Pumpkin Pasties with Ground Beef, Onions, and Sage

In honor of National Pi Day and the imminent opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, I couldn't pass up the chance to make proper Harry Potter-inspired Pumpkin Pasties with Ground Beef, Onions, and Sage. I made Pumpkin Fillo Pasties last fall for my Harry Potter-inspired Birthday Party using fresh diced pumpkin, but since pumpkin is no longer in season, had to resort to canned pumpkin for this recipe. The mashed filling ended up making the pie soggy after a while, so it's best to eat these right away if you want to be able to hold them in your hands. They still tasted good when I reheated them in the toaster oven hours later, but needed to be plated.

I made the pumpkin pasties about 6 inches long, a good meal-sized pasty, about the size of the Cornish pasties I used to eat when I lived in London. The mashed pumpkin filling made this version sweeter than when I used fresh diced pumpkin, but make no mistake, these pasties are meant to be savory. Pack them for a picnic or for a ride on the Hogwarts Express.

English Cottage Pie with Ground Beef and Mushrooms

I've already blogged a regular English Cottage Pie with Ground Beef and Peas and Carrots, and Pate "Chinois" (Canadian "Chinese" Cottage Pie) with Ground Beef and Corn. So, I figured I'd change it up a bit by adding mushrooms.

Not much to say. It's a meal-in-one, or a great side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.

Harry Potter Tribute Exhibition - Nucleus Art Gallery and Store - Alhambra

I swung by Nucleus Art Gallery and Store in Alhambra to check out the opening night of its Harry Potter Tribute Exhibition but the line wrapped around the corner and far, far into the parking lot to the other end of the block. So I decided to visit my cousin and meet his new baby instead.

The next day I returned to check out the exhibit. I asked the clerk how many people showed up on opening night and he said they estimated 1,300! As it was, the last person in line didn't get through the door until nearly 11 p.m. Guess it's a good thing I didn't go because I don't have the patience to wait 4 hours in line. Bummed I missed out on the house-brewed butterbeer though. :(

I was really pleasantly surprised by the quality of the artwork. I think it truly shows how much people love Harry Potter and the whole universe that J.K. Rowling created. I took so many photos and even after paring them down, still ended up with 50 so be forewarned.

Thirsty Lion Pub and Grill - Tigard - Oregon

When we last left off, Gourmet Pigs and I had hiked the waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge and then enjoyed a Vietnamese venison and rice paper wrap dinner at home with my parents.

On her list of things she wanted to do in Oregon, eating at Bunk Sandwiches - Portland was #1. Second was going wine tasting. Since were going to be on that side of the river for the wineries, we also met up with my cousin T and baby M3 at Thirsty Lion Pub and Grill in Tigard, a restaurant my cousin had been wanting to try.




GP was a little weirded out that my cousin wanted to meet us at a pub with her baby, but I reassured her that Portland pubs are very family-friendly, leaning more toward restaurants than bars actually.

Tres by Jose Andres (Afternoon Tea) (SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills) - Los Angeles (Mid-City West)

After my brother stopped by with my adorable little niece, I was off to meet my childhood friend for afternoon tea at Tres by Jose Andres at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills.


Tres is to the right of the main entrance of the hotel and is separate from Andres' more well-known restaurant, The Bazaar. Upon seeing the bookcases in the outside entrance, I knew I would already be charmed.

Chocolate Ale (Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar) Cake

I'd been wanting to try Nigella Lawson's recipe for chocolate Guinness cake for a while. Not really because I had any affinity for beer in desserts, but because I had a bottle of Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar that seemed perfect for the recipe and oldest nephew's birthday was just the excuse I needed. I guess anyone else would just drink the beer, but the recipe only calls for one cup, so I saved the rest of the bottle for oldest nephew and lil' sis to finish off.

I did make some minor adjustments to Nigella's recipe. After converting ml to oz, I also increased the amount of sour cream and cocoa, and decreased the amount of sugar per my tastebuds. The result was a very moist, slightly damp cake, with the nutty aroma of hazelnuts. The ale seemed to enhance the flavor of the chocolate. The frosting was just a mixture of whipped cream, cream cheese, and powdered sugar, a light complement to the richness of the cake.

