Korean Beef and Krafts~:)

I have seen so many posts re Korean Beef lately..

One in particular was Marie's..But I did see others made with different cuts of beef..different ingredients etc..
I opted for Marie~s..but made a few changes~

I used my all time favorite Basmati rice recipe because it takes 9 minutes in the microwave and is picture perfect taste worthy every time~
I love sticky rice..
But I thought this would work well and it did..I usually add frozen peas to my rice and in this case they worked well again..

The basic recipe I found in more than one places..

La Recette~

1 lb of lean ground beef
1/4 ~1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soya sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil +
3 tsps garlic paste..I used crushed garlic cloves..4
1/2 tsp ginger paste..I grated fresh ginger
1/2 tsp crushed chili peppers..but I  also added sczechwan peppercorns lots!
fine sea salt and crushed ground pepper to taste
1 bunch spring onions washed trimmed and chopped
..My notes..
On top  of the chili peppers I used  Sczechwan peppercorns(to taste..but I like a lot)
and I added 1/4 ~1/2  cup of beef broth
also some finely julienned carrots for color~

Oh and since I have made it yet again..add these notes:)

A tsp of Hoisin..does this dish no harm:)

And the more spring green onions the better..:)

These peppercorns are not cheap..20 grams..will cost ap $10.00 where I live..
Well not where I live.. but close enough..Marché Jean-Talon~

I heated a bit of evoo w/ the sesame oil.. browned my beef..
Added the ginger and garlic..until infused..and the crushed chilis..I also crushed my peppercorns with my fingers and added..

then the brown sugar..soya sauce..and beef broth..I wanted our rice to have a bit more dampness..more "jus"..this does it..

It's a perfect easy ..quick..flavorful dinner..

I will certainly make it again~and I did:)



As I mentioned it snowed Friday..the 5th....so I played with an old photo from my blog.. of sometime in 2011:)

And tried a small Triscuit sized painting..thanks to Vivian Swift's posts about Triscuit paintings..

Let's not look at the quality..But it was fun to paint this size..I usually always paint small..(paint is a generous large word for what I TRY to do..)..but never this small:)

You can see how small they are..

These traced Triscuit squares ..all 3 fit on a rectangular travel book~
I bought it at Blick's yrs ago..You can see it here..and is still available..

It comes with a wonderful little brush~It's pointy and fine..and quite gorgeous~

I still have to finish up the roses..but I was anxious to take off the masking fluid...again..the fluid was a great reminder from VS..I had not used mine in years and it had dried up..luckily..I had a new one that I bought with my friend in an art co-op a long time ago..but it was unopened and still perfect to use..I used it recreating the beach scene above..It was Nov 2009~I asked O-L-I..do you know what this is?  He said Nanan(that's what he calls me..)..and O-L-I:)  It's actually Nana and Lucas..but just the fact that he saw 2 people and one was me..made my heart do cartwheels.
I should take out my paints more often..I always love those moments..And this was with the small Cotman travel kit..I have a Koi one too..But I prefer the Cotman colors..I do  love the water brushes though and mine are Koi~They are so much fun to travel with..the water is in the brush:)

Not PRO..but fun:)

So Friday..albeit grey..and snow..(minimal as it turned out)..was still nice..
  Try that dish if you like asian type meals.. It is to be served right on top of the rice and I like mixing mine up so the rice tastes like Korean Beef~

Someone mentioned it would be good in a lettuce wrap..I totally agree!
I continued to play w/ paints and Triscuits~  and ME..
And Paris Breakfasts~


I opened a ME cookbook and decided to practice what my art teacher..(Sandy) ..had taught me 10 + years ago..Did I even mention I LOVED those art classes?
Nicest people were in that class..and I loved the teacher..
it was short lived..we were just moving..work was very busy for me at that time..but what she taught us in those classes..I will never forget~

She gave us each 3 colors in jars she had..that is why you see Primary Yellow with a reddish color in the jar...We each  had a blue..a red  and a yellow..

She would suggest we paint something w/ more colors than these 3..and learn to mix and make:)
Well w/ 3 colors..you can make almost any color..I love that about paints..
You need very little to go a long way~
Like ingredients to make good food..
Bread for example~

The little bag that I keep my water pens in..  my Indian Ink..a pencil..an eraser..and white gouache.. a few toothpicks..an old toothbrush.. a Q-tip..was a gift from my friend..who travels to Paris quite frequently..
I ♥ it..I know I say that a lot..but I mean it..
and when I take that pouch out..
I always think of my friend..and Carol.. who is in Paris..Painting~