[RECIPE] Vegetarian Summer Soba Salad

During the hot summer months, I prefer making cooler dishes since the weather is unbearably hot. There’s the usual salad that can be transformed into a million different ways but today, I’ll be sharing a dish with soba noodles. The texture is smooth it tastes really refreshing compared to regular pasta. I made this for dinner and wanted more toppings in my salad so I ended up turning on the stove and sautéing a few things. Let’s get cooking!

Ingredients (one serving)

• Soba Salad
  • 1/2 sliced Chinese cabbage
  • 5-6 small to medium shiitake mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/4 white onion
  •  soba / buckwheat noodles (1 bunch…most packages have them portioned out)
  • 1/2 avocado
• Sauce
  • small drizzle of sesame oil
  • 3-4 teaspoons of soy sauce
  • 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon of 老干妈 aka Spicy Chili Crisp (optional)

Instructions

1. After slicing the mushrooms and vegetables, heat up a skillet and sauté the ingredients with a little oil. You can throw everything together at once or cook each thing separately like me. Season them with a little bit of salt (not too much since the sauce we’re preparing has soy sauce.)
2. While waiting for the vegetables to finish cooking, boil the soba noodles according to the package. Make sure to rinse the noodles in cold water when they’re done. Set aside the noodles and the cooked vegetables.
3. For the sauce mix all the ingredients together and you’re done – well, once you assemble all the ingredients 🙂

Notes

• The 老干妈 aka Spicy Chili Crisp is optional but I highly recommend adding it to the sauce if you can take the heat. It really knocks the sauce out of the park. Super delicious!
• If you’re too lazy to cook any toppings, plain noodles with some cut up Persian cucumbers is equally as delicious. The sauce really completes the dish so don’t think too much about the add-ons; be creative!
• Chilling the noodles with sauce in the fridge makes it taste like heaven. 10/10.

*Sriracha is required to be added on everything I make

Eat lots of noodles for me and don’t forget to tag me on social media if you make this!

With love, Suze

June 2016 / Haul

Warning: this is a very picture heavy post. I know no one likes to read my block text 😂.

I bought a collection of random things last month…and yes, I understand it’s mid-July already…

Items

• Target Sticky Note Pad & Page Flags (from $1 section)
• 2 Target – 6pk Wood Pencils (from $1 section)
• Pilot Gel Pens 0.38mm / 0.7mm in black
• Target Threshold Terracotta Bowl (super tiny and less than $2 on clearance!)
• Kate Spade Cedar Street Stacy Wallet in Grey Skies
• Field Notes Pitch Black Edition in Dot-Grid (3 pack)

From this haul, you’ll realize that I’m a stationery/school supply junkie. Also, if I owned my own house or apartment, I would probably by the entire kitchen aisle in every home goods store 😆 Until next time!

With love, Suze

[TRAVEL] My Weekend Getaway: Florida Edition

Last weekend, I decided to take a break from life and travel to Bradenton, Florida to catch some sun. There was a huge cloud looming over as I drove past the city to get to the beaches on Anna Maria Island, but the sky (thankfully) cleared up.

After a few hours at the beach, I went back to Bradenton for my first zip-lining experience. It was amazing! It took a while for me to grasp the idea that I wouldn’t fall even if I let go, but by the second course, I was having the time of my life. Not to mention it was a wonderful workout – my arms were sore the next day.

Later, I drove to Orlando and met up with a few of my friends. I’ve been to Orlando plenty of times but never really explored the city beside going to the parks. Honestly, after this trip, I discovered a lot of cool things to do. I’m going to list the places I recommend below so you guys can check them out!

Bradenton / Anna Maria Island

• Two Scoops Ice Cream Parlor and Coffee – Definitely a local favorite! I highly recommend black raspberry, birthday cake butter, and maple walnut.
• TreeUmph! – A super fun activity if you enjoy the thrill. It’s more than just zip-lining since there are “obstacles,” but I think that’s part of the fun. The guides are really friendly and I enjoyed the freedom I had (you go through the courses with others but the guides stay down at the bottom and assist you only when you need help). I will definitely come back!

