Pho + Chow Mein + Sheila
My sister Sheila came back today from her month long trip in Europe. Welcome back! It’s not fun not having a little sister around to hangout and bicker with.
Sheila is a real globetrotter. I can’t even keep track of all the places she’s been in the past couple of years. Each time she goes away though she always brings me back a unique souvenir that relates to food and the city it’s from. Everything from donuts & cupcakes from Oregon, cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar in New York, Ghirardelli chocolates from San Francisco, an oven mitt from Dean and Deluca, books such as “Poo Log” and “What’s Your Poo Telling You?” (I’ll explain later), a fork and spoon necklace from Harajuku and the list goes on. I’ll have to do a post soon to show you all the cool stuff she’s gotten me. What a sweetheart.
This time, though, I was extra spoiled…
She got me this reusable grocery tote bag from Mad & VinMagasin (a specialty food store) in Copenhagen…
Filled with this…
Amarena Fabbri Wild Cherries in Syrup…
It’s described as a classic Danish dessert topping used mostly on Risalamande (rice pudding) during the holidays, but I think you can use it on pretty much any cream base desserts. I can’t wait to try it out. I think it would go great with my oatmeal too!
ZaraMamaS Gourmet Popping Corn “Pop-A-Cob”…
“Deep red kernels with a distinctive light nutty flavour. Each cob comes with its own microwave bag. Put the whole cob in the bag and watch the corn pop off the cob in around 2 minutes!” No oil or butter needed. I’m excited.
Lakrids by Johan Bulow assorted black liquorices…
I LOVE BLACK LIQUORICE!
This one is “Sweet Liquorice” …
“Salty Liquorice”…
And “Choc Coated Liquorice”. Sheila doesn’t even like black liquorice, but she said that this one was very yummy.
Saffron from Tuscany…
This beautiful olive oil canister from Italy…
and last, but not least, some Solnce salt from Slovenia.
Thanks Sheila for all the super wonderful gifts!
***
Now, let’s get onto dinner made by my wonderful Mom.
She made seafood chow mein and Pho! Apparently my Dad was craving chow mein, and my Mom was craving Pho so she made both. Talk about a super Mom!
Seafood and vegetables chow mein
You put this…
On top of this…
Pho
Broth with beef balls.
Tripe and beef…
Beef slices…
Add it all together with vermicelli noodles, some bean sprouts, herbs, touch of lime, some red rooster sauce, hoisin sauce and you get this….my bowl of delicious homemade Pho noodle soup:
Mixed it all up…
Yum, this was so good. For whatever reason (maybe the spices), but I grew up always hating Pho (talk about years of Pho dinners wasted). But, I’m pleased to say that I’ve grown to love it! Oh thank heavens because my Mom makes the BEST pho noodle soup! I promise!
I was full from the Pho, but I HAD to have some of the yummy looking chow mein even though my mom had packed us some for dinner tomorrow.
After dinner I enjoyed one of my liquorice treats. I chose the chocolate covered ones. Oh boy, this was as good as Sheila had described it. I’m limiting myself to only one a day! ONE!
We’ll see how well that goes…
