Rainy Day Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup & Curry Condiments

1 Comment

It’s a gray, rainy day in Hanoi and all I can think about is digging into my leftovers from last night’s dinner: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup & Curry Condiments. The perfect rainy day meal!

Ina Garten (aka The Barefoot Contessa) is one of my all-time favorites, and this recipe will explain why. Her squash soup is easy to make, healthy, and simple, but with a twist on the old standard (without being too fussy). The curry and apples add a surprising flavor and I love the condiments: scallions, cashews, bananas, and toasted coconut. I like to pair this with a good crusty baguette and a big glass of Chardonnay. Delicious!

I must admit, I have a soft spot for Ina because she started her career as a Program Examiner at the White House Office of Management and Budget, just like me. There’s hope for me yet!

MK Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

MK’s a big fan of the Barefoot Contessa’s Roasted Butternut Squash Soup – this was her third bowl                          

You can follow Ina’s blog here.

Hanoi Sreet Food, Volume I: bún đậu

2 Comments

Hanoi is a street food lover’s dream come true. Plenty of tasty (rất ngon in Vietnamese) options for under a buck. I’m a hesitant street food consumer (I think I’ve seen too much strolling the streets of Hanoi for the past 1.5 years) but there’s one dish I adore: bún đậu.

Before we get to the food, let me set the stage. Actually, let’s let Anthony Bourdain do it. As Bourdain said in his Parts Unknown episode on Vietnam: “All of the things I need for happiness: Low plastic stool, check. Tiny little plastic table, check. Something delicious in a bowl, check.”

Bun Dau

If you’re an Anthony Bourdain fan like me, you may have seen his episode on Vietnam. In a Conde Nast Traveler article from last year, Bourdain said his first trip to Vietnam changed his life. I’d have to agree with him (although my first trip will be two years-long!). One of the biggest gamechangers: fresh tofu. I’ll never go back to packaged tofu from Trader Joe’s – go fresh or go home.

My favorite? Bún đậu with mắm tôm. Bún (rice noodles), fried tofu, herbs, mắm tôm (fermented shrimp paste), red chilies. Every time I ask for mắm tôm , I’m met with a look of shock, and a follow-up comment of “foreigners don’t like mắm tôm .” Don’t get me wrong, the stuff is stinky. But it tastes so good with the plain noodles and tofu – it balances the neutral flavors and makes bún đậu even more delcious.

The best part? The vibe. I love running across the street to my local bún đậu vendor. She carries her restaurant on her shoulders (pot, ingredients, plates, chop sticks, stools, etc.), sets up shop, and cooks for people on their lunch breaks. I love watching her prepare the food while I wait.

Better yet? Eating this delicious lunch will only cost you 15,000 VND (about $0.70), or 20,000 VND for takeaway.

Bun Dao 2My favorite bún đậu lady, just across the street from my apartment

.

#TBT – Bali

Leave a comment

IMG_1649Sanur Beach, Bali, Indonesia

One month ago today I was relaxing on beach in Bali, palms swaying, bikes and paddle boards cruising past, Bintang in my hand, Angelique the Sacred Cow mooing in the background. Welcome to Sanur, Bali, a lovely mix of Balinese chill, beach, yoga, and not too many tourists. Frankly, there were few cultural activities on this trip. It was a whole lot of relaxing with family and friends, active outdoor activities, and good food and drinks.

IMG_7190The master sandcastle builders taking a break

We had heard mixed things about Bali – people seemed to either love it or hate it. We were nervous it might be overrun with backpackers and tourists, so we looked around for somewhere that was chill, but not so remote that there was nothing to do off the hotel grounds. Sanur was the perfect mix – only 30ish minutes from the Denpasar airport in southeast Bali, but without the crowds of Jimbaran Bay and Kuta. We found a great, quiet villa on AirBNB only steps from restaurants and shops, and a short walk from the beach. It was perfect.

