Chuseok...Korean Thanksgiving 2011

We may have left Korea but our love of Korean food will last forever! This past Monday was Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving. It was so fun last year to celebrate it while living in Korea. Last year Chuseok fell on 22 Sep. this year 12 Sep. it all depends on the phases of the moon as to when it will be. So does the New Year...Lunar New Year. Anyways, my family, even though we live in California now still wanted to celebrate Chuseok. We did so with a delicious dinner of Chop Ch'ae. I am proud of my ability to make some yummy Korean foods...my family loves it.

Chop Chae is pretty easy. It's made of glass noodles. You can buy these noodles from many stores and the commissary, they are noodles made from potato startch...that's what you need to know when buying the noodles.

Chop Ch'ae

Soak noodles for 1-2 hours in water until soft. Cut them into 3 inch pieces.

Marinate 4 oz diced chicken in in 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp. sugar, garlic, 2 tsp. sesame seeds.

In large frying pan heat 1 tbsp. oil and add chicken. Cook until not pink, maybe 3-4 min. Set aside in a bowl. Wash out pan. Add another tbsp. oil and stir-fry 1 chopped onion, 1 large carrot. Add chicken and noodles, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 5 tsp. sesame oil, 1 tbsp sesame seeds and stir-fry. You can also add mushrooms and chopped spinich if you like. Serve warm with your favorite rolls...egg rolls, lumpia, gyoza, yaki mandoo.

I fell in love with the taste of citrus tea years ago when I was stationed in Japan. It is a Korean tea though. This is my favorite...honey citrus. It looks like a large jar of jam. You just add a few spoonfulls to hot water. Steve and I enjoyed a warm cup the other night on Cheseok and I am drinking a cup right now.