Tag: homemade

Strike While The Iron Is Hot

Returning from a routine doctor’s appointment with a diagnosis of mild anemia would encourage most people to grab an iron supplement and call it day. I did, but why would I just gulp down the little white tablets with water as intended, when they could do so much more? Iron was exactly the secret ingredient I needed to bring an unconventional recipe idea to life. Food is medicine, after all.

A Taste of Tradition

Soondae/sundae (순대), the Korean version of blood sausage, was a thrifty way to add nutrition before the times of multivitamins. Spices, vermicelli noodles, rice, and blood get wrapped up in a casing and steamed, sauteed, or boiled as a snack. The iron in hemoglobin is what gives blood its characteristic metallic taste and thus, the distinctive twang in soondae. Knowing that, it’s surprisingly easy to recreate the flavor of cooked and well-seasoned blood sausage.

Iron Out the Wrinkles

Aromatic toasted sesame oil blooms garlic and ginger with a touch of sweet heat from gochujang. Tart pomegranate juice adds another layer of tangy flavor, cooked right into the sticky sushi rice. It’s an unexpected combination that’s both assertive and nuanced, bold enough to be eaten solo but not averse to being included in more complex meals.

Colored black thanks to inky charcoal powder, you can rest easy that this polarizing ingredient, though used in emergency situations to prevent the absorption of certain poisons and drugs, does not interfere with the absorption of iron. Your vitamin infusion is safe here.

Ironclad Guarantee

Anyone trying to argue that only animal-based meat forced inside an edible casing can be called a “sausage” should take note: soondae does not and has never included any actual animal flesh. Yes, the casing is made from cow or pig intestines, and of course, there’s the blood, but meat itself has been a rare luxury throughout history.

I would always rather eat my vitamins, although this recipe is a bit more literal than that sentiment would usually imply. There are more benefits to supplements beyond health; if you use them to their full potential, they can improve your cooking, too. Now you can get your fill of iron in plant-based soondae, which is a whole lot easier to swallow.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)10 Comments

In Dog We Trust

Making dog treats from scratch is more of a gift for the person than the pup. Of course, I know that Luka will be beside himself with joy the moment that such a tasty morsel of human food is in fact for him. His tail will wag so hard, it might threaten to unwind and spin right off. His jaw might chatter, taking tiny chops out of the air before my hovering hand, as if preemptively tasting it, not wanting to miss a single crumb. Despite that, I’ll be happiest of all by creating such joy, no matter how simple or fleeting.

The thing is, dogs would make terrible food critics. Anything edible, and many things not, would be deemed delicacies. Every plate would be licked clean. There’s no such thing as tasting notes since they shouldn’t have salt, or sugar, or anything spicy, in addition to a long list of verboten ingredients. These baked doughnuts, which I’ve deemed dognuts, would be pretty blah to the average eater. Little more than flour, applesauce, and peanut butter, they’re fully edible for anyone who wants to partake, but might fall a little flat based on visual expectations.

Thankfully, my Luka is obsessed with all things doughnut-like and doughnut-shaped, would eat five dinners if no one stopped him, and has been known to eat small rocks if offered. This little gesture of love was an instant hit.

As we survive the one year anniversary of the day I almost lost him, I can’t help but want to squeeze him tighter, spoil him a bit more than usual, go on extra walks and let him sniff for as long as his snoot desires. I know he doesn’t understand, but I want make him some extra special treats for my own sake. To say that I love him, that I’m grateful he’s here, that I’m so lucky he’s still here.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)9 Comments

An Irrational Love Of Pie: Top 10 Recipes For Pi Day

Pi Day, a day when math meets mirth, looms on the horizon to add a dash of irrationality to our lives once again. March 14th, otherwise known as 3.14, allows the humble π and pie alike to take center stage. Having written a whole book about pies of the edible variety, naturally, I have a few suggestions on how best to celebrate.

Sweet and Savory Pi Creations

Most pastry, such as pie dough, is best made in advance and thoroughly chilled, so now is the time to plan for the big event. With a strong foundation in place, the kitchen is open to all mathematical possibilities. There’s nothing wrong with a classic apple or cherry filling, but wouldn’t it be more fun to try something new? Calculate ratios of more innovative ingredients to pay proper homage to our favorite never-ending decimal form.

Unleash Your Inner Baking Geek

Pies are an integral part of American culinary culture every day of the year. The phrase “as American as apple pie” didn’t come from nowhere, you know. Though we can’t lay claim to creating the edible art form, an honor that goes to the Ancient Egyptians, I’m ready to carry the torch in making some of the most continuously unconventional slices around. Never repetitive, always well-rounded, here are my top ten pie recipes to solve the perpetual question of how best to enjoy Pi Day.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)9 Comments

Sleigh The Holidays With Homemade Gifts

Even without the increasing frustrations of finding, buying, and giving the perfect gifts on a budget, the winter holidays are still the most expensive time of year. Shouldn’t the holiday season simply be about spending time with loved ones, making merry, and eating great food? I’ve never been one to partake in the shopping frenzy that fuels retail sales.

