Jullie: Cooking with Mom | Korean-Style BBQ Shortribs

Back when the blog was still known as “Mangoes & Palm Trees”, my mom and I got together a few times for a Cooking with Mom series. Each recipe was our take on a different Filipino classic. All comfort foods. And readers really loved these dishes! (The crispy pork belly and garlic fried rice is still the blog's top-viewed recipe ever.) Now that the blog...and our style of cooking...have gotten a bit of a revamp, I’ve been wanting to bring mama back for more collaborations! :D

This time around, we're tackling one of our absolute favorites for grilling: Korean-style shortribs! My family and I love going out for some Korean food, and so often at family BBQ's, shortribs make an appearance. My mom and I, however, wanted to come up with a lighter twist on this hearty dish. So today's recipe was inspired by Judy Joo, host of the Cooking Channel’s Korean Food Made Simple, and her version of "kalbi.". 

Jullie & Chelsea: Poke Bowls

Happy Friday, everyone! Jullie here, and I am ecstatic to share the latest recipe that Chelsea and I whipped up together...

Fact: Chelsea and I would be perfectly happy plowing our way through bowls and bowls of poke. Also a fact: Poke bowls are suuuper easy to make at home! This dish has been long associated with the Hawaiian islands, but in recent years, poke-centric joints have been popping up all along the West Coast—some even offering modern, fusion twists. We’ve checked out places like North Shore in Huntington Beach and Fish Face in Downtown Sacramento, so it was about time we made our own versions, right in our very own kitchen! Here’s how we did it!

Jullie: Pitaya Pink Lemonade

A couple of weeks ago, Pitaya Plus posted this fun question on their Instagram: QUICK! You have a fresh cup of pitaya cubes in front of you...what do you make? So I immediately thought of one of my absolute FAVORITE things in the world...pitaya bowls!

Pitaya bowl with almond butter and granola...
Pitaya bowl at the Farm Fresh Juice Company...
Pitaya bowl on a beach in Hawai'i...
Pitaya bowl served IN a papaya...

*heart eyes* Clearly, I'm a huge fan of this fruit. But then I realized...I want to try something different with it! It'd be a perfect ingredient for a bright, summery, and refreshing drink! I finally got around to making that drink and am so excited to share it with you all...Pink Pitaya Lemonade!

Chelsea: One Week Down, Three to Go

Chelsea, here! And all I have to say is: Woof! Guys, this week has been crazy. I started this post LAST FRIDAY! But I've been so busy that I haven't had time to just sit down and type. But here it is, my week one...pretty much two...Whole30 recap!

Jullie & Chelsea: Spring Radish Salad with Apple, Goat Cheese, & Citrus Vinaigrette

Chelsea: Let me just start off by saying that I LOVE watermelon everything in the Spring and Summer months. If it's watermelon or pineapple, it's on like Donkey Kong for me. So when I saw sliced WATERMELON DAIKON in a salad on Jullie Anne’s Instagram (if you’re not following her, what are you doing with your life?), I texted her and said it was time for a blog reunion for some of this magical salad. And here we are today. 

Jullie Anne: I am so, so, so excited for the Spring and Summer months. It's obviously my favorite time of the year for fresh fruits and vegetables and visiting farmers markets. *super dreamy sigh* This salad is really a perfect recipe to kick the season off right...it's bright, and refreshing, yet hearty and yummy.

Jullie: Interview, Recipe & Giveaway with Author Megan Erickson!

Aside from cooking, another passion of mine is reading. And a genre I've come to love love love this year is New Adult! My younger cousin Samantha (and frequent adventure partner of mine!) started it all when she let me borrow a few of her books, and I've been hooked ever since! These books focus on college-aged characters, who learn life and love lessons while in that 18-25 age range. There are so many New Adult authors who capture the candid humor, sex appeal, and raw emotion from that stage, and they tell their stories with amazingly refreshing voices.

Megan Erickson happens to be one of my favorites, and her Bowler University novels were some of my top New Adult reads in 2014! With the third and final novel in the series releasing in just two weeks, I'm so excited to spotlight the most recent installment, Make It Right. Today's post has an exclusive interview with the author, a recipe inspired by a character from the book, AND a giveaway for a signed paperback copy of Make It Right!

Jullie & Chelsea: Friendsgiving Dessert...The CrumbleCrisp

Chelsea: How is it that we just wrote a post about Halloween-inspired cocktails, and here we are, just a couple of days away from Thanksgiving?! Initially, we planned on doing something with all of the leftover Halloween candy we had, but inspired by the rapidly approaching Thanksgiving holiday, instead ended up making this Pear Crumble...Crisp?...Crumble Crisp.

