Rau Den Xao Chao (Vietnamese Amaranth / Chinese Red Spinach Sauteed with Fermented Bean Curd)

When I first blogged about Rau Den (Vietnamese Amaranth) back in October 2008, I boiled it, the way my ba noi (Vietnamese paternal grandmother) taught me. I had tried sauteing it once, but there wasn't enough moisture for it to work. Or perhaps, my limited cooking skills weren't able to make it work back then.

Then in March 2009, while having dinner at my brother's house, I tried sauteing it again with good results. Actually, he had invited me and lil' sis over because he had bought some fresh smelt that he wanted to batter and deep-fry. We showed up and he hadn't even started cooking yet. I even brought over the oil, but he still had to run out to buy more. Before he ran to the store, he showed me a bag of rau den that he had bought at the farmers' market and asked if I could do something with it.

Memorial Day Weekend Barbecue

I asked cousin Q's older brother if he was going to throw a Memorial Day barbecue. It's tradition! I said.

Since when?

Since he hosted last year's Memorial Day barbecue! And every other year, right? I have proof! I can go back through the blog and prove it, I insisted. Except, umm, when I did go back, I realized 2008's Memorial Day barbecue was hosted by my brother and 2007's Memorial Day barbecue was held at my oldest uncle's house.

Oops. :P

Maybe I confused it with when cousin Q's older brother hosted the July 4th barbecue?

So let's make it a tradition! Yeah? :P

Xa Lach Thit Bo (Vietnamese Steak Salad)

Most of the time when I make a steak these days, I usually just eat it with an iceberg lettuce salad and ranch dressing or rice. My quick and lazy meal. But earlier this week when I did that, the simple dinner just didn't satisfy me.

I started to remember the Vietnamese steak salad my mom used to make when I was young. I know she used some of the extra marinade for the dressing, but remembered it tasting, well, more. So I called up my mom and asked her.

Ah, soy sauce, vinegar, and oil. Salad dressing of course, but a brothy, beefy salad dressing to complement the steak salad. Mmm. That salad was good, mom said, and wondered aloud why she hadn't made it in a long time either.

But, but, making a proper salad takes so much work. Not the cooking of the steak, but slicing all the vegetables. I mean, that is why I default to the iceberg lettuce salad as an accompaniment. But my cravings would not be assuaged by anything less. So I got off my lazy butt, and started slicing and dicing.