Saturday, March 6, 2021

Thank you, Asia "Rice " (86 days left)

March 6, 2021

When Brent and I were first talking about the possibility of teaching abroad I remember approaching our kids.  "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?"  Adam, all of 8 years old responded, "Somewhere with rice."  Perfect!  Korea it is.

One year prior, we were hosting Sein, an exchange student from Korea.  One night she was going to make dinner for us, "Do you have a rice cooker?" she asked.  I didn't even know there was such a thing as a rice cooker!  Within days she took us to Walmart and helped us purchase our first rice cooker.  She then proceeded to teach us the secrets to cooking rice in the rice cooker.  First you rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear, using the water to feed your plants.  Then you check the water level by placing your hand on top of the rice until it reaches a particular level on your hand. This leads to perfect rice.  Little did I know how much rice I would consume in the next decade or so. 

Coconut Rice at Veggie SF in Central, Hong Kong

Of course for both Korea and Hong Kong rice is a staple.  There are many different types of rice available in small to huge bags of it.  When Covid-19 hit us first in Hong Kong, the run on toilet paper was soon followed by a run on rice.  At the time, I bought a huge 25 pound bag of it.  It has since been used.

It turns out that living in Asia for most of his life means that Alec much prefers rice more than potatoes with a meal.  He actually doesn't even like potatoes that much.  For me, it is about even, although I do get a hankering for good mashed potatoes now and then.  And, as you may expect, I have learned how to make fried rice from left over rice. 

Living in Asia has expanded our palate quite a bit, and amongst that is an appreciation for rice. Thank you, Asia. 

Uncooked sticky Rice which became. . . 
Mango Sticky Rice at cooking school in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Enjoy the menu at Chinese New Year 
. . . and here is the stir fried glutinous rice with preserved meat!

Photos by © Brenda Brayko. All rights reserved.




No comments:

Post a Comment

Please leave me a comment!