Experiment day

When we lived in Korea, we often went to a certain restaurant near our home. It was situated on the slope of a hill, and consisted of multiple little houses, all decorated in the traditional Korean style, with the traditional heated floors. The kids love it - they would bring their blankies and snuggle on the warm floor. The parents loved it too, both for the food and for the fact that the kids would fall asleep, snuggled on the warm floor!

One of the menu items was Pindaetok, a pancake made of mung bean powder, topped with green onions, beef, kimchi, bean sprouts, and whatever other ingredients of the day. They were delicious, and we always ate too much of this appetizer to fully do justice to the wonderful Korean bbq that followed.

So today we are going to try and make Pindaetok, or Bindae Dok with spicy soy dipping sauce. Report to follow.

P.S. Being a transplant to the south, I never thought I would like grits, until I tried garlic shrimp grits. Today I am adding the best cheese grits I have ever eaten to the list of Grits Likes. If I can persuade the maker to share the recipe, you can try it too.

Ami Simms Alzheimers Art Quilt Initiative Priority Quilts

Ami Simms is a well known quilter whose mom had Alzheimers. Ami decided to do something about it, and the Alzheimers Art Quilt Initiative was born. Quilters everywhere are helping the effort by constructing small quilts (fit into a Priority mailer) that Ami sells by auction on her website, or that serve as your "receipt" when you make a suitable donation to the AAQI at any the quilt shows Ami attends.
I am so thrilled that the three little quilts I sent were among those taken to the show in Houston, and that they were deemed worthy of $50, $50 and $65, by those willing to make a donation to the cause.

You can read more about Ami and her project here: Alzheimers Art Quilt Initiative

Rain = Comfort Food

It's pouring with rain here in Georgia today. Definitely a day to make something hot and full of carbs! Here's a recipe for a delicious corn casserole from allrecipes.com. You know I cannot leave a recipe alone, so I've added some optional ingredients for your tasting pleasure. I have tried all of them - even some combos of them - with great success.

RAINY DAY CORN CASSEROLE
(Good for any other day too)

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 (8.5 ounce) package dry corn bread mix
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained (or about 1 1/2 cups frozen, thawed under running water.)
1 (14.75 ounce) can creamed corn
1 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine butter, eggs, corn bread mix, whole and creamed corn and sour cream. Spoon mixture into prepared dish.
Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden brown.

You can add stuff if you want -  a can of chopped chilies, or some pimiento, or a handful of cheese, or sauteed onions and green peppers, or bacon. It’s very forgiving.