Chocolate filled Sticky Rice Balls with Coconut

I made some coconut flavored sticky rice balls but instead of making the traditional split mung bean filling, I stuffed the dumplings with chocolate. I steamed them then rolled them in freshly grated coconut. They're delicious and cholesterol free.

Mir's Special: Green Beans and Tofu Stir Fry

This recipe is really about 4 main ingredients: green beans, tofu, basil and garlic. The dish is infused with the flavor of black bean and chili garlic sauce and soy sauce. Tofu is like a sponge so it really absorbs the flavor and color of the fermented black bean and chili. It's a simple hearty dish recipe that satisfy every palate in my home. Even the meat lovers like it!

The dish is named after my father-in-law, Mir. I call him Daddy. He went to a Chinese Restaurant for a dinner meeting once and they serve this as an appetizer, kinda like a chips and salsa in a Mexican restaurant. It was much saltier and spicier than the recipe I've provided below. Anyways, he liked it so much he asked the waiter to bring him a whole plateful so he could have it for dinner. And thus Mir's Special was born.

Tom Yum Paste

Tom Yum paste brings a very nice Asian fragance and a nice kick to your soup. I typically use it for making hot and sour soup and Thai soup. Enjoy!

Vegetarian Tom Yum Thai Soup

Today was a very cold and rainy day in Northern California. The Asian New Year is coming but I don't think the family is going to attend any of the festivities because of the weather. A couple of the girls are sick and I thought a warm broth would do them good.

Thai soup is a very good first course if you want to do an Asian-themed dinner. It's light and very tasty. The soup is an amazing contrast of spicy, sweet, savory and sour flavors. Enjoy!

Tartelette Feuilletée aux Tomates Cerises et 3 Pestos (3 Pesto Caramelized Cherry Tomato Tartlet)

 I received a request from Seneca Doane for a vegetarian option for the 2009 Inaugural Luncheon Menu. I checked the official menu one more time and there was none. So here is my version of the vegetarian option. Hope you like it.