Jullie Anne: Yes! It was Chelsea's idea to make a Fall fruit crumble, and as soon as she requested it, I was on board. This is actually a perfect low-key recipe to add to your holiday dessert rotation. If you don't feel like fussing around with a pie crust or cake batter, or cranking out a ton of cookies...this is for you! It's not too sweet, letting the fruit really shine, and it just screams holidays and comfort!

Jullie & Chelsea: Halloween Happy Hour with Poison Apple Punch & Black Velvet

With Halloween only a week away, Chelsea and I decided to kick off our blogging adventure together with a cocktail post! Simple ingredient lists, quick and easy steps, delicious results! Party hosts and guests alike will enjoy these festive drinks!

Jullie Anne: Drinks are usually at the center whenever we get together. Aren't they, Chels? Plus, I'm a complete sucker for themed beverages...

Chelsea: Agreed! The best part about these recipes is that they can be enjoyed year round…especially by us ;)

Egg Sandwich with Balsamic-Roasted Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella

I know what you're thinking: Who needs a recipe for a sandwich?? Well, I'll tell you...The kind of person that wants balsamic-roasted tomatoes and buttery scrambled eggs on their sandwich. That's who!

Fact: I could eat an egg sandwich for any meal, at any time of the day. It's a convenient, hand-held meal that never gets old. Back in high school, I used to just toast up some bread then throw on the scrambled eggs and a load of sriracha. (Literally, I would throw them on. I was usually running late for class...) I'm totally a grown up now, though...*lifts chin, straightens posture*...so, these days, I like to take my time and get fancy when making my sandwiches.

Like this morning...I woke up and went straight out the door for an appointment. I didn't even leave myself enough time to make coffee. The worst. By the time I got home, I was starving. I mean, I'm-so-hungry-that-I-will-eat-this-cheese-straight-out-of-the-package-with-absolutely-nothing-else starving...The easy fix??? An egg sandwich with balsamic-roasted tomatoes and fresh mozzarella!

Raspberry Pistachio & Dark Chocolate Cream Puffs

February has been a busy, busy month. A list of all the events that have gone by so far: a company party, my parents' wedding anniversary, Jon's class Valentine's Day party (Jon's birthday is next week too!), my mom's birthday, and now...my birthday. How old am I turning, you ask? Mmm...let's just say, mid-twenties. ;)

Over the last few years, I've found that I'm not particularly crazy about big birthday cakes anymore. I had a fruit tart last year, chocolate souffles the year before that, and a pie the year before that. So I've decided to continue this No-Birthday-Cake tradition...with cream puffs!

If I had to come up with my dream dessert, it would have...fruit (duh), chocolate, something creamy, and something baked. Basically, these Raspberry Pistachio & Dark Chocolate Cream Puffs are pretty close to my idea of perfection! I also love that they're easy to make and it's easy to make A LOT of them. Because who wants to get stuck with complicated and time-consuming on their birthday...

Cheers, to Valentine's Weekend!

Did you think the fun was over?? It's also a 3-day weekend, so for the sake of your significant others, I hope you didn't! Here are 5 M&PT cocktails that will keep the good times flowing all weekend long!

Three Cheese Ziti with White Cheddar, Gruyere, & German Butterkase

There are probably millions of different mac 'n' cheese recipes in the world. Seriously. Cheese & pasta is one of those glorious combinations that you can switch up in so many different ways, creating delicious version after delicious version. So, today isn't about having The Perfect Recipe. It's about experimenting. Don't close the playbook on mac 'n' cheese just yet and call it game-over.

I recently came across a German cheese, called Butterkase, and knew instantly that I wanted to melt it into a rich, creamy sauce for some pasta. Butterkase is a semi-soft, cow's milk cheese, so it's smooth, creamy, and mild. (As my sister so eloquently put it, "Not too funky.") This cheese turned out to be a perfect addition to baked ziti!

The Hibiscus Hula (Cocktail!)

I'd like to wish a (slightly belated) Happy New Year to all of my readers! Let's toast to 2014!

I know there are probably a few of you who have either sworn off alcohol for awhile or have vowed to "go light" in a post-holiday detox. But, I promise, this cocktail is incredibly refreshing! The Hibiscus Hula will literally dance on your taste buds. It's a perfect addition to any weekend brunch! (What can I say, I'm a fan of vodka in the morning.) 

Adobo Pulled Pork (Slow Cooker!)

Happy Saturday, everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous, merry, merry Christmas! Now, the next few days are going to be a brief respite in between holiday celebrations, the calm before the New Year's Eve storm if you will...so I thought this was a perfect opportunity to just relax, enjoy the last weekend of the NFL regular season, and get excited for the playoffs. (Are you kidding me? Playoffs?!)

It's been a very long time since I've posted a game day recipe, and I'm very excited to share this one! Adobo Pulled Pork is inspired by the classic Filipino dish. It uses the same typical pantry ingredients as the original, but everything is cooked low-and-slow in a Crockpot.