Orlando

• Artegon Marketplace – I would describe this place as an indoor, slightly more upscale, farmers’ market. Each storefront is decorated differently and they sell things from local honey to Russian nesting dolls. It’s really an artsy person’s paradise. There’s also a kid zip-lining area in the food court. The place seems relatively new and I believe the official food court is not yet completed.
• Enzian Theater – This. Place. Is. So. Cool! It’s a small theater nestled in nature that shows many indie and throwback movies. The seats are really comfortable and the food and drinks are great. They have lots of different events throughout the month so check those out before going – you never know what you’re going to get!
• Escapology – Escapology is definitely my favorite thing out of this whole entire list. You pick an escape game and have an hour to solve puzzles and put together clues to solve a mystery. It’s an activity that works well with a group so if you don’t want to gamble and hope that someone else signs up in your time slot, bring friends! The max per game is six people. They did a really great job with creating the atmosphere because I felt a bit jumpy during my experience. As a huge Sherlock and Detective Conan fan, this was amazing. The staff were super helpful and you get a wristband and their personalized water after the game. Even though this is the first “escape company” I’ve tried in Orlando, I would suggest going here before anywhere else 🙂 (Advice came from friends who’ve done escape games from other companies…hehe.)

I hope this list gave you guys some ideas to try something new for the last remaining weeks of summer. Have fun and stay travels!

With love, Suze

 

[REVIEW] Petite Samplings: belif’s Hungarian Water Essence and The True Cream – Aqua Bomb

Hi guys! I’m back with not one, but TWO skincare products that I absolutely adore. Both samples were a decent size and I got a lot of use out of them. I’m going to comment on them separately so no one is confused.

belif – The True Cream Aqua Bomb

I’m very sensitive to how products feel on my skin and as someone with oily skin, I’ve tried almost every gel moisturizer on the market. The True Cream Aqua Bomb is the most hydrating gel moisturizer I’ve ever used. This “gel cream” is light, but rich enough to fix dry skin. It’s pretty intensive and absorbs quickly, leaving your skin very smooth. Compared to others, it doesn’t feel too watery. The only thing that is close to its consistency is the Laneige Sleeping Pack (even that makes my skin feel a little oily when I slather it on but it does wonders overnight). The Aqua Bomb contains Lady’s Mantle, which according to the website, “helps soften the skin with its natural properties to remove dry, scaly, and flaky skin, while controlling excess sebum, resulting in tighter pores and less oily shine. Also acts as an excellent moisturizer.” Let me tell you, this product does exactly what it says.

belif – Hungarian Water Essence

This essence contains rosemary and gotu kola, which have anti-aging properties and the ability to boost microvascular circulation, giving you even skin. As you can see from the bottom left photo, the serum comes out very watery. However, like the Aqua Bomb, it is very hydrating. It baffles my mind that something so watery can provide me with just as much moisture as a face cream (without giving me the oiliness of course). After application, my skin feels supple, hydrated and soft.

Final Thoughts

These two products are seriously the bomb (haha, get it?). Together, they improve the texture of my skin and provide it with SO MUCH MOISTURE! Even though the consistency is different, both products are lightweight, refreshing, and moisturizing. If you have a hard time finding products that give you just the right amount of hydration without leaving an oil spill on your skin, definitely check these two out.

 

SUM UP

 

• Times I sampled the product: too many times
• Recommend for: combo/oily skin
• Links (not affiliated links..just helping you guys out!)
  • Aqua Bomb Sephora
  • Hungarian Water Essence Sephora

With love, Suze

[REVIEW] Petite Samplings: Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream

Happy Monday!

Today’s petite sampling is the Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream! It claims to hydrate, brighten, and perk you up in just three seconds – that is quite a statement. I’m not at the age where I have to worry about wrinkles but prevention is key to maintain healthy and youthful skin. The skin around the eye area is dry so it’s important to keep that area hydrated.

The sample had enough product for me to use for two weeks (give or take) and I was moderately satisfied with the product. The formula is oil-free, creamy, but still lightweight. It absorbs quickly and the subtle dryness I get after cleansing my face disappears after I apply. Honestly, I did not see a difference in my dark circles and my eyes don’t get puffy so I couldn’t assess that. Hydration was the only thing it provided.

For the sample, you just squeeze the product out and I’m assuming you can also use the round top to blend the product into the skin. Since it isn’t a metal rollerball, I didn’t bother to use it since the plastic doesn’t glide smoothly on the skin.

Retailing between $25-$30, I don’t think it’s worth the money. I would rather pay a bit more and invest in something with active ingredients that could make a bigger impact on my skin. However, it did do a great job hydrating my eye area so if you’re offered this product as a sample, I would say to take it for some extra pampering :).

SUM UP

• Times I sampled the product: too many times to count
• Recommend for: all skin types, dry eye area
• Links: Sephora, Clinique (not affiliated links..just helping you guys out!

What do you guys think about this product?