Definitely a winner. I wonder what this cake would taste like if I substituted a non-alcoholic drink such as root beer? Hmmm.

English Cottage Pie with Ground Beef, Peas, and Carrots

Mmm. I love pie, whether it be the kind with a flaky crust or the kind with a mashed potato crust. And lil' sis loves mashed potatoes, whether it be from real potatoes or from a box. She even prefers gravy from a package. I know!

After washing the dishes and digging through my fridge to see what I had to use up, I realized that I had bought a bunch of food over the weekend to cook for lil' sis, except that she decided to leave early. Since I was feeling stir-crazy, I decided I would cook it all and surprise her that evening. I made Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes with gravy from a packet (I know!), Feta Cheeseburgers (or rather I did the meat mixture and figured I'd shape them into patties at her place), Macaroni and Cheese with Beef and Tomatoes, and this English Cottage Pie. I've always called it Shepherd's pie, but apparently that requires minced lamb. We, Americans, don't really differentiate though, but I do try to be accurate when I can.

Mon Me: Vietnamese Baguettes and More - London - United Kingdom

I was in London exactly four years ago today. I scored a last-minute plane ticket for a non-stop flight from LAX to Heathrow for $377. Cousin Q's youngest aunt had moved from Sydney, Australia to London earlier that year and said I could stay with her. With a free place to stay and a plane ticket that was just too good to pass up, I went for a four-day weekend. Even though I hadn't seen her since my trip to Australia years before that, "auntie" H (she's not really my auntie and she's several years younger than me) generously took me around and fed me.

A few months ago, cousin E left for a year's study abroad in London. Again, auntie H generously offered up her place. Then, when she asked cousin E what I was up to these days, the blog came up. And guess what? Turns out, without knowing it was me, auntie H reads the blog too! :)




Of course, when I asked what auntie H was up to, the biggest news was that she and a friend are opening a banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) stall at the Sunday UpMarket. Mon Me, mom's (or mum's if you're Aussie or English) recipes, starts Sunday, October 18, in fact!

Love Actually Mr. Bean: Banoffee Pie, Flapjacks, Ginger Bears, Kendal Mint Cake, Twiglets, and Worcester Sauce and Prawn Cocktail Potato Crisps

When I first started blogging I just wrote.

I didn't reveal very much so my posts had little personality. I wasn't sure whether this was something I wanted to continue. I obviously didn't have any readers. I didn't tell anyone I knew about it at all.

I can't remember when or how the rest of my cousins found out. I think the questions started when the camera came out. Then came the mass email to all the cousins. Some are regular readers, a few comment, and of course, cousin Q started a food blog too. Some of my cousins' friends are lurkers; a few are lurkers who later found out the blog they've been reading was actually their friend's cousin. Did you follow those trains of thought? :P

As for my friends, I remember emailing some of them the link when I posted my recipe for Cha Gio (Vietnamese Egg Rolls) simply because some had asked for other recipes before. As far as I know, only one friend actually reads my blog on a regular basis, a few others read it sporadically.

So who am I writing to when I blog?

Sometimes I'm writing just for me. Casting a net and pulling in a few readers. Like real life, I tend to let others initiate contact. Somewhere between the comments about food, a conversation starts, and sometimes it evolves into friendship. Which is how Oanh of Halfway Between Ca Mau and Sai Gon came into my life.

I love you Oanh! Evidently, she loves me too. When I proposed a food swap, I wasn't expecting such bounty. You can read Oanh's post about what I sent to her in "The Joys of Blogging."

Sorry, you don't get to see what's written on the other side of the card. :P But wanna see what's under the plastic bubble wrap?