Cranberry Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

When I think of Christmas, I think of cookies...gingerbread, decorated sugar, ones to serve Santa Claus on Christmas Eve...'Tis the season for cookies! (Jon's kindergarten class just had their Christmas party, and you know what there was plenty of???)

This recipe is a fun, simple "holiday dress-up" for my favorite cookie of all-time. Warm, always-comforting chocolate chips are festively paired with red, tart cranberries and rich, crunchy pecans! Not only is this an easy dough to whip up, the recipe makes a lot of petite-sized cookies. They're perfect for swap/exchange parties this weekend, nibbling on with tea or hot cocoa, and (of course) sharing with the kids!

Spanish Rolls

A few weeks ago, I tried a recipe for Spanish Rolls that I found on Catherine Toth's blog, The Cat Dish. This buttery soft bread is a staple at Filipino bakeries, and I've been working on getting the recipe just right for the holidays! When I was younger, a box of Spanish Rolls usually accompanied special occasions...whether it was served at a family party, a gift from an auntie, or from a stop at our favorite bakery in the Bay Area. We've always bought them already made, but this recipe showed me how easy it is to make my own version at home! (Especially when I get a super-craving...) The yeast-raised dough is filled with butter and sugar, so the aroma that fills your kitchen is almost enough to get you addicted. Once you take a bite of the pillowy soft rolls, though, you are definitely devouring a dozen...in one sitting.

Cooking with Mom: Lumpia Lettuce Wraps with Turkey & Veggies

Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away, so most of us have a pretty good idea of what we're going to cook on the big day. (Right??) We tend to focus on The Dinner, but we can't forget about what we're going to feed all the guests that arrive early! In my family, everyone loves to come over as soon as possible, especially to watch all of the football games. So, there needs to be a couple of dishes on the buffet table for everyone to munch on. This lettuce wrap recipe is perfect for gameday and as a light lunch! (No spoiled appetites!)

My mom and I came up with this recipe together, something that I'm extremely grateful for. A year ago, she was sick in the hospital, and the holiday was so far from our minds. I couldn't even begin to plan a big Thanksgiving dinner. Somehow, though, my sister and I were able to put one together at the very last minute. The food was great, and we were all happy to be home...but it was still rushed and a bit of a bittersweet night. This year, Mom is healthy and ready to enjoy the 2013 holiday on our terms!

Cranberry Apple Butter (Slow Cooker!)

Last Sunday, my sister and I took the kids out to Apple Hill. This "hill" is actually made up of over 50 family-run farms, including orchards, Christmas tree farms, and vineyards. The drive up there is so beautiful and relaxing on a Fall day, passing through an historic Gold Rush town and into the Sierra foothills of El Dorado County. When I was a kid, my elementary school used to organize field trips to the pumpkin patches and You-Pick ranches, and my family would go to cut down our tree for Christmas. Apple Hill brings back nothing but fun childhood memories, so it was exciting to bring my niece and nephew along for their very first trip!

It was also the perfect excuse to haul home a few pounds of apples and to make something delicious out of them! I was ready to enjoy the Autumn harvest! :)

Rice Pudding with Persimmons & Toasted Coconut Chips

Last Saturday, I got together with a few of my cousins, and it was a spectacular mix of food, laughs, and... more food. The next morning, per Filipino party tradition, I packed up my share of the leftovers and was sent home with a hefty bag of homegrown fruit. This time, they were persimmons! Yes! It's officially that time of the year!

Probably the only thing that I love more than shopping for fruit at the farmers market is receiving enormous bags of homegrown goodies. And, when Fall arrives, persimmons are the ones that I look forward to the most. (Fun story: My high school dance teacher and I used to have a deal. I would bring her homemade fried rice, and she would bring me persimmons and vegetables from her dad's garden. Thanks, Ms. Soliman!) They have a gorgeous orange color...making you think of pumpkins, Halloween, crisp leaves, Thanksgiving...and a flavor that's perfect for Autumn cooking! For my first bag of the season, I decided to turn a couple of persimmons into a sweet, juicy topping for creamy, spiced rice pudding!

Pumpkin Apple Muffins (Bishop's Pumpkin Farm!)

The food blog universe has been cranking out Fall recipes for awhile now. But me? I've been holding it off. Full. On. Denial. (Seriously, when the first chilly day came that I had to put on some pants and a hoodie, I almost cried.) In a desperate effort to extend Summer, I circled a particular date on my calendar and put off any Autumn-inspired cooking until then.

October 3rd. Jon's field trip to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm!

At that point, it would be too hard to ignore the season. We'd be surrounded by bright orange pumpkins, scarecrows, and corn mazes. Things like freshly pressed apple cider and deliciously spiced goods would be out for sale. I figured, alright, this would be quite the ceremonious way to say goodbye to my favorite season and say hello to the baking season. My first Fall baked good is inspired by this fun (and a bit chaotic) field trip!