New day, New year

Happy Lunar New Year and Chuc Mung Nam Moi to all!

I wish all happiness, good health, and prosperity.

Or if you're in my boat then I will pass on my dear mother's absolutely adorable new year wishes that she emailed me today:

I wish you to always be pretty and young, and soon find the husband of your dreams.

If she knew how to bold, underline, and highlight, then I think she would've bolded, underlined, and highlighted the SOON.  Oh Mother dearest, you are so cute you make me smile...


(courtesy of Ngoc Dang)

Happy New Year!

Shaky shake shake

Every time it gets chilly outside, I wish that I was once again 7 years old and sitting in mama's kitchen while she cooks up a storm. I remember all the banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancakes) we'd make during snow days, or the bun and chao (rice porridge) on cold rainy days. To this day, every time it gets cold I wish I could get my hands on a sizzling pan, some pork, shrimp, and a head of lettuce to pour myself a banh xeo or two.

Since moving down to Houston, I've tried to spend more time in the kitchen. Cooking is something that I love, but can never quite find time for. Although this week may be one of the busiest weeks I've had so far, but then again every week seems to get busier than the last, I was determined to leave work early enough to cook a nice homemade meal instead of bumming off of Matt, sitting down at a restaurant, heating up soup, or just making a sandwich.

Tonight I decided to go with shaky beef. This is a recipe from my second favorite (mother is the first of course) source of recipes for my all time Vietnamese favorites: Ravenous Couple.

It's a relatively quick and easy dish with a lot of ingredients that can be found in the refrigerator, or easily substituted.

Spinach quiche has also been a quick favorite (although horribly unhealthy), hummus and guacamole and tzatziki are easy snacks, and I'm anxiously awaiting my clay pot so I can perfect my Ca Kho To (Vietnamese braised fish). I'll have to try harder to document future feats in the kitchen.

Next up, cheese and chocolate fondue. So stay tuned...

A quarter century later

A year ago, I took off for Vietnam, like Andrew Pham on his odyssey to the Motherland (in Catfish and Mandala), armed with only fuzzy memories of faces and places from my dreams.

This time, I was brought back on the same 23-hour flight -- but hopefully wiser, and definitely older.

The Company couldn't have given me a better birthday present than buying me a ticket to see my 88 year-old grandfather along with my uncle and cousins.

I miss you gramps. Wish I could be back for your 90th birthday!

"We all take different paths in life...

...but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere."

With the start of this new year, I've been binge cleaning, reorganizing, and compartmentalizing. As I lay out my shoes and hang up my new jewelry, my mind wanders to different parts of my life that also needs some cleaning, reorganizing, and compartmentalizing. 

As I cycle through the faces and places I've seen in 2010, I feel overwhelmed with nostalgia and fear that my little human brain would not be able to hold onto memories of all the lovely souls that I've crossed paths with. Remember you once wrote in someone's yearbook to "We'll always be best friends! Keep in touch!" Remember you once were inseparable with them. Remember you once told yourself "I'll never forget." Do you remember? Is it okay if you don't? 

What is the balance of holding onto the old, but still making room for the new??? 

Now, I normally don't make resolutions, but in 2011 I am resolving to dust off the memories and build shelves to make room for more. Many, many more. 

So as we go through 2011, please remind me to dust and clean. I sometimes may need a nudge, but I haven't forgotten you.