Monday, October 24, 2016

Seaweed, rice cakes, Christine, Paterson . . .

delicious rice cakes
Korean persimmon tea is simmering on the stove as I type and the whole house smells like cinnamon and ginger. Very cozy and autumnal.

Korean dishes cooked this week:

*Sauteed tofu. From Robin Ha’s Cook Korean! Sauté tofu, top with a sauce of soy and sesame oil. Nice. Bland. Simple. Little else to say. Recipe here.

*Seaweed salad, also from Cook Korean! You rehydrate dried seaweed, mix with julienned cucumber and carrot, dress with a sugary, vinegary dressing, and eat. Or don’t eat. This recipe does not yield the dainty, finely shredded seaweed salad you’ll find at sushi restaurants, but a salad with biggish, dark, slippery leaves. (Though obviously you could go ahead and shred the seaweed.) I liked it. Mark: “It doesn’t look good, it doesn’t taste good. I think I might have fatigue from challenging meals.” 

*Spicy rice cakes. I’ve tried two recipes for Korean spicy rice cakes now, Maangchi’s and Robin Ha’s. They look almost identical, but Maangchi’s recipe is more precise and better.* The dish consists of wonderfully chewy cylindrical rice cakes cooked in a light, easy fish broth and spiced exuberantly with red pepper flakes and gochujang. Traditionally, it calls for fish cake but I have learned that I don’t like Korean fish cake, which is flat, with the texture of fabric. So for my second try at spicy rice cakes I omitted the fish cake and fried a half pound ground pork, salted it, and folded it in to the rice cakes at the end. Ravishing. Those are the changes I made to the recipe here. (Although Maangchi says otherwise in her headnote, you could use chicken stock if you are not prepared to track down dried anchovies and kelp. However, keep in mind that both ingredients are readily available at Asian markets and the broth could not be easier to make.)



*Butter dumplings from Koreatown by Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard. So outlandish I had to try this recipe which you’ll find along with a little backstory here. This is basically the standard formula for Chinese and Korean dumplings except that in addition to ground pork, cabbage, ginger, and garlic, it calls for a pound of butter. 

You read that right, friends. A pound of butter. Hardcore.

You knead that pound of softened butter into the meat the best you can and stuff your dumplings. Some of the butter leaked out in the cooking, but there was plenty left inside the dumplings and you could see it and taste it. I watched the butter run down Owen’s chin after he bit into a dumpling and there was congealed butter on the plates when I went to put them in the dishwasher. Yes, it freaked me out. The dumplings were buttery and delicious, but not delicious enough to outweigh my qualms. Fun. Never again.

I have to take a short break from cooking Korean food this coming week, given that both Mark and Owen are rebelling. But I’ll be back to it soon. 

****

On another subject, I’ve seen lots of great movies in the last few weeks, thanks in part to the Mill Valley Film Festival. A couple of these haven’t opened yet, but here are my recommendations, both whole-hearted and qualified: 

American Honey, directed by Andrea Arnold, got under my in in big way.  It’s about a crew of kids who drive around the country selling magazines, drinking mezcal, falling in love, getting in trucks and convertibles with strangers, dumpster diving, and other good stuff. It’s long and meandering and I can see all its flaws but I could have sat there all day watching the story, such as it is, unfold, and listening to the music. It was like being inside a strange yet mysteriously familiar dream.

Christine, about a Florida newscaster who shot herself on air in 1974 just before her thirtieth birthday, was like being inside a strange yet grimly familiar nightmare. The nightmare of those rancid moments/days/weeks in your life when you couldn’t seem to do anything right, when you were at war with yourself and your mother and the world and increasingly sure that nothing good — not professional success, not love, not peace of mind — was in your future. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, count your blessings!) The film featured an incredible lead performance by Rebecca Hall and was the most deeply unpleasant good movie I’ve seen in recent weeks with the possible exception of A Quiet Passion. 

You probably know that Emily Dickinson had a hard life but if you didn’t A Quiet Passion will fill you in on all the sad details, from the romantic frustrations to the seizures. (It also shows the rapturous joy Dickinson took in her work, which she did in the wee hours of the morning, by candlelight, before the rest of her family got out of bed.) Like Christine, it features a powerful performance from a lead actress, in this case Cynthia Nixon. Like Christine is its wrenching to watch. If you have a robust appetite for harrowing movies, see both of these films. If you have a limited appetite, just see Quiet Passion. If you have no appetite skip these two and go see Paterson, about a sweet-natured New Jersey poet/bus driver who finds grace in everyday life. Paterson, set in Paterson, New Jersey, is lovely, offbeat, and droll. Fans of Adam Driver will want to see this for sure, as will fans of William Carlos Williams.

