Grain-free Kimchi Fried Rice
For two weeks living in New York City, we got to enjoy a lot of incredible food. But the best were the ones my sister cooked for us. She made these incredible Korean dinners that we so enjoyed. She cooks Korean food almost on a daily basis which totally inspires me. So my first night back in Boulder I find myself craving Korean food. Since the rest of my family is still in New York I wanted a quick Korean dish. I also wanted something a bit more clean and light because I have been eating so heavy this month. So this is my Grain-free Kimchi Fried Rice which still give me flavor but still light and easily digestible.
Start with finely chopped cauliflower and chopped mushrooms in a bit of butter and sesame oil. Sauté until cooked and soft.
Scramble in some eggs.
Sauté in some chopped kimchi and kimchi juice. Season with another drizzle of sesame oil, salt and pepper.
South Korea, Day One
When we arrived we were welcomed by my cousins and my mom who had flown in from DC the week before. It was nice to see friendly faces in the crowd of people. My mom is the one in the center of the picture with her arm pointing to the right guiding us where we are supposed to go.
After we were picked up, along with all our massive amounts of luggage, we were wisked away to my uncle’s home in Jayang-dong neighborhood in Seoul where we were surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins I had not seen in decades. Before sitting down to eat we looked over pictures and talked about what I remember as a child and my life in the states. I enjoyed catching up and spending time with my family. I was given so many compliments about how well I speak Korean. That I converse as if I had never left and that I have the accent and pronunciation of a native. This makes me grateful for being required to speak Korean in our home and all those Saturday Korean classes I was forced to attend all my life. It also motivates me to learn more and realize how important it is to teach Korean to Michael, Zoe and Ty.
They had prepared a home cooked Korean traditional meal of pork belly, rice and side dishes. We spent several hours catching up and eating some amazing food. All the greens and peppers you see on the table were from my uncles rooftop garden where he grows all types of lettuce in ceramic pots. Talk about fresh!
For me it was great arriving to the country I was born and had not visited in 28 years. I immigrated to the states when I was seven and only returned once when I was twelve. Thinking about how long it has been and the family that still lives here I realize how much of my family’s life I have missed. I haven’t seen and interacted with my mom’s side of the family in decades and makes me sad and appreciate the sacrifices my mom has had to make to a life in the states. My dad has siblings in the states and I grew up seeing them all the time. My mom’s family is very close, ten times closer then my dad’s side of the family. It breaks my heart when I think about the time my mom has spent away from them. My mom is the youngest of the siblings. She has two older sisters and three older brothers, she did have a younger sister who died tragically years before I was born and it is never talked about in the family. My mom’s oldest sister is twenty years older then my mom and she was more like a mother figure to her growing up. It has been eight years since my mom saw her family and you can tell she is so excited to be with them but sad at the same time. Sad at the time that has past and the time she has spent away from them. This trip has made my mom and I both realize that it is so important to keep connected with family no matter what the distance or the cost. It has made me truly appreciate the sacrifices my parents made to leave their country, family, and friend to make a better life for me and my sister. It has made me grateful that I can make this trip and share this experience with Michael, Zoe and Ty.
Finding the True Me, My New Ventures
Things have been a bit crazy for our family over the last year. Moving across country from Northern Virginia to Boulder, Colorado was an experience. Moving to a new place where we did not know a single person, a place far from home, family, and everything we knew took some time to adjust. I spent the last year getting the kids settled into new schedules, new schools, new activities, new home, and a new city and state. It was a big learning experience and we have grown so much as individuals and as a family.
The best thing is that it was all worth it. Everything, the good and the bad. Starting a new life took a lot out of us but we are so much better for it.
Now that things have settled and we have gone through multiple friends and family members from the east and west coast visiting us to support our move I am looking forward to 2014. Usually January is the time to evaluate and make resolutions or plans for change. For me that starts right around now. The weather is a bit colder and my birthday is just around the corner. I like to look back and learn from the things I experienced and I like to look forward to the up coming future ahead.
Recently I enrolled in a certification program for the Psychology of Eating. My interest in the program has been with me for several years and I am so lucky to be able to take part in this amazing program. I enrolled in this program as part of my self discovery and enrichment gift to celebrate turning 40. More on what else is included in my gift to myself this birthday.
As I go through my demanding studies I am making very large realizations about myself and making some ever lasting shifts in my thinking, behavior and actions. So very exciting and exactly what I needed going into my next decade.
My personal and family life is incredible and I am so blessed and grateful. But professionally it can be a struggle balancing my responsibilities as a wife, mother, home manager and my career. I was under the impression that as the kids grew I would have less issue with this struggle but I am finding that older kids are much more demanding of my attention and time. Funny how the role of a parent is never ending.
Going through my certification program and experiencing the other self discovery and enrichment gifts I am giving myself for my birthday this year I can feel the transformation and evolution. I am totally welcoming and embracing all the changes.
I am excited to announce that one of the changes I have been experiencing is the direction of my health coaching practice and my love of crafting. In the past I have taught craft classes and worked as a scrapbook designer. In recent years I switched my focus into the field of health coaching but have taken the last year off due to our big move. The thing is I love both and both give me such joy. Yet I was always struggling because I felt I had to choose one over the other. What I realize is that I don’t have to choose. That I simply need to find a peaceful balance that will give me a sense of fulfillment, accomplishment, satisfaction and joy.
I like to share with you my new exciting ventures into finding balance and the True Me.
First is my health coaching practice. Check out my new website where you can check out some of new exciting offerings. I am so excited to share my passion for health, nutrition, cooking, and food.
Second is a brand new blog. A place to share and showcase the lessons I am learning in life, my experiences, passions, and my creativity.
Third is my new Etsy shop. A place and an opportunity for me to take some of my crafty creations and designs to market. I have had a blast putting this shop together and loved making all the crafty goodies. This shop really showcases the joy I have designing and creating.