Hummus, SK style

What you need:

1 huge bag dried chickpeas from the Himalayan market aka "Foreigner agony consulting" (no joke)
1 bottle of toasted sesame seeds, sesame of a breed only grown in South Korea.
(A lot of) garlic, pre-peeled from Lotte (I love how they wash and prep all your veggies here for you)
(Some) Olive oil imported from Italy (Hey, I guess it's no farther than importing it from Italy to the US)
Several handfuls of Korean chili flakes than never seems to make anything hot.
Some teaspoons of cumin lovingly sent from the states. (also available at Foreigner agony consulting)
Salt, pepper.

Soak the chickpeas forever. The following century, boil them with some salt, cumin and chili flakes. Boil for at least an hour, or until you really do have to get ready for work. As they are boiling, grind the sesame seeds in your rad Korean made blender contraption. Remove sesame seeds, replace with garlic cloves (enough to make sure your kids stay in their seats during class). Chop the garlic cloves, then add olive oil and ground sesame seeds. Set to the side.
When the chickpeas look like they might be done, blend them with your awesome Korean immersion blender along with the remaining liquid. Be amazed at the power the tiny thing puts out, and then remind yourself that Korea's "only exports are their technology and intelligence" (real quote). When they are well blended, add the sesame garlic mixture, blend some more. Add some more water (cool) to make it super creamy. Stand back in amazement as you realize that someone now has to eat the 17 pounds of hummus you just made. Give to friends and be really glad you love hummus: eat.

Yummy

Yay, it was the weekend again!

So today, I saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the musical in Korea in Korean. It was incredible. Aside from not understanding most of what was said-- except the random Korean word I knew or English thrown in, I was really entertained. They did a really good job, and I think it's amazing what the show must be doing for the gender divide here. I know there is a pretty big subculture, but all in all the expectations are still pretty intense and a lot of pressure is put on young men and women to not only get excellent scores on tests, have excellent high paying jobs, be spectacularly thin and attractive, but also somewhere around 35, get married, raise a family and do it all on one income (the man's). So, I'm impressed. I got to have a small conversation with the stage manager after the show as we were buying the CD (music in Korean). He said that the original Hedwig show had come to Korea last year or the year before and must have inspired the lead actor to do the show. There were pictures of the two of them together and everything!

Enjoy the video!



On Saturday I went to the big bulk herbal market Daegu is famous for. It was pure heaven, but also reminded me that I need to study! I recognized most of them, but 7 months away from the herbal dispensary and their names are escaping me. I have my computer notes and the internet, but if anyone wants to send me this book: Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology I would send you a lifetime supply of Korean socks, possibly the best postcard you'll ever receive and maybe even $90 or so. I emailed the Korean Board of Oriental medicine (or something like that), but had to do it in English so am unsure as to whether or not I'll get a reply. Unfortunately, the doctors know the Chinese names written in Chinese (not pinyin) but also give them their own Korean names which may or may not be similar to the Chinese names. So, even though I can read Korean, and ask for the herb in Chinese and also by Latin botanical name, that may or may not help me. Dang it, how fluent in how many languages do I have to be, exactly? I was looking for some Chai Hu (OCOM friends--Hi!), but I guess they have a different name for it. I even listed the ingredients of the most popular formula it's in, but no luck. Oh well, one day I'll find the name written in Chinese in some book and bring it in. But even Dr. Luo (my first herbs prof) couldn't blame me for not recognizing it in there. Hell, sticks look like sticks no matter where you snap them.

Tomorrow's Monday yet again, and the start of this year's dietary Spring Cleanse. It might make me a loopy teacher, but it'll be worth it.

20 days to Tokyo!!!