Another lovely movie: California Typewriter, a documentary about a typewriter shop in Berkeley, California and the universe of typewriter enthusiasts, which includes Tom Hanks and Sam Shepard and a lot of delightful weirdos. I dragged Owen to this one and I was pretty sure I was going to have to do something nice to make it up to him afterwards, but we both loved it. We both want a typewriter now.

Everyone I know who’s seen Certain Women thought it was boring but, as with American Honey, I wouldn’t have minded if this film, which stars Laura Dern and Michelle Williams, had lasted all day. It tells the stories of three women dealing with crushes, careers, and construction projects in wintry Montana and I concede, it was kind of boring. For me, it was the right kind of boring. 

Not at all boring: Moonlight. As all the reviews have argued, this movie about a sensitive black kid growing up in the projects, is brilliant. If you think you might have trouble getting inside the head and tender heart of a silent, muscle-bound drug dealer with gold grillz and a do-rag, you haven’t seen Moonlight. You should. The Terry Gross interview with the writer and director was fascinating.


YUM

48 comments:

  1. You wrote that you are not going to make the butter dumplings again; don't you think you might like them if you put in half as much butter? Loved reading your movie reviews.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much for the movie reviews. I was just researching movies this weekend, but I didn't find much. Where do you get your ideas for movies?
    As to butter, it is a much maligned fat. It is a medium chained triglyceride, and it is used for energy much more than storage, that is if you move enough, and if you are still doing crossfit, you have nothing to fear! I eat tons of the stuff, and my cholesterol numbers are not bad. Not nearly as good as olive oil, but not nearly as bad as most animal fats. All that to say, I use olive oil when I can, and butter when I need that flavor. I also buy pastured cow butter when I don't feel guilty about paying for it, since the lipid profile for pastured butter is so much better than industrial butter. Why do you feel guilty eating butter? Do you know something I don't?
    I'm sorry to hear that I will have to wait and see if you make that pumpkin porridge! But better you give the boyz a break.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I haven't seen Certain Women yet, but I live in Montana and everyone here is super stoked on it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love all the posts, I really enjoyed, I would like more information about this, because it is very nice., Thanks for sharing.

    defend your nuts 2 | atari breakout | atari breakout game | cat mario

    ReplyDelete
  5. Korean food has never been at the top of my list so I've really appreciated hearing about your recent meals, which have broadened my sense of it. I can't say I feel further enticed to give it another shot, but this is entirely about my own preferences and has nothing to do with your efforts, which I naturally applaud. I would probably be in Owen's camp!

    Did you see this? http://www.lottieanddoof.com/2016/10/sqirl-4eva/

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm Paterson born - can't wait to see how right, or wrong, Jarmusch got Silk City. I've already heard some *bloopers* in interviews...

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can't wait to see Certain Women, and I'm obsessed with Moonlight.

    Typewriters are wonderful objects. I finally got rid of mine in a move a few years ago, but for several years I used it fairly regularly.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love Yakult! Some of the Korean restaurants here serve it after the meal and I'm always happy to see it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really enjoyed, I would like more information about this, because it is very nice.Thanks for sharing.
    swords and souls 2 | strike force kitty 2 | swords and souls game | red ball 4 | swords and souls 2 | strike force kitty | ninjago games | swords and souls

    ReplyDelete
  10. OK, Jennifer, time to come back to the blog. Lots of us are "gutted", but we must go on. Let's talk food, movies, and books! We need comfort where we can find it, and this is the place!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. beckster, I feel like the British press did when Diana died and they were pleading with the Queen to make some sort of statement: "SPEAK TO US, MA'AM!"

      Delete
  11. A very good and informative article indeed . It helps me a lot to enhance my knowledge, I really like the way the writer presented his views. I hope to see more informative and useful articles in future. starfall | barney | minecraft games

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tipsy, you're posts are missed! Hope you haven't been stunned into silence by the election!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ETA: "your" posts

      {I hate accidental grammatical typos like that}

      Delete
  13. Jennifer, I miss you, and I hope things are well with you and yours. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and thank you for all the intellectual and culinary stimulation this year from the blog. And thank you to Jennifer's blog community for lively discussions. I'm grateful for you all.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hey, Jennifer, I know it feels pointless to blog about anything besides politics and/or heartbreak right now. Selfishly, because your voice is one of my favorites, I wish you would go ahead and blog about politics and heartbreak. Of course, I also hope nothing else is wrong personally. Quiet or not, sending you hugs from a stranger.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wondering if you had a chance to read this:

    http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/22/magazine/gabrielle-hamilton-feast-in-new-york-city.html

    ReplyDelete
  16. Tipsy, come back!! Your posts are missed!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dear Jennifer, We miss you and we understand. But we cannot retreat from the world, we must continue to build community, to connect, to make things, to create, to nurture one another with our words, our foods--whatever gifts we have to share. Yours is a platform that allows us to appreciate the wonderful magic of difference and deliciousness in the cultures of this world--please don't underestimate that as a contribution toward making this a more tolerant, appreciative world! We are all looking forward to your next post!
    Alphabet Soup

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just a short note to say, I miss you and your wonderful posts! I know it's hard to obsess over cookbooks and recipes since the election. I have that trouble too. But we all need to eat.