Shortbread Cookies with Lavender

So after discovering how very yummy and easy it was to make shortbread cookies, I decided to add a bit of lavender. It worked so well with lavender biscuits (the American kind), that I already knew it'd be a success. I made these in bar and round cookie form. But I think the texture is much better in bar form. Or I guess, I could have made the round cookies thicker... Shortbread Cookies with Lavender For 1 dozen cookies, you'll need: 1 cup flour 1 stick butter, about 1/2 cup, softened at room temperature Slightly less than 1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed (I find 1/4 cup too little, 1/3 a tad too sweet, so slightly less than 1/3 it is. Unless you have a sweeter tooth than mine.) 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp lavender seeds Leave the butter out at room temperature until softened. Beat slightly less than 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract into the butter until creamy. Add in 1 cup flour and 1 tsp lavender and mix thoroughly. The mixture will be very loose and powdery but just keep kneading it in the bowl until it comes together. Should take just a few minutes. Press into a greased 8x8-inch pan. Prick with a fork. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-30 minutes. When you take the cookies out of the oven, immediately slice the shortbread into bars while it's still soft. Let cool and break apart. If you don't like the shape of the bars, you can also bake them into a circle and slice into wedges. Or form small balls and flatten into traditional round cookie shapes. Enjoy! My other cookie recipes: Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies Chocolate Ginger Cookies So Easy Even a 2-year-old Can Make Them Everything but the Kitchen Sink Cookies Meyer Lemon Shortbread Bars Shortbread Cookies with Brown Sugar Slightly Spiced (Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg) Molasses Cookies ***** 1 year ago today, coconut flan with step-by-step photo instructions.

Shortbread Cookies with Brown Sugar

I used to stuff my suitcase with boxes of Walkers shortbread cookies every time I passed through the U.K. These days you can find them in most stores for pretty much the same price or even cheaper so they weren't such a novelty anymore. And then of course, enter the blog. I wanted to make my own. Shortbread cookies got their name because of the "short" crumbly texture. A quick Google search came up with this recipe from Allrecipes. I liked that there were just three ingredients - flour, sugar, butter. But 2 cups of butter, 1 cup of sugar, and 4 1/2 cups of flour. Eek! I don't need to make 4 dozen cookies. Just 1 dozen will do. :) The brown sugar really does make a difference in this recipe. I find brown sugar less sweet than white sugar, with a deeper flavor. Shortbread Cookies with Brown Sugar Adapted from Allrecipes For 1 dozen cookies, you'll need: 1 cup flour 1 stick butter, about 1/2 cup, softened at room temperature Slightly less than 1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed (I find 1/4 cup too little, 1/3 a tad too sweet, so slightly less than 1/3 it is. Unless you have a sweeter tooth than mine.) 1 tsp vanilla extract Leave the butter out at room temperature until softened. Beat slightly less than 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract into the butter until creamy. Add in 1 cup flour and mix thoroughly. The mixture will be very loose and powdery but just keep kneading it in the bowl until it comes together. Should take just a few minutes. Press into a greased 8x8-inch pan. Prick with a fork. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-30 minutes. When you take the cookies out of the oven, immediately slice the shortbread into bars while it's still soft. Let cool and break apart. If you don't like the shape of the bars, you can also bake them into a circle and slice into wedges. Or form small balls and flatten into traditional round cookie shapes. Enjoy! My other cookie recipes: Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies Chocolate Ginger Cookies So Easy Even a 2-year-old Can Make Them Everything but the Kitchen Sink Cookies Meyer Lemon Shortbread Bars Shortbread Cookies with Lavender Slightly Spiced (Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg) Molasses Cookies ***** 1 year ago today, I lamented about the kilt shortage in Scotland and showed you what Scotsmen really wear underneath their kilts. WARNING: View with caution! ;)

Would You Care for a Spot of Tea?