I traveled with my husband, daughters, and mom, so this was definitely a family vacation. Vacations with two small kids are active, schlepping kids, stuff, and strollers. So we took it easy and did stuff the kids would like – sandcastles, ocean swims, pool frolicking, and feeding the koi that inhabited our villa’s ponds.

IMG_7202Villa koi pond

IMG_1641Luckily, there were plenty of opportunities for fun, outdoor fitness in Sanur. For less than $4.00/day, we rented a bike with kid seat – no deposit, no credit card, just pedaled off and told her I’d return it in a few days. Perfect for quick trips to the beach and chill cruises down the beachside bike path.The fitness highlight was the  Power of Now Oasis yoga studio, and incredible open-air, bamboo building right on the beach. (It’s also home to Angelique the sacred cow, who was a big hit with R and MK.) The coolest yoga studio I’ve ever seen. We took two excellent 90 minute vinyasa classes and one kids’ yoga class with Riley. In between schlepping and yoga, we cruised around on the stand up paddle (SUP) we rented at the Rip Curl School of Surf.

IMG_7281         Tree pose in the garden

IMG_1635Power of Now Oasis          

One of the best parts of the trip was daily breakfast at the villa. We were lucky to have two amazing helpers who made breakfast every morning, from traditional Balinese breakfast of fried rice to omelets, and chocolate crepes, we started each day off right. And the juice! Fresh squeezed orange juice every day. Delicious.

My favorite lunch spot was Malaika Secret Garden Delicious, healthy, organic food in an ideal location – a breezy open air building on the beach (just down the path from the yoga studio).

We had a great dinner at The Glass House, Australian and Asian cuisine inspired by the fresh seafood in Sanur. Cute atmosphere, kid-friendly, delicious food, good wine, and great service.

Another night we ventured up to the Ubud for a date night. The Balinese food at Bebek TebaSari Resto was good, but even better was the delightful ambiance: seated in a private thatched-roof hut perched above a beautiful koi pond, nestled amongst the rice paddies. A truly special place. I felt like I was in the Bali I imagined.

 IMG_1657  View from our private bamboo hut

We had a great time on the Sanur beaches, but these were not the best beaches I’ve seen. I must admit, the beaches in Thailand, Hawaii, and the Caribbean are much nicer than the beaches we visited in Bali. But Bali has a certain je ne sais quoi. There’s something special about Sanur. The backdrop of smiling local people, lapping waves, indigo textiles, and Hindu and Buddhist traditions made for a memorable visit.  My girls thought the huge rainbow that appeared on our way back to the airport was a fitting end to the trip.

Overnight Oatmeal: A Gamechanger

Leave a comment

Just in case you were trying to come up with ideas for what to do with the delicious Greek yogurt you made last week, I have a suggestion: overnight oatmeal. We are addicted to this stuff in our house because it’s delicious, healthy, and easy to make. If you like bircher muesli, you’ll love this.  

Overnight Oatmeal 5

Top 5 things about overnight oatmeal

1. It’s ready when you are. No excuse to skip breakfast or a scarf down glazed donut amid the morning rush.

2. Healthy as can be. Protein, oats, fruit, chia… Solid fuel for what lies ahead.

3. Tasty. Could almost pass for dessert.

4. You dress it up the way you like it. Mango and almonds. Apple and maple. Passionfruit and banana. It’s all happening in that little jar.

5. Kids dig it. They’ll be asking you for more.

How do you make it?

Overnight Oatmeal 3

Add oats, greek yogurt, milk (we use almond milk), and whatever accompaniments you like to a Mason Jar. (We just eyeball the ingredients, but it’s approximately 1/4 cup oats, 1/4 cup greek yogurt, and 1/4 cup milk – this will make a thicker batch but you can adjust to your preferences. If you use regular yogurt, you’ll need less milk.) Stir. Cover. Put in fridge. Take out in the morning and enjoy!

Overnight Oatmeal 4Overnight oatmeal with almond milk, mango, chia, and cinnamon.