    On another note, have you read the Elena Ferrante novels yet? I'm just on the first one, but I like it so much. I think you would enjoy it too.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rice cakes look so yummy, and the flavor i love the most is spicy. Thank for an informative article

    ReplyDelete
  20. In the name of many affordable Louis Vuitton handbags in front of some people with the big slip, but in vain to back the brand Chanel handbags name is still aunt street; and smart fashion fine they will know how to use the same money to buy the noble fashion Rolex Air King section .If you have determined to get rid of Aunt, promotion of fashion fine, then first look at the luxury entry five best?Original Rolex Watches?and the most worthwhile investment in five international Omega Watches Replica big bar.As if the brand of Replica Tag Heuer had to recommend, can not find a reason not recommended.?

    ?
    Louis Vuitton handbags


    Rolex Air King

    1:1 Replica Breitling Watches


    Chanel handbags


    Original Rolex Watches


    Omega Watches Replica


    Replica Tag Heuer

    ReplyDelete
  21. Please come back, Tipsy! You are missed.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Please come back! We need your wit more than ever.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi. Longtime reader here. I'm sure you've read Barbara Kingsolver's post election essay by now: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/23/trump-changed-everything-now-everything-counts?CMP=share_btn_link
    Miss your posts. Take care, Karen

    ReplyDelete
  25. هل تعاني من الكثير من الحشرات المزعجة فى منزلك, وتريد ان تتخلص منها بطريقة امنة
    تقدم لكم خدمة القضاء الحشرات بالدمام للقضاء التام على كل انواع الحشرات التي تسبب الكثير من الامراض,
    فسكان المملكة السعودية معروضون الى اصابة منازلهم دائما بالحشرات لان المناخ صحراوي بالمملكة
    ولذلك عملينا العزيز يجب عليك فورا التخلص من تلك الحشرات اذا ظهرت لكى لا تتكاثر بمنزلك وتسبب لك الكثير من الامراض الخطيرة على صحتك وعلى صحة اسرتك
    كثير من سكان المملكة السعودية تصاب منازلهم بالحشرات المزعجة والتي تسبب الكثير من المتاعب في الكثير من الأُسر ,
    نحن في شركة مكافحة الحشرات بالدمام نقوم بتخليصك من كل الحشرات المزعجة الى الابد وعدم رجوعها ابدا
    شركة تنظيف بالقطيف
    شركة تسليك مجاري بالقطيف
    شركة تسليك مجارى براس تنوره
    شركة تسليك مجارى بالجبيل
    فنحن ذو خبرة لأعوام في مكافحة الحشرات ورش المبيدات نتخلص من كل الحشرات المزعجة وذلك عن طريق عمالة مدربة جيداً وذو خبرة ممتازة في مكافحة الحشرات عمالتنا
    يقومون بالتخلص من الحشرات باستخدام المبيدات اللازمة الأمنة .
    شركة رش مبيدات بالدمام
    نقوم بالتخلص من كافة انواع الحشرات مثل الصراصير وحشرات النمل الابيض,
    وأيضا مكافحة بق الفراش, و مكافحة الخنافس و النمل الاسود و مكافحة حشرات العته ايضا مكافحة الفئران,
    و مكافحة الثعابين ومكافحة جميع انواع الحشرات الاخرى السامة والغير سامة .
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخبر
    إطمن دائما معنا فلدينا عمالة ماهرة في مكافحة الحشرات فان كنت تعاني من الحشرات فلن تجد افضل من شركتنا
    العمالة لدينا مخصصة لمكافحة الحشرات حيث يقومون بالتخلص من كافة انواع الحشرات مع العلم ان كل حشرة لها مبيد حشري معين,
    تلك العمالة تتوصل ايضا الى المكان الذي تأتي منه تلك الحشرات فان كانت تلك الحشرات الموجودة بمنزلك صراصير
    فلابد ان يوجد مكان في منزلك يدخل من خلاله تلك الصراصير والتوصل لذلك المكان هو الحل لنصف المشكلة
    وبعد ذلك نتخلص من الحشرات بسهولة تامة الموجودة بالمنزل بسهولة لاننا ذات خبرة طويلة في مكافحة حشرات بالدمام,
    توجد المئات من شركات المكافحة للحشرات بالمملكة و التي تقدم كل خدمات رش المبيدات ومكافحة الحشرات
    ولكننا في شركتنا نتميز عن باقي الشركات بالعديد من الاشياء والتى تجعلنا من افضل الشركات واهمها
    واساسها الخبرة والسعر والمستوى والعمالة