With love, Suze

 

[RECIPE] Homemade Peach-Pineapple Sorbet

During the summer, I love indulging in lighter sorbets rather than creamy ice cream made with milk. It’s refreshing and more forgiving in the calories as well :). If you’re like me without an ice cream machine, don’t worry,  because we don’t need one for this recipe – yes, that’s right! The base recipe came from Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking so be sure to check out her website for more flavor combinations!

Recipe

• 3 cups of frozen fruit (I did 1/2 peach and 1/2 pineapple)
• 1/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

• Toss all the frozen fruit in a food processor or a blender.
• Pulse it a few times to break up the fruit.
• Add in the condensed milk
• Blend until smooth.
• Scoop and eat!

Notes

• If you’re sensitive to sweetness, add the condensed milk 1 Tbsp at a time and adjust according to your tastes (and how sweet the fruit is).
• Add mint for an extra refreshing zing!
• The sorbet tastes amazing right away – it’s basically soft-serve. If you want to eat it after it’s frozen, leave it out to soften slightly so it’s easier to scoop.
• It tastes really good with tiny chunks of fruit unblended so don’t blend it all the way if you like texture.
• Save the rest of the sorbet in a cute container to enjoy later.

Stay cool this summer by trying this out!

With love, Suze

 

[RECIPE] Thai Green Curry

Despite enjoying different types of cuisines, Asian food really holds a special place in my heart. For me, all Asian food is comfort food. As a Chinese-American (born and raised in the US), I’ve always been exposed to authentic Chinese food thanks to my grandparents who are fantastic cooks. Despite loving Chinese food so much, I really don’t cook much of it. I usually leave the Chinese cooking to my family and I myself, experiment with dishes from Korea, India, Japan, Vietnam etc…When I’m not cooking Asian food, I go to my American roots and experiment some more there. I know, it’s quite ironic.

Anyways, today, I will be sharing my attempt at green curry, my favorite Thai dish. I had my heart set on making the green curry paste from scratch but there were some ingredients that I just could not find. Not wanting to give up, I decided to look into pre-made pastes and figure out which brand tasted closest to the authentic dish. After some research,(thank you Rachel and random friends I’ve made on the Internet) I bought the green curry paste from Mae Ploy and Maesri. The original recipe I based mine off of is from Hot Thai Kitchen. I never follow a cooking recipe to the T because I like to adjust it to my liking so feel free to do so as well. I also don’t measure everything so I tried to give close approximations as best I could (mostly for the vegetables).

Ingredients 

• 1 ¾ cup coconut milk, divided
• 3 Tbsp green curry paste
• 1 lb of boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 cup of water
• 1 tsp of white sugar
• 3-4 sprigs of Thai basil
• 1 medium red pepper, julienned
• 3/4 onion, roughly chopped
• 1/2 medium eggplant, cubed
• 1/2 medium carrot, cubed
• 1-1.5 Tbsp of fish sauce
• 1 Thai chili with 1/2 of the seeds removed

*not all ingredients are pictured

Notes

1. I used water instead of chicken stock because the curry paste gave it enough flavor and I was worried it would become too salty. 2. Pailin suggested to marinate the cubed chicken breasts in some fish sauce, therefore I cut down on the fish sauce during the later cooking process. 3. I HIGHY SUGGEST adding kaffir lime leaves to the recipe. I could not find any in my town sadly… 4. The Thai chili is very hot so be aware.

Instructions

Reduce 3/4 cup of coconut milk over medium heat until it is thick and the coconut oil starts to separate. My coconut milk did not do this so I just proceeded along by adding the curry paste and sautéed it for around 2 minutes.

Afterwards I added the rest of the coconut milk, water, and sugar and waited for it to boil. Once it started boiling, I added all my vegetables and the chicken, turned the heat down to simmer, and covered the pot. I let the curry simmer for 15-20 minutes and during the halfway point, I tasted it for seasoning and added about a extra tablespoon of fish sauce (this is all up to your taste so make sure to adjust, adjust adjust!) A minute before it was done, I added in the Thai chili and the basil.

And that’s it, super easy!

I can’t say this recipe is authentic but it was still very tasty. Also, if you like your veggies crunchy, add in the vegetables later to decrease its cooking time. I personally do not mind the veggies being on the softer side, which is why I cooked them for 15 minutes. Don’t forget that some vegetables cook quicker than others so adjust accordingly. If you want to make this dish vegetarian, you can omit the chicken and even substitute it for king oyster mushrooms – they hold up really well and can absorb the yummy sauce 🙂 Overall, I think this was a successful first attempt and I hope to improve and achieve a better depth of flavor next time. If you guys try this out, please tell me it goes!

