13 January 2014

Orange Plaid with Eggs

orange plaid

My parents make these braised eggs all the time. They're pretty much glorified hard boiled eggs that are given a nice warm bath in a soy sauce stock that turns the outside of the eggs a pleasant tan shade and gives the eggs a savory flavor. They are simple to make and we'd eat them with noodles or rice, a nice complement to most meals.

So of course I started having a craving for those eggs a few days ago and obviously for so simple a recipe I had no idea how to make them. Google Search and calls to mom were in order. I found a close enough recipe to start and switched out a few things (star anise and cloves to replace the spice powder, for example. And including shitake mushrooms and lotus roots because I like them).

braised eggs braised eggs

The results were not bad and definitely satisfied my egg craving, though no one can make them like my mom (doesn't everyone think that?). And I've watched her and my dad cook Chinese food for years, so you'd think something would have sunk in by now. But having grown up eating Chinese food every single day pretty much made me inadvertently rebel when I started cooking for myself. I can pretty much make anything but Chinese food. Unfortunate since I don't living within driving distance from my parents for dinner!

Are there foods from your childhood that sometimes crave? How do you satisfy your cravings?

orange plaid orange plaid

Sweater: J.Crew merino tippi (worn here - factory version, sim deal)
Shirt: Lands' End Canvas gingham poplin (worn here - sim, deal)
Skirt: River Island via Asos sweater check (sim, coordinating sweater)
Tights: Target (sim, sim)
Necklace: J.Crew factory crystal shapes (worn here - sim)
Bracelets: J.Crew factory chainlink (same as necklace, sim pave) & F21 (part of a set)
Boots: Schuler & Sons via Anthropologie studded strap (worn here - sim, lower heel, pricey)
Bag: Fossil austin (worn here - same in canvas, sim, simpler)

orange plaid

orange plaid

50 comments:

  1. I'm totally like you - I can't cook Filipino food to save my life! I think it's because the flavors of our childhood are so hardwired into our system that even the slightest nuance off will make it not perfect. And I don't even want to try. So when I crave things like adobo or lumpia, I just head to the nearest Filipino restaurant that I've discovered comes almost close enough to my dad's cooking. Too bad it's a good 35 miles away. :/

    Btw, I totally gave you a shout out over at the 40+Style blog, not because you're forty (I am, not you. And even if you are, it doesn't look it so I'm not intimating or anything!) but because I cited you as my accessories Yoda. :D We're doing a 10-day style challenge/contest, is why.

    M @ http://www.myclosetcatalogue.com

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    Replies
    1. It's never the same like when you had it in your mama's kitchen as a little kid - or at least it never matches up to that memory!

      And thanks for the shoutout! I still have a few years to go before hitting that age milestone but I appreciate the acknowledgement!

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    2. When you do hit that age milestone, perhaps this will help: http://myclosetcatalogue.com/?s=asians

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  2. Yet another marvelous outfit !! I really love how you pulled this off, your necklaces always give it the final touch.
    I don't crave any food from when i was little, wait maybe the lentil soup with pasta my grandma makes.

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  3. I've never heard of that. It seems like it would be good, but I'm not much of an egg person--especially with this baby. (I can't eat ANYTHING.) I am a fan, however, of your orange sweater! It looks great with the skirt and button up!

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  4. I think there's a point where you rebel against the food you've grown up with and then return to it when you find yourself craving it...often only to discover that you can't duplicate it. :)

    Big fan of the orange and blue...great colour combo.

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    1. You should try my really thick and dry scallion pancakes - they're awful ... ly chewy. ;oP

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  5. love yoru boots and skirt :D


    WWW.PUTRIVALENTINALIM.BLOGSPOT.COM

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  6. Oh my gosh, those eggs sound so good! I love that necklace and that skirt is awesome!

    Tracy Its Mostly About Fashion

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  7. Those eggs sound delicious! But I would probably never put the work in for the recipe haha.

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    1. Hey, I know what you mean! But I had the craving for like 3 days and this is too "rustic and simple" a thing for any restaurants to make, so I finally had to get to it!

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  8. Those eggs sound interesting.

    Funny enough my Mom really wasn't much of a cook but I can still crave tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich when I'm sick because that is what she gave me as a kid when I was sick. Since I've been taken out by a brutal flu the past 4 days I've been eating that non-stop but I'm not getting better so it must be the "Mom Love" that is missing : ) If only they could bottle it and send it out my way I'm sure I'd be all better by tomorrow.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. Oh I hope you're feeling better. I always get well faster from illnesses when I'm home with the parents, it seems. Probably then there's someone to push me to take my medicine and keep drinking hot liquids!

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  9. This skirt is so flippin' cute! Love the color of your sweater as well :)

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  10. Cravings...hmmm..growing up, my grandmother was the baker and so she would always try to find new recipes for different cakes that I might like. It was tough though because I hate chocolate, (I know, I know..I'm a weirdo). She did finally find a recipe for a pineapple, coconut cake but now that she is gone, I can't find the recipe. I have been wanting that cake for years, maybe one day I'll find it;) However, when I was pregnant, I craved tacos..lots and lots of tacos;)

    Rosalyn
    www.just2fancy.com

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    Replies
    1. Oh wow, if you ever find that recipe for the pineapple coconut cake, please share! My BF and I had THE BEST pineapple coconut cake at Vito's in Orlando and I've tried to replicate it but they won't share their recipe and there's nothing like it on Google!

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  11. ohh what a fun and bright sweater looks gorgeous on you!!

    i always do braised eggs when i make lu rou fan!! my fav taiwanese food so yummy :)

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    1. The egg part is about as much as I've done so far, doing the braised beef/pork is too advanced for me!

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  12. Lovely skirt and outfit! Love the bright pop of orange too. I am not sure if there is anything in particular from childhood that I crave now. I was always a picky eater as a child and my tastes have change a lot since then... which is probably for the best!

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  13. isn't always the thing? nobody does it like mom! i've been asking mine to teach me all of her secreeetttts! lol. :)

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    1. Now when I ask my mom, she'll tell me but she doesn't cook as often anymore and makes simpler dishes. I think dumplings from scratch may be lost!

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  14. What a cute look! I love the bright orange sweater.

    Nikki
    thefashionablewife.com

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  15. Lisa, I love that skirt! The lively pattern and the cut is perfect, and I adore how you paired it with the check and tangerine sweater,
    the recipe looks delish, too, I will share it with my son, who is the cook in the family!
    XX, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com/2014/01/warm-in-my-leopard-print-cardigan-and-tweed-coat/

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  16. I want to see your whole necklace collection. That is something that surely every girl would be envious of if they saw it. You are always the chicest!

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    1. Aw, thanks - but you'd just be aghast at the disorganization!

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  17. Ah.. those eggs. My hubby craves those same kind of salty eggs from his mom too. As for me - it's chocolate cookies and grilled cheese sandwiches.
    xo,cynthia

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  18. Your bright orange sweater makes me smile! :) Very fun mix of patterns, too. Those braised eggs sound delicious! Hmm, I'm not really nostalgic for any foods from my childhood ... my mom disliked cooking, so we ate a lot of Hamburger Helper and processed/canned stuff! Which probably explains why I enjoy cooking so much now ... I'm making up for lost time.

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    Replies
    1. I had a thing for Hamburger Helper growing up - especially the cheeseburger kind - mostly because my parents never let us have any!

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  19. LOVE this skirt and what a great color combo! I sometimes crave my grandmother's biscuits and gravy. I have made them with her and have practiced enough so that my version is decent and satisfying, although nothing beats hers!

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  20. This is such a classy looking outfit. That skirt is gorgeous. I love the print, and your layers could not look better with it!
    Meredith
    createthatoutfit.com

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  21. Love your outfit Lisa! That skirt, orange sweater and printed top look so good together.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  22. Fun flirty skirt Lisa! And that necklace is so fun!

    I am like you, ate Chinese food everyday growing up. I love to cook but can't cook anything that's Chinese. I just wait till I visit my parents (which unfortunately is just once a year) and eat as much as I can.

    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

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    1. The only pseudo-Chinese thing I can just make is fried rice, but that's more Chinese restaurant Chinese than anything we'd eat at home!

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  23. Love the bright orange with the black and white! :)

    I'm lucky that I don't live too far away from my parents, so I can always pop over now and then if I get a craving for some of mum's cooking! :) Very lucky :)

    Away From Blue

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  24. That skirt is seriously adorable and I love the unexpected pop of gingham with it!

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  25. First off, this skirt is adorable, and second, those eggs sound so good! I've never had anything like that (certainly not in the 'Chinese' restaurants I frequent) and I'd love to give them a try.

    Chic on the Cheap

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    1. You'd likely never find them in a restaurant - they are simple and too homey. Though the Japanese have a sim version that they sometimes serve at ramen bars with noodles - mm, mm!

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  26. Your skirt is darling, and I love the mix of the check print!

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  27. Is that MILENNIUM EGG? If so, that's something Victor has been missing - I need to give this one a try in secret! :) Norwegian food, on the other hand, is super bland and boring, so it would be actually easy for me to recreate childhood favourites - it's a racy day when you put butter and parsley on your potatoes. Except I literally have to buy the "main" part of the meal, i.e. fishcakes or fishballs, when I'm back there because you just can't buy those things anywhere else!

    Also, I love this outfit - it's like a cuter version of a school uniform, you know? But in a good way! And that skirt seems to be available in my country, I find myself wanting to go to River Island and try it on, that's how good it looks on you! :)

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  28. I've never heard of eggs like this,I can't cook at all, so Chinese would definitely be a stretch for me....my mom doesn't cook either. Thanks goodness for my husband and his skills! Love this color combo today!

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  29. I gave up on orange a while back, but your photos are inspiring me to give it another whirl!!! :)

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  30. Love the orange sweater. It's a color I have a hard time wearing but I wish I could

    www.highheelsandtutus.com

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  31. Lisa!!! Hello lovely lady. It's been far too long. Happy 2014!

    I've finally started blogging ahead. Crossing fingers that I'll pay more attention to my blog this year. It was neglected way too much in 2013. I'm so happy that you're still blogging and look ravishing as always.

    I love those eggs. So yummy and easy to make. I'm like you. I grew up on eating Filipino food basically everyday. My dad has even tried to teach me how to cook some dishes, but when I bring out my measuring cups and spoons, he looks at me with a bewildered look! LOL. He does not cook and has never cooked with measuring. He's always eyeballed all his measurements, but most importantly cooks from his heart. So sweet, yeah? hee hee.

    Anyhoo, I hope to stop by more regularly. And come visit me, too! I hope to update a few times a week... and now that I know you have an instagram, I can keep up with your daily musings there, too!

    xx Love & Aloha
    http://elisharon.blogspot.com

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    1. Welcome back to blogdom!

      Yeah, it's pretty difficult to get even estimated measurements from my parents. I asked how much soy sauce, they said enough. That helps! ;o)

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  32. rice with green field peas...makes me think of my granny.

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  33. I absolutely love this outfit, Lisa! The colors, the print, it just works so well together. Ah, those braised eggs bring back childhood memories. I've recently been attempting to recreate most of my favorite food from childhood now that I have access to most things in London. For soup recipes, I definitely call my mum but other things I've relied on the power of the interwebs! Sadly, there's one thing that none of us in my family would know how to recreate - pickled cucumbers that my grandmother made. She never taught the recipe to anyone else so when she passed on, it became extinct! :(

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