That said, I still love giving gifts.

Yes, it’s possible to hold both of these sentiments true. Store bought gifts, purchased for the sake of an obligatory exchange, bring me as much joy as the credit card bills to follow. Homemade gifts, thoughtfully crafted with the recipient’s wants and needs in mind, are a gift to the giver as well. Seeing someone’s face light up because of something you made is an indescribable and irreplaceable sort of joy. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive or complicated; the best presents simply start from scratch.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting gifts for the holidays.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to spoil the wonderful people in your life with something special. Everyone should be able to afford that basic human connection and the happiness it brings to both the giver and recipient.

Christmas cookies are in their own category; when it comes to homemade gifts, the options are endless. Sweet and savory, edible and not, there really is something for everyone on your list. There’s no need to stress over getting the hottest toys and blowing your budget when you start from scratch, too. Here are just a few of my favorite suggestions for giftable DIY goodies.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)7 Comments

Coal For Christmas

For as long as I’ve understood the rites of Christmas, I’ve wanted to give coal as a gift. Why? The fact that it goes against all common courtesy as a twisted, backwards way to show affection, it feels like an incredibly compelling suggestion to me.

Merry Christmas, I love you, and I think you’re ungovernable, too!

Good trouble is something I’ll always sign up for, so I feel for the equally rebellious people that inadvertently end up on the naughty list. Coal doesn’t have to be a bad omen or a punishment. There’s a whole lot it has going for it, especially when mixed up into a super simple body scrub.

What are the benefits of charcoal?

I’ve been known to include small amounts of food-grade charcoal as food coloring for various recipes, including pasta and pizza crust, but for daily use, it’s much more beneficial as a topical ingredient. Famously touted as a detoxifier, charcoal has a much more positive impact when applied directly to the skin. It’s especially helpful in…

  • Removing dirt and bacteria
  • Balancing oily skin
  • Reducing acne and preventing future breakouts

There’s a whole lot to love about this charcoal scrub!

  • It’s a homemade gift with no skills necessary. All you need to do is dump and stir, then package it up in a pretty little jar with a cute wooden brush for maximum effect.
  • All the ingredients are incredibly affordable, and in fact, prevent food waste! Spent coffee grounds all too often end up in the trash, but they still have a lot of life in them. Mixed into this energizing scrub, they serve as an effective exfoliant and smell like a brilliant, eye-opening cup of Joe.
  • For any last-minute gifting needs, you won’t find a faster present. Your guests could be walking in the door and you can still have thoughtful gifts for everyone before they can even sit down around the Christmas tree.

To all the rebels and renegades out there: Carry on. The threat of coal is no longer a punishment, but an encouraging promise.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)11 Comments

Jam Session

Tomatoes are the calling card of summer. Plump, red orbs growing heavier on their vines with every passing day, they tease in shades of green and yellow as they slowly ripen. Gradually darkening like rubies glistening in the sun, suddenly, they’re all ready for harvest at once. It’s now or never; grab them by the fistful or regret your mistake for another year. If you don’t take advantage, hungry critters stalking your garden surely will.

That’s how even a modest plot of land can drown a single person in tomatoes. Big or small, standard or heirloom, it’s sheer bliss for the first few days. Then, after a couple rounds of tomato salads, tomato soups, tomato sauces, and tomato juice, tomatoes may begin to lose their shine.

Don’t let it get to that stage. Take your tomatoes while they’re still new and fresh, concentrate them down to a rich, umami-packed tomato jam and you’ll never grow tired. Burning through two whole pounds right off the bat may feel like a sacrifice, but it’s a wise strategy in the long run. There’s going to be plenty more to come to enjoy every which way, without ever reaching your upper limit of enjoyment.

What Does Tomato Jam Taste Like?

A little bit sweet, a little bit savory, I do use sugar in my recipe but not nearly as much as with berry or other fruit jams. It should be just enough to balance and heighten the other inherent flavors. A touch of jalapeño adds a subtly spicy bite, which you could omit or double, depending on your heat-seeking sensibilities.

How To Make Tomato Jam Your Own

  • Use half or all tomatillos instead of tomatoes
  • Increase the garlic; there’s no such thing as too much
  • Instead of jalapeño, use sriracha, smoked paprika, gochujang, or harissa to spice things up
  • Swap the apple cider vinegar for balsamic or red wine vinegar

What Can I Use Tomato Jam On?

The only limiting factor is your creativity! A few of my favorite uses include:

  • Avocado toast
  • Sandwiches or wraps
  • Hot pasta or pasta salads
  • Swirled into creamy soups
  • On a cheeseboard
  • As a burger topping
  • Used for dipping alongside or on top of hummus

How Long Will Tomato Jam Keep?

While this jam isn’t properly canned and thus not shelf stable, you can preserve the harvest by storing it in your freezer for up to 6 months.

You don’t actually need to grow your own tomatoes to make tomato jam, by the way. Store-bought tomatoes taste just as sweet- And savory.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)7 Comments