    ReplyDelete
  26. شفط الصرف الصحي بالدمام
    اقبل الشتاء وسيواجه اهالى مدينة الدمام مشكلة من اصعب واخطر المشكلات المتعبة
    أولها انسداد بيارات المجارى وانسداد شبكات الصرف الصحى وهى المواسير
    و يعانى من هذة المشكلة الجميع ويظلون فى البحث عن شركة رائدة متخصصة فى اصلاح كافة المشاكل الخاصة باعطال انسداد المجارى
    ونحن شركة تسليك مجارى بالخبر لدينا من الخبرات الكبيرة التى نكتسبها من اعمالنا السابقة نؤكدلك عملينا العزيز أننا وبكل جدارة وخبرة
    افضل شركة تسليك مجارى بالدمام رخيصة التكلفة وفى نفس الوقت ماهرين فى العمل
    تعمل الشركة بافضل الطرق الحديثة والاساليب المتطورة علي ايدي افضل العاملين والمتخصصين في هذا المجال
    حيث ان الشركة تمتلك طاقم عمل مدرب علي اعلي مستوي علي ايدي خبراء ماهرين وفنيين محترفين
    حيث لاتتواجد هذه المواد الخاصة بالعمل الا داخل شركتنا فقط وهذه واحده من اهم ما يميز
    افضل شركة تسليك مجارى بالدمام عن غيرها من باقي الشركات الاخرى المنافسة فى المجال
    كما يوجد لدينا العديد من الخصومات الهائلة فنقدم خدماتنا باقل الاسعار التى تتناسب مع جميع عملائنا الكرام
    يوجد لدينا فنيون ومهندسون وخبراء مدربون على اعلى مستوى
    وذلك حيث يمكنهم معرفة تحديد الاسباب التى تتسبب فى انسداد المجارى ولان من اصعب الاشياء هو انسداد المجارى الخاصة بالمنزل فهو يوقف الحياه بالمنزل
    و يتسبب فى مشاكل فى غاية الخطورة لاننا دائما نستعمل الحمامات والمطابخ
    وعند انسداد المجاى تتوقف الحياه كما ينتج عنها الروائح الكريهه التى تضر بالمنزل
    وايضا انسداد المجارى وذلك ينتج عنها اضرار خطيرة بالمنزل نفسه من تسربات بالمياه وتحت البلاط وتسربات بالجدران
    فلا تقلق عملينا العزيز من كل ذلك فلدينا المهارة والخبرة العالية فى اعمالنا لحل كل ذلك .

    ReplyDelete

  27. شركة تنظيف منازل وبيوت بتبوك شركة الصفا والمروه
    شركة الصفا والمروه شركة تنظيف منازل وبيوت شركة تنظيف منازل بتبوك فنحن لدينا احدث الالات والمعدات المتطوره وافضل المواد واجودها ويقوم بهذه الخدمات فريق عمل خاص ومتميز ولديه احدث الاساليب فى القيام بعمليات النظافه ونقدم جميع خدماتنا باسعار تناسب جميع العملاء دائما الناس يقعون فى مشكلات نظافة بيوتهم اما لمساحتها الكبيره او لانشغالهم بعمل ما او وجود مناسبه لديهم وبعض الامور لا يقدرون على نظافتها مثل تنظيف المسابح والخزانات فلا تحتاروا ولا تترددوا فلدى شركتنا شركة تنظيف منازل وبيوت بتبوك شركة الصفا والمروه
    شركة نقل عفش بتبوك

    ReplyDelete
  28. I’ve been cooking that for a while now but I’m still yearning to be able to try the real thing. ?? Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I like to get up early to go out and breathe fresh air. I feel that it is good for health and a good habit
    19216811ll.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Excellent article. Keep writing such kind of information on your blog .
    Im really impressed by it.
    buy marijuana online
    You’ve performed a fantastic job. I’ll definitely
    digg it and for my part recommend to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be
    benefited from this web site.
    marijuana for sale
    buy marijuana
    buy marijuana online usa
    buy marijuana online
    buy weed online usa
    buy weed online
    marijuana for sale
    order weed online
    buy cannabis online
    cannabis for sale
    weed for sale online
    weed for sale
    buy pot online
    buy cbd oil online
    kush for sale
    cbd oil for sale
    dankwoods
    dankwoods for sale

    ReplyDelete
  31. update nuvi maps free-Update the Garmin gadget with the most recent guide. Follow the means to get profound bits of knowledge on the most proficient method to refresh Garmin GPS.

    ReplyDelete
  32. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. 바둑이사이트넷

    ReplyDelete
  33. Just continue to write an inpirational blog!! Please visit also my website. 카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  34. I like how the way the you wrote this! Such an amazing idea. 카지노

    ReplyDelete