:(

This little doodle explains it all. October has not been a good cooking month. I have a list of things to do and cooking is defitnely on top, but finding the actual time to do it has been a challenge. November will be better. Can't forget about Thanksgiving now!

Also.....GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!

Sent from my iPhone

Pu Pu Platter: Saturday, 10/04 - Monday, 10/06

On yesterday's post I introduce More Please!, a new blog installment where I will introduce some of my favorite foods and food related items. Today I present Pu Pu Platter. A post listing whatever interesting news I happen to stumble upon on the web and in my RSS feed that is food related, and a totally random picture I took.

Don't know what a Pu Pu Platter is? It's a dish mostly found in America Chinese establishments that consist of a variety of appetizer samplers.

Today's Pu Pu Platter includes: Obama hearts Mexican food, Colorado wine, Jcrew dresses and feeds you at the same time, the great pumpkin, and KFC giving away 20K.



Utah, September 2007
Driving to Red Rocks from Las Vegas


Saturday, 10/04 - Monday, 10/06

Politics aside, NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday takes a look at what the candidates eat. This week the focus was on Obama, steak tacos, and smoky guacamole.
A Meal Fit For A Candidate: Barack Obama - NPR

When I say US wine country, you say...Palisade, Colorado? The New York Times takes a look at Colorado, "a rising star in the wine-making universe."
Biking Colorado’s Wine Country - New York Times

Times are tough for retailers, so why not make things a little better by offering you cupcakes as you fork over $198 for that knit jacket that will most likely go on sale in 2 weeks.
J. Crew lures shoppers with cupcakes and jeans - Craig's New York Business

The Great Pumpkin do exist! A Massachusettes man is growing what may be the biggest pumpkin ever. I'm going to find me the most sincere pumpkin patch this Halloween and wait for my toys.
Pumped up - The Boston Globe

Feeling bad about eating that finger licking good KFC chicken? How about if I told you the company is planning to donate 20K to raise awareness on world hungry if either Obama or McCain mentions the issue at the debates tonight.
KFC Demands Candidates Mention That Chicken Defeats Hunger - Gawker

More Please! Mei Xin (Maxim) Snowy Mooncakes

Mooncake Festival or better known as the Mid-Autumn Festival might have been weeks ago, but surprisingly I'm still in a Mooncake mood. I don't usually like mooncakes. I find the lotus seed paste inside too sweet and I have tried several brands but never found one that I really enjoy. I'm a horrible mooncake eater and probably shouldn't be eating one at all, but I feel like I need too. I usually eat only half of the cake and bypass the whole lotus seed paste. I start with the crust and then move straight to the center yolk part. I know, I know. It's such a waste, but I do save the remnants for my dad who would always tell me I just shouldn't touch one at all. That was the past! I'm now happy to declare my love for mooncakes, well at least the snowy variety from Mei Xin (Maxim). I also present to you More Please!. A new blog installment (not sure if that's the correct technical term) where I introduce some of my favorite foods and food related topic.


Sago Cream with Mango and Pomelo Snowy Mooncake

For those not familiar with mooncakes, it's a type of Chinese pastry that's most often eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The cakes are usually round or square with round edges and have a lovely design on top. Since the cakes are very rich and dense due to the lotus seed paste (the more traditional one) and other types of filling, one mooncake is really meant to be shared. Just like the filling, the center of a mooncake can vary as well. I grew up with the double egg yolk version. Sounds kind of weird? Lotus seed paste and egg yolks? It's actually not bad (especially the yolk part) and when enjoy with a cup of tea, it's a nice light breakfast or afternoon snack.

As lovely as it is, and you can tell from the cakes itself, to the lovely tin boxes they come in, and to the shopping bags that the manufactures provide to go along with the cakes, mooncakes have never really won my heart. So when I missed this year's Mid-Autumn Festival since I was in Japan, I wasn't heartbroken over my lost opportunity to eat a mooncake. When I came back a week after the festival ended, my dad asked if I wanted to eat mooncake. "Oh, there's more left? Sure." Out came the tin box...from the freezer? Frozen mooncakes? Never tried that before. Orange color crust? Lychee flavor? My dad explains these are call snowy mooncakes or if you literally translated it, ice skin mooncakes.


Sesame Snowy Mooncakes

Snowy mooncakes are really nothing new. My aunt told me they were introduce in the 90s and have became more and more popular, especially among the younger demographics. Unlike traditional mooncakes, snowy mooncakes are meant to be eaten cold and stored in the freezer. The cakes do need to be slightly thaw at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving. They also come in a variety of flavors. Coffee, sesame, strawberry, green tea, and the list goes on.


Green Tea with Macadamia Nuts Snowy Mooncake (top) , Strawberry with Crispy Rice Snowy Mooncake (bottom)

I love simply love them! I can eat one...wait two...in one seating. Not sure if that's really good for you health wise, but look how pretty they are. The ones pictured in this post are from Mei Xin (Maxim) Snowy Deluxe set. They came in a round tin of eight with its own insulated bag.

Flavors include:
Sago Cream with Mango and Pomelo (as pictured)
Lychee
Sesame (as pictured)
Mango
Green Tea with Chunky Chestnut
Coffee
Strawberry with Crispy Rice (as pictured)
Green Tea with Macadamia Nuts (as pictured)

My favorite was the Strawberry with Crispy Rice. Didn't get the chance to tried Mango, Green Tea with Chunky Chestnut, and Coffee though, but the other flavors were good. My only concern now is, do I have to wait until next year for a snowy mooncake feast? I hope not and if anyone have any info on how I can get these post-mooncake festival season, please drop a comment below. Hmmmm...or maybe I should try making some.



Do you like mooncakes? Have you ever tried them before?