Quick post for a quick meal

Salmon on Rice Noodles

It has been disgustingly hot and humid here lately, and although I finally have the air conditioner installed (thanks to the Baron), it's still been too hot to cook. It also helps that in this kind of weather, I really lose my appetite. I tend to only want to eat watermelon or mangos or possibly yogurt for dinner.

Anyway, it cooled off slightly today and I was feeling pretty hungry after a day of cleaning, breaking down cardboard boxes (urgh), and watching soccer (can you believe Turkey squeaking by?) so I put together this quick salmon noodle bowl. All you need to do is to soak some fine rice noodles (like the kind you would use for pho) in boiling water (I used my electric kettle) for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cut up and pan-fry some salmon fillet. All I used for seasoning was a little sea salt. Drain the noodles, put them in a bowl (or on a plate), drizzle a little sesame oil over it, place salmon on top, add spoonful of sambal oelek (or two, if you like it really spicy), add chopped scallions and PRESTO. Dinner, with a minimal amount of fuss and application of heat! Usually I also add some toasted sesame seeds but I forgot today.

Anyway, this was just what the doctor ordered. Light enough for a warm summer day but flavorful enough to be completely satisfying. Now, tell me....which photo is better, the top one, or the bottom one? :D

Brazilian Pudding Pocky

I love going to the local Chinese grocery because they have an entire set of shelves devoted to different varieties of Pocky and Pretz. (If I had remembered to bring my camera, I could have shown you the glories of the Shelf, but....I don't have that kind of foresight.)

Anyway! So we were there to pick up more pork belly for the zongzi we were making (more on that in the next post) but of course, I got distracted by the Pocky. And, lo and behold, stuck between the Men's Pocky (bitter!) and the Strawberry Dessert Pocky was a new flavor--Brazilian Pudding.

Judging from the photo on the box, I assume that it was supposed to taste like some sort of caramel pudding or flan. I'll note here that my mother only saw the toucan and assumed it was supposed to taste like...tropical bird.



Pretty! Not as pretty as the dessert or decor lines of Pocky, but check out that swish pattern. The verdict on taste?....well, it tastes kind of coconutty but not really pudding-like. Anyway, pleasant and harmless, although this does not place in my Pantheon of Pocky.