. (She got her first two teeth older than eight months old.) She could eat corn-on-the-cob within the first few days and quickly learned to eat almost anything that we cut up for her.

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posted by jessica at 07:00 PM 22 Comments » Add a Comment
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Cupcakes for Warby Parker

Monday, February 13, 2012

Lon started his new job as VP of Technology at Warby Parker!  They are the coolest eyewear company ever! For every pair purchased, they donate a pair to someone in need. They pride themselves on better than spectacular customer service so visit a showroom or order a free shipping home try-on kit and join the masses singing their praises. If it seems odd for me to be touting glasses on FoodMayhem, it’s because every day Lon comes home and tells me how awesome his co-workers are and all about the amazing things they do. I’m really kind of jealous. Can I have a job there too?

As my first effort to “get-in” with the cool kids, I made them cupcakes using my Mini Carrot-Spiced Cupcakes recipe.

WP cupcake copy

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posted by jessica at 02:45 PM 6 Comments » Add a Comment
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Yeh’s Bakery Curry Pastry (ga li jao)

Thursday, February 2, 2012

As a food blogger I sometimes get caught up in the excitement of new restaurant openings, which happens enough in NY to always keep you on your toes.  As a result, occasionally the value of writing about old places is overlooked.  What’s more valuable than a tried and true place or product that my family has been eating for almost two decades?

I have so many memories of Yeh’s Bakery 5725 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355, a no frills Chinese bake shop outside of the main traffic crazed part of Flushing. The Chinese name translates to “red leaf” (you can spot the store by the red leaf logo on their yellow awning) and they have a limited menu. What they lack in flair they make up in reputation. My birthday cake nearly every year for about 10 years was the strawberry cake from Yeh’s, a tradition that ended after I developed an allergy to food coloring. (If you don’t want a whole large cake, they make a similar strawberry cake as a roll cake that is just as  good.) I’ve asked if they can make it without the food coloring and sadly, they cannot.

My late uncle Chester used to buy their Boston Cream Pie (Chinese version, a much more light and airy version than the American version) whenever he came to visit from New Jersey.
Curry Pastry (ga li jao)

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posted by jessica at 11:05 PM 5 Comments » Add a Comment
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Vacation at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) + Give-Away

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Anyone who loves to cook has heard of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). It is the premier culinary school of the United States and according to Paul Bocuse, “the best culinary school in the world.” What you may not know — I sadly did not — is that it is also the best food-lovers vacation as well! The CIA campus is best described as Hogwarts for chefs: from the buzz of food talk down every hall and corridor, the cathedral ceilings of their dining hall, to the scents that waft in every direction; there is a magical feel that must come from the dense concentration of master chefs and aspiring chefs all in one location. I felt a sense of home to a place I had never been before and I never wanted to leave. It is something every cooking enthusiast must experience for themselves.

Colavita Center

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posted by jessica at 12:03 PM 92 Comments » Add a Comment
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Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

It’s taken a very long time for winter to come this year and I’m not complaining.  However I have been waiting for my noodle soups; they are one of my favorite categories of food. (Have you ever thought about what your favorite food categories are, as opposed to favorite foods?) Credited for getting me through the freezing cold days, I just love wrapping my hands around steamy bowls bigger than my head. I slurp away my chills with Wonton Noodle Soup, Ramen, Pho, any noodle soup, I love them all! It seems crazy that FoodMayhem is nearing it’s fifth anniversary and yet I’ve never posted the noodle soup I grew up on: Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup.

Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup 4

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posted by jessica at 05:45 PM 8 Comments » Add a Comment
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Pinata Apples + Give-Away

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Those who know me know that I’m sort of a produce geek: especially after recently winning second place in a produce identification contest at The New York Produce Show. My love of new or exotic fruits and vegetables paid off! We’re always looking to diversify our meals with new items or interesting preparations or just tweaking with new varieties of the recipes we grew up with. Discovering new products happens everywhere including Chinese supermarkets (Ling Jow, Tatsoi, Korean melons)  or at the farmer’s markets (Sansa apples, Ground Husk Cherry Tomatoes, purple Kohlrabi). It’s especially fun when new and exciting ingredients show up at restaurants (crosnes at Le Cirque, lemon balm at Daniel).

Sliced Pinata Apple 6

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posted by jessica at 05:22 PM 49 Comments » Add a Comment
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