Potstickers + wontons + cucumber sandwiches = an Asian-inspired tea party. Part of the appeal of an afternoon tea is the chance to use my lovely teapots and teacups. So recently when my cousins were over and I was in the midst of making potstickers anyway, I decided to turn it into an impromptu tea party. I chose a lovely whole leaf green tea. (To keep green tea from tasting bitter, boil water, turn off burner and let rest until water is no longer bubbling, and then pour almost-but-not-quite-boiling water over green tea leaves.) Now, you know how much I like having lovely things in my kitchen. I love a bargain even more. I've simply collected them throughout the years, and occasionally I meet someone who loves bargains and lovely girly things as much as I do. The teapot was $9.99 from TJMaxx. The sugar and creamer were $5.99 from Target's Rachel Ashwell Simply Shabby Chic collection. The dipping saucers and chopsticks rests were about 10 cents each, souvenirs from my month in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2005. This teacup and saucer set was 75 cents from a thrift store. I've got three of these sets of slightly different flowers.

The tea party was inspired by a recent slew of good finds at the thrift store. This Wilendur dogwood tablecloth was $6. I've seen it sell on eBay for $30 and up. This set of teacups and saucers was $3. The porcelain is so fine that I can see the light shine through the teacups. The Churchill Blue Willow design transferware teacups and saucers were $2 apiece. According to Amazon, the two birds represent Chinese star-crossed lovers. This set of plates was $3.

This set was $2.50. I couldn't resist sharing my display of recent treasures and I hope you liked it too. Isn't there a little girl inside of you who loved to play tea party? On the way out, one of my cousins asked for crumpets and scones for our next tea party. Hmm. Must find some good recipes to try before then. In the meantime, would you care for a spot of tea? Other tea party posts: Afternoon Tea in the Garden with Portland from Glendora and Angel Face Roses Thanksgiving Leftovers Afternoon Tea

Cucumber Sandwiches

The first time I made cucumber sandwiches was for a friend's bridal shower several years ago. She wanted an English tea theme. I had served my mom's homemade banh pa te so (Vietnamese pate chaud), mini muffins, cake, tuna salad sandwiches, and cucumber sandwiches.

The cucumber sandwiches were a sidenote, a nod to the fact that we were having an afternoon tea and I didn't think much of it. Little did I know they ended up being the most popular item. Apparently the following day, my friend's future sister-in-law brought her mother over so she could sample some too, but there weren't any leftovers.

Cucumber Sandwiches

For 8 small sandwiches, you'll need:

4 slices of white bread, crusts removed (I prefer potato or buttermilk bread for softness.)
A couple inches of seedless English cucumber, sliced as thinly as possible.
Butter
Cream cheese

After slicing the English cucumber as thinly as possible, lightly sprinkle salt over the slices and set aside.

Butter one slice of bread. Apply cream cheese to the other slice.

Layer the cucumber slices on one slice of bread, and place the other slice over the top. Trim the crusts.

You can cut the sandwiches into rectangles or squares. I like slicing mine on the diagonal in half and then quarters to create little triangles.

Didn't my cousin do a lovely job of making these sandwiches while I directed her?

On British English, Spotted Dick, and Kalonji Seeds

J.K. Rowling revealed the title of book 7. Yippee. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

I've got both the American and British versions of the Harry Potter books. Why? Because the first few American versions changed some of the British English and foods to make it more understandable to American kids. Sigh. Really, does everything need to become Americanized?

As the Harry Potter books became more popular, the American version was released at the same time as the English edition so much of the British English stayed.

Isn't it more fun to read about "snogging" instead of kissing? And imagining a Hogwarts treasure trove of good eats such as treacle pudding and spotted dick? :)

P.S. Kalonji seeds are also known as black onion seeds. Although they're not really black onion seeds either.

Kilt Shortage?

OK, I'll make this post slightly food related by first stating my deep love for Scottish chocolate whiskey, deep-fried Mars bars, and Shortbread Cookies with Lavender. Now that that's out of the way, did everyone see the article about a kilt shortage for Scottish soldiers? There's only enough kilts for one out of 15 soldiers. I dunno about you, but I'd have a hard time going commando in another man's fatigues. Now, I know these days most Scotsmen wear boxers underneath their kilts. But many also stick to tradition and wear nothing. Nothing. Heh. I feel like I should reveal why he felt so compelled to show me his Scottish lion tattoo. But I'll leave that up to your imagination. Now do ya'll know why I love Scotland? ;) Photo taken on the Royal Mile during the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2003.