Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Rainy Season in South Korea 2011

This was taken today in Gangnam.
Blahhhhh!
It's Wednesday July 27 and people are getting killed and sent back to their homes from work due to the crazy torrential rains we've been getting.  There were no warnings for this as far as I know.

http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110727000482 = number of people dead and injured due to the floods.

This is a video of my neighborhood. https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150245646458315&oid=132077653532435&comments



Also Gangnam.

Gangnam.
Gangnam.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Using K-Pop Songs to Learn Korean: Secret – 별빛달빛

I've been in Korea for about 4 years now and my Korean is pretty bad.  I can communicate but I think I've been at the same level for about 2 years speaking-wise.  There is a lot of language-bleed through when I speak Korean and it's hard for people to understand me.  I have studied on my own using Sogang's Free Online Korean Classes and Arirang's Let's Speak Korean Video On Demand lessons (you need to set up an account with Arirang first).  Both sites are great but I've gotten bored of them so I've decided to use Kpop songs as a way to learn Korean.  Another benefit from learning some Kpop songs will be that I'll actually know some songs to sing when I'm forced^^ to go to the singing room.

The reason I chose Secret's song Starlight, Moonlight 별빛달빛 is that I'm learning the dance moves for it in aerboics class.  It's a happy, fun, catchy song and I"m planning on using some of the words to write my hubby a love note in Korean - something I've never done before. ^^

Secret's Starlight Moonlight Youtube Link

Secret's Starlight, Moonlight Lyrics in both English and Korean
Korean:

슈비두바 빠빠빠 슈비두바 빠빠빠 랄랄랄라라 라라리라
장미꽃 한송이 받고 너에게 고백을 받고
내 맘은 샤랄라라라 (샤랄라라라) 밤 하늘의 별도 노래해

너는 내 어디가 좋아 나는 네 모든 게 좋아
네 맘도 샤랄라라라 (샤랄라라라) 세상 모든게 다 아름다워

자꾸 생각나 몰래 가슴 떨려와
어쩌면 좋아 어쩌면 좋아
정말 이런 기분 처음이야
너는 내 별빛 내 마음의 별빛
넌 나만의 달빛 소중한 내 달빛
그저 바라만보고 나를 위해 비춰주는 그런 사람
너는 내 하늘 하나뿐인 하늘
넌 나만의 바다 소중한 내 바다
서로 바라만 봐도 변함없이 미소 짓는 그런 사람 OH MY LOVE !
슈비두바 빠빠빠 슈비두바 빠빠빠 랄랄랄라라 라라리라

구름이 우릴 가려도 두둥실 흘러가듯이
언제나 샤랄라라라 (샤랄라라라) 오! 내 사랑 사랑 오! 내 사랑

자꾸 생각나 몰래 가슴 떨려와
어쩌면 좋아 어쩌면 좋아
정말 이런 기분 처음이야
너는 내 별빛 내 마음의 별빛
넌 나만의 달빛 소중한 내 달빛

그저 바라만보고 나를 위해 비춰주는 그런 사람
너는 내 하늘 하나뿐인 하늘
넌 나만의 바다 소중한 내 바다
서로 바라만 봐도 변함없이 미소 짓는 그런 사람 OH MY LOVE !
어두운 골목에 등불이 돼줄게
어두운 바다에 등대가 돼줄게

아침이 올 때까지 햇빛이 들 때까지
내 곁에서 날 비춰줘 내 맘속에 있어줘
1. 2. 3. GO!
너는 내 사랑(Oh love) 하나뿐인 사랑 (널 사랑해 널)
넌 나만의 태양 하나뿐인 태양 (MY only one)
그저 서로를 위해 아낌없이 줄 수 있는 그런 사람
너는 내 별빛 내 마음의 별빛
넌 나만의 달빛 소중한 내 달빛
그저 바라만보고 나를 위해 비춰주는 그런 사람 OH MY LOVE !
슈비두바 빠빠빠 슈비두바 빠빠빠 랄랄랄라라 라라리라

English:

Shu bi dupa pa pa pa, Shu bi dupa pa pa pa
La la la lala lala li la

I’m getting roses from you
I’m getting a confession from you
My Heart’s sha la la la la ( sha la la la la )
I’m singing only for you in this night sky
Where are you my love? (I love you, love you)
I like everything about you (like you, like you)
Even my heart sha la la la la ( sha la la la la )
Everything in this world is beautiful
I keep remembering, my heart is secretly trembling
Maybe I like you, Maybe I like you
I really never felt like this
You’re my starlight, the starlight of my heart
You’re my moonlight, my precious moonlight
I only want to see you, you’re the only person that shines for me
You’re my sky, my only sky
You’re my sea, my precious sea
When we look at each other, we’re constantly smiling
That person Oh my love
Shu bi dupa pa pa pa, Shu bi dupa pa pa pa
La la la lala lala li la
We’re going to the clouds too, we can feel them passing by
Always sha la la la la ( sha la la la la )
Oh my love, love. Oh my love
I keep remembering, my heart is secretly trembling
Maybe I like you, Maybe I like you
I really never felt like this

You’re my starlight, the starlight of my heart
You’re my moonlight, my precious moonlight
I only want to see you, you’re the only person that shines for me
You’re my sky, my only sky
You’re my sea, my precious sea
When we look at each other, we’re constantly smiling
That person Oh my love
Shu bi dupa pa pa pa, Shu bi dupa pa pa pa
La la la lala lala li la
I’ll have the lights on the dark street
I’ll have the lighthouse on the dark sea
Until the morning comes, until the sunlight comes
I’ll let you shine by my side, stay in my heart
1, 2, 1, 2, 3, GO!