With love, Suze

 

#SuzeTunes: June Picks

I have a great obsession with finding new music. Nothing can beat finding a great song to jam to. Here are some of my favorite songs I discovered this month.

P.S. I naturally lean towards slower songs because sad songs just make me really happy (I know, it’s weird…) For me, it is totally acceptable to listen to gloomy songs all year long.

Mura Masa – What If I Go

Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION (highly recommend the whole album!)

Yannick Noah – On Court

EXO – Monster

LUNA – Breathe

What are songs you listened to this month? Comments are always welcome ^.^

With love, Suze

 

[REVIEW] Petite Samplings: TONYMOLY Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack

Well well well…it has been three weeks since my last post. I honestly did not anticipate to be this busy in June but looking at my planner, I was swamped. On the other hand, my schedule is July doesn’t look as demanding so I’m excited to focus more on this blog.

Today, I’m debuting a “series” (if you will) for the beauty section of this blog. Between skincare and makeup, I’m definitely more of a skincare fanatic. I don’t like to hoard a lot of products to try out since I think it’s kind of wasteful but I do like to collect tons of samples. There are times when retailers (especially Asian ones) give multiple samples of the same product, which allows me to try stuff more than once before forming an opinion. So, a few times a week, I like to go through my samples box and pick out a few things to try. Get ready for more reviews!

*Note: I understand there are some products that need to be tried multiple times before judging how well it works. Since these are samples, I will make sure to state how many times I tried out the product. Of course, there are products you’ll know right off the bat if you like/dislike them. Many brands have stepped up their game and nowadays, I find that many samples have enough product for multiple uses 🙂

With the introduction out of the way, today’s featured product is…….TONYMOLY’s Magic Food Banana Pack!

Even the sample is shaped like a banana! The product smells like the banana popsicles I used to eat when I was young- sort of artificial but it still smells good. Don’t fret if you’re sensitive to smells because it goes away once you apply it. The consistency is thick but still soft enough to blend easily.

Personally, this sleeping pack was just too heavy for me for summer. I have combination skin: oily T-zone and dryer cheeks. During the hot and humid Florida summer, my skin produces more oil. When I apply this on at night, I can feel the product sitting on top of my skin on my T-zone…not great. When I wake up, the area around my cheeks feels very moisturized; however, it is like an oil spill on my T-zone.

Although the product did not work out for me completely, I think I’ll enjoy it more during the winter when my skin becomes more dry. If you have dry skin naturally, I definitely would recommend this product! For those with more oily skin like me, the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack works wonders so try that instead.

SUM UP

• Times I sampled the product: 4
• Recommend for: dry and moderately combo skin
• Links: TONYMOLY , Soko Glam, Ulta (not affiliated links..just helping you guys out…I would also check on Ebay for better prices. There are many stores that ship directly from Korea and they have cheap prices + free shipping 🙂 Happy shopping!

With love, Suze

Trader Joe’s Grocery Haul

Happy Monday!

Let’s start this week with my favorite topic – food! As I live in the South, Publix is my go to grocery store for staples. However, I love to buy my snacks and random food items at Trader Joe’s as well. I went there recently and here are some things I picked up.

Many of these items are first time purchases but a few are my favorites so I’d like to share my thoughts on them!

• Trader Joes Lite Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – My favorite lite cheese ever! It doesn’t taste like you’re skimping on the calories and melts wonderfully. I love to include this in salads and pastas. When I’m too lazy to make an actual lunch, I warm up some bread and top it with this cheese along with some vegetables/protein – super tasty!
• Trader Joe’s Coconut Water – Refreshing and perfect for a summer day. It doesn’t have a weird aftertaste like many of the other coconut waters.
• Trader Joe’s Mango Passionfruit Juice Blend – I enjoy the taste of this juice but it sometimes taste “too concentrated.” I usually dilute it with a bit of water (this might just be me because I’m sensitive to stuff that is too sweet). Since summer has arrived, I think it would be fun to mix it with sparkling water if you’re craving something bubbly.
• Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette – This dressing is one of my favorites as far as store-bought dressings. It’s creamy enough but not too creamy; the peanut flavor is there but not overwhelming. I think of it as a slightly modified and watered down version of the peanut sauce you dip Vietnamese summer rolls in. Just to note, it’s labelled as “spicy” but the heat level is very low (almost nonexistent). I can tolerate super hot foods and do not think it gives any heat. Even my younger sister who is sensitive to spicy foods has not mentioned anything about the dressing being spicy.

I hope everyone starts the week off with a great Monday and don’t forget to comment down below your Trader Joe’s essentials as well as fun foods you think I should try!

With love, Suze