Skincare Is the New Makeup

Leave a comment

Can we even call minimalist makeup a trend anymore? It’s been dominating runways and commentary on cosmetics for a long while now. In any event, I’m a big fan. Why? Ok, it’s partly because I’m busy, don’t get enough sleep, and don’t have much time for makeup in the morning. But it’s also because focusing more effort on caring for your skin rather than covering it up just makes sense.

I’ve spent much of the last nine months thinking about this and trying new products. My efforts are yielding great results and I want to show them off and be on trend!

REVERSE Lightening Accelerator Before and AfterTwo months into my new skincare regimen (no makeup, no filter)!

These runway looks show the dominance of minimalist makeup. I especially love the minimalist looks exhibited on the Thierry Mugler, Balmain, Balenciaga, Gucci, and Versace runways.

A few ideas about preparing your skin for a minimalist look:

1. Exfoliate. To get that fresh-faced glow, slough off skin cells and let your beautiful skin shine through! I’m addicted to this (it’s the BEST exfoliant I’ve ever used) and this awesome gadget, which I use every Sunday to  shed dead skin cells to start my week off right. (Thanks to my husband for the Christmas gift that keeps on giving!)

2. Moisturize your face. Be sure to use an eye cream, night cream, and day moisturizer with SPF.

3. Moisturize your lips. If you’re going to only use gloss, your lips better not be chapped! I recommend this Rodan + Fields lip serum, and so does Vogue’s Beauty Director.

4. Use sunscreen daily. And wear a hat. If you’re freckle-prone or live in South East Asia like me, you’ll need to use a moisturizer with SPF, then more SPF, and then a hat and sunnies.

If you’d like to get results like mine, please check out my Rodan + Fields business at www.atoomey.myrandf.com! But regardless of what products you choose, embrace the minimalism and let the real you shine through.

 

Singapore Slinging

1 Comment

My quick trip to Singapore last week combined a few of my favorite things: family, food, and fitness. In my book, there’s nothing better than spending an active day outside then following it up with good food and drinks. Singapore’s the place, and my mom is always up for working and playing hard.

This was my second trip to Singapore and I loved it just as much. It’s the perfect antidote to Hanoi. Hanoi is fascinating, busy, and energetic, but it’s also loud, chaotic, and constantly launching multi-front attacks on my senses. Living downtown, I can’t walk 20 feet without a motorbike honking at me and there’s no green space. It’s exhausting.

On the other hand, Singapore is quiet, clean, and green – perfect for the organizationally obsessed like me. I knew I’d like it when the first thing I saw after exiting customs was a touchpad screen seeking my feedback on the customs service. Wait, there’s an actual service standard? AND a tracking system to benchmark performance? I wasn’t in Hanoi anymore, Toto.

It’s also diverse, a cool melting pot of 5.5 million people, cultures, and religions.

Trip highlights included: a bike tour, sunset drinks on the 57th floor Ku De Ta Skybar, Botanical Gardens, a durian ice cream sandwich, and chili crab and lala at Satay by the Bay.

Fitness & Frolicking

After reading great reviews on Trip Advisor, we booked a bike tour with Let’s Go!. Singapore is HOT. Last time, I packed like an idiot—skinny jeans and long-sleeved dresses—but this time I came prepared. Even though Singapore is the land of flashy labels and Chanel sunnies, I was also equipped with running shorts, workout tanks, and new sneakers. Gotta earn my night out.

IMG_1520

Rene was an enthusiastic guide and pedaled us throughout the city to see the Speakers’ Corner, China Town, the Malay area, Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay, and Marina Bay. While we pedaled, Rene gave us a dose of Singapore’s history and unique insights on life there. Glitzy malls abound, but Singaporeans love their outdoor space – Rene showed us one government-financed apartment building with a green jogging track on the 50th floor. We also sampled Singaporean coffee (the beans are caramelized in butter!), pastries, and bread.