You’re my love (Oh love!)
My only love (I love you, love you)
You’re my sun, my only sun (my only one)
We can generously share it with each other, that person
You’re my starlight, the starlight of my heart
You’re my moonlight, my precious moonlight
I only want to see you, you’re the only person that shines for me
That person Oh my love
Shu bi dupa pa pa pa, Shu bi dupa pa pa pa
La la la lala lala li la

Saturday, July 16, 2011

How to Make the Korean-Style Shaved Ice Dessert Patbingsu (밭빙수)

What is it?
There are a lot of tasty Korean summer foods and shaved ice dessert is one of them.  It is basically like ice cream expect the main ingredient is shaved ice layered with various ingredients such as fruit, jellies, syrups, flours, or red bean sauce.  You can find the same dessert in Taiwan as well.  It's low in calories as long as you use mainly fruits and beans.

Links:
Here are some recipe links from naver.com.  The info is in Korean but it doesn't matter because the pictures are very detailed. 
- Strawberry Shaved Ice Made Without An Ice Shaver
- Cookie Shaved Ice
- Ice Cream Shaved Ice
- Various Pictures: Green Tea Shaved Ice, Whipped Cream Shaved Ice

Equipment:
- You will need an ice shaving machine.  You can find some on Gmarket.
44,880
- 19,000

Basic ingredients:
- Ice cubes
- Red bean sauce (can be found in most supermarkets and local grocers during the summer months.  You can also make this by yourself).
- Sliced fruit
- Condensed milk
- Chocolate and strawberry syrup
- Small pieces of rice cakes


First prepare your ingredients.  We used condensed milk, small pieces of rice cake, chocolate syrup, pitted cherries, sliced bananas, and red bean sauce.



Next shave the ice.  We used two trays of ice cubes for three people.


Put the shaved iced into a large bowl.


Layer the ice with your chosen ingredients. 


Drizzle with condensed milk.


Top with chocolate syrup and enjoy!
To Make Watermelon Ice:


Remove all the seeds from 3-4 cups of watermelon.  Add it to the blender and about 1/2 cup of water.  Blend.

Put the liquid through a strainer to remove any seeds and foam.


.Put the watermelon juice into ice trays and freeze.  When totally frozen, shave the ice as normal.  The watermelon ice will be harder to remove from the trays than regular water ice.


Put the shaved watermelon ice into a large bowl.

Add whatever toppings you're in the mood for.


Enjoy to your heart's content!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Aeri's Kitchen Galbi Recipe

Another recipe success!  I tried Aeri's Kitchen Beef Galbi recipe yesterday and my husband is still raving about it.  I will be using this recipe again for Korean Thanksgiving and the New Year.

I'm still looking for a good bean paste soup recipe.  If anyone has one, please share it.^^

I used pork LA galbi instead of beef as it's much cheaper, 17,000W ($17.00 CDN) for a pack of 10 strips.  I served the galbi with bean paste soup, lettuce, cucumber pieces, chilled water, and ginseng liquor.  I was worried the meat wouldn't turn out because the sauce looked a bit watery from the Asian pear pulp but it was all good. 
  

I thought we could put the galbi in the lettuce with rice and bean paste sauce but actually it didn't match at all.  LA Galbi has a lot of bones so you have to eat it with your fingers or chopsticks and the lettuce masks the sweet taste of the galbi.  We ended up eating the meat with kimchi instead because it can be a bit oily and the kimchi removes the oilness from your stomach.
 

Preparation time is considerable.  You have to prepare the galbi one day before you eat it.  Making and cooking the galbi is not difficult though.  We cooked the galbi in a frying pan with oil but next time I want to grill it for a healthier option.  The bottom picture shows two types of bean paste.  The one of the left is used as a sauce for mixing with meat, rice, and lettuce.  It has various ingredients in it such as seasame seeds and spicy green peppers.  The bean paste on the right is basic and is used to make bean paste soup.

 

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Aeri's Kitchen Traditional Korean Chicken Soup/ Samgeytang/ 삼계탕

Link: Aeri's Kitchen Traditional Chicken Tang

Rating: Excellent.  Easy to follow.  Almost as delicious as the restaurant soup.

Recommendations:  Add 1/3 cup soaked mung bean (녹두), and double the amount of water called for.

I finally had a chance to try out Aeri's Kitchen Samgeytang recipe and it's fantastic.  My toddler loved it and ate three servings!


I wasn't able to view the Youtube video to check out how to close up the chicken so I figured it out on my own.  I used about 5 toothpicks.  Adding 1/3 cup of mung beans (녹두) really adds to the flavor.  I was totally out of garlic but the soup turned out pretty good without it.


I added twice as much water as called for.  Even then there wasn't enough soup.  Next time I'll triple the water.  I did use a bigger chicken.


I served the soup with ginseng liquor (백세주), ice water, kimchi, seasoned green pepper plant stems (고추나물), and salt n pepper.


J ate three servings of chicken and two servings of kimchi and soup.  He kept on saying "mmmmmm"!^^


You eat the chicken by pulling off chunks and dipping it in a mix of salt n pepper.  If you wanna be fancy-pantsy you can buy liquid bamboo salt which is super delicious.  Be careful that you only add a little salt to your chicken or you'll feel sickish or horribly thirsty after.


To finish off I had two glasses of plum juice (매실) mixed with cold water.  It helped settled my stomach which was feeling a bit quesy from eating too much salt.

Thanks Aeri!  Your blog is awesome and your recipes always turn out.  My Korean mother-in-law gives you two thumbs up and that is really something!^^  I'll be using this recipe over and over again.