It's Mandoo Day

It is a Korea New Year's tradition to eat mandoo (dumpling) soup on New Year's Day. You have to eat this soup to have good luck and gain a year to your age. While everyone gets excited to celebrate New Year's Eve our family always put more emphasis on New Years Day.  My sister, Anna, has always called this day "Mandoo Day."  When she was little she would get so excited and scream "it's Mandoo Day!" over and over again.

I grew up making hundreds of these dumplings on New Year's Day with my family. It is said that if your mandoo is pretty you will have beautiful children. So of course my family goes around critiquing each other's work and making fun of each other's mandoo. Since moving to Boulder and being away from our family we have not gotten to be a part of this family tradition.  This year we are so lucky to be together ringing in the new year and making Mandoo together. 

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.