           Bike Tour Snack for Blog

We loved a subsequent stroll down Orchard Road and a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Orchard Road is a mall-shoppers paradise. I’ve never seen so many Louis Vuitton stores in such a small radius. Even if shopping’s not your thing, it’s worth a stroll to marvel at the mass consumerism and wonder, “Who buys this stuff?!” At the end of Orchard Road, not far from the U.S. Embassy, is the Tanglin Gate entrance to the Botanical Gardens. Pure heaven. Walking trails meander throughout beautifully maintained gardens… $5 SD was well spent for orchid garden admission.

IMG_1570       

IMG_1568IMG_1564

                                       

      

IMG_1566        IMG_1553

Food (and Cocktails!)

After a day of biking and walking amid skyscrapers, we wanted to get a top-down perspective and headed up to the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Sands building to check out the Ku De Ta’s Skybar. Heights aren’t my thing, and the journey up crammed next to a sweaty man wasn’t the elevator ride I was looking for. But the minute we got out to the rooftop it was all worth it. Awesome atmosphere, fabulous drinks, and the city skyline spread out before you.

IMG_1535

IMG_1541You can’t visit Singapore without checking out one of its famous “hawker centres” – an outdoor food court of sorts that serves amazing Singaporean cuisine. Last time I visited, my husband and I went to Newton Circus and housed some l chilli crab and beers, and I intended to do the same on my second trip. This time we checked out Satay on the Bay – in the Gardens by the Bay. We ordered chili crab, oyster omelette, and the day’s special, lala, clams sautéed with onions and awesome stuff I couldn’t even identify. I was not disappointed. (Except for with the beer prices – $13 SD for a pint!) Next time: BYOB.

Singapore, I’ll miss you, but I’ll be back!

The Wage Gap is Real — but it’s not as bad in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Leave a comment

Thanks to my husband for sharing this interesting article from the Washington Post.

According to a recent study by the nonprofit Institute for Women’s Policy Research, American women have the best Employment & Earnings grades in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and–in general–the worst in the South. This is good news for those of us living in the DC area (D.C. ranked #1, Maryland ranked #2, and Virginia ranked #8), but not so great for my friends in Louisiana (#49),  Idaho (#50), or West Virginia (#51).

The sad part? Even though Maryland ranked second of 51 (including D.C.), it only received a B+, suggesting even the best states still have a long way to go…

What do you think? Where have you seen the best (and worst) working conditions for women?!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/03/12/map-where-working-women-have-it-best/

Fitting in Fitness #fitnessfriday

Leave a comment

Bali Boarding

My relationship with fitness hasn’t always been very thoughtful. Until my early 20s, I never really thought about it. I grew up in an active family, played sports in high school, and skied and sailed in college. I was always outside, busy, and active.

In my 20s,  I was more interested in having fun (read: happy hours and champagne brunches) than working out. I still exercised, but it wasn’t a focus. I was lucky that I could always pull it together when I needed to get in shape, but for the most part, I didn’t have to worry about it, and I didn’t.

Turning 30 seemed to change that.  Suddenly, I could no longer just eat whatever I wanted  and walking to the Metro no longer cut it for my daily “exercise.” I tried to make exercise a priority but I was so busy with work and life that it didn’t really happen. Then I got pregnant. So much for fitness.

During my first pregnancy, the extent of my exercise was walking to get frozen custard (3-4 times a week). I did prenatal yoga every Sunday and enjoyed the support of being in a room with other women, but I didn’t break a sweat. After R was born, I did nothing for nine months. I was too tired, too stressed, and didn’t feel like I had time to add exercise into the mix. Then something changed.

I made fitness a priority. I started slowly, making a point to walk with R and Sully (our dog) every night after work. Then I started going to the gym during lunch. I kept my expectations realistic: 30 minutes of cardio, several times a week. I tried spinning. The first class kicked my butt and I could barely walk for days, but I went back. Then I started meeting several girlfriends for Saturday morning spinning – we’d sweat, then we’d grab coffee and catch up. Maybe obvious, but it took me a long time to realize that exercising didn’t need to be a chore.  It was actually fun. And for me, doing it with friends made me want to exercise more.

By the time I got pregnant with MK, I was exercising 5-6 times a week and feeling GREAT. I kept it up throughout my entire pregnancy and was chomping at the bit to get back at it after I gave birth. I thought, I was in such good shape before I got pregnant, I’ll be back in shape in no time! Unfortunately, I overdid it. I was so fixated with getting back to where I was (never a good idea) that I didn’t listen to my body. I did sit-ups, planks, and more sit-ups and still looked five-months pregnant five months after giving birth. I was so demoralized. I thought there was something wrong and felt sorry for myself.

After some research, I realized this problem is common to many women, especially after multiple child births. It’s called diastasis recti (DR), and it happens when the connective tissue between the abdominal muscles stretches, resulting in a protruding stomach also known as “mummy tummy.” According to wiki: ” Women are more susceptible to develop diastasis recti when over the age of 35, high birth weight of child, multiple birth pregnancy, and multiple pregnancies. Additional causes can be attributed to excessive abdominal exercises after the first trimester of pregnancy.” Um, yes, that’s me.

I’ll save my musings on DR for another post but needless to say, realizing I had this condition forced me to pursue an entirely different approach to fitness. I now try to exercise at least five days a week, but my workouts aren’t long. Having two small kids and (finally!) working full time, I often don’t have extra time to burn getting to the gym, and the air quality and crazy streets of Hanoi make running outside a challenge, so I often work out at home. Unless I’m on vacation (see above)!

In addition to banging out a quick workout, I also spend my Friday                  afternoons making nerdy fitness infographs on Piktochart… 

Fitting in Fitness               

Here are a bunch of great fitness options I’ve found that are short and sweet, but still make me sore the next day. Perfect for people short on time and/or outdoor space, or for those of you that travel frequently. Please share your additions in the comments below or on FB!

YogaGlo – this is my husband’s and my go-to workout. Sort by teacher, type, duration, level, etc. There’s something for everyone. (Our favorite teacher is Tiffany Cruikshank – you can follow her on Instagram for daily updates.)

Yoga Medicine – Tiffany Cruikshank’s yoga/wellness company. Yoga, lifestyle, wellness, training, etc.

Cosmic Kids Yoga – For the kids. Free, fun, creative yoga classes fon YouTube. Perfect for rainy days.

Couch to 5K app – I never thought I could run a mile, let alone a 5k. This app motivated me to do it!

Mutu System – great system for healing DR. I used the Focus Program and it worked wonders.

Jillian Michaels – her 20 minute workouts really work. I was skeptical but it kicks my butt. I have 30 Day Shred and the Kickbox FastFix – love both. Easy to download on iTunes if you’re on the road and need a quick workout.

Pinterest – Search for “at home workouts” and you’ll find tons of ideas.

Fitbit – if you’re competitive like me, this will keep you moving. Not a substitute for exercise but a good reminder to take the stairs or walk home from work.

CorePower Yoga – No CPY in Hanoi but I can’t wait to get back to DC and check out the new studio in Georgetown. Love the Yoga Sculpt (heated yoga with weights and good tunes) classes in St. Paul!    

Going Greek

5 Comments
Living abroad makes you do funny things. Living in DC, where good, healthy food is abundant, accessible, and affordable, I did a lot more “assembling” than “cooking.” Why bother making things from scratch when it was easier and cheaper to buy them at Trader Joe’s? But now that I’m living in Hanoi, where my favorite foods aren’t always readily available (but I have lots more time and help!), I’ve found myself being more adventurous in the kitchen.
At home, one of our family staples is plain greek yogurt. It’s healthy, cheap, and easy to find at any local grocery store. In Hanoi? Notsomuch. After paying $10 for a carton of (nearly expired) Greek yogurt one too many times, I decided to try making my own. A friend promised it was simple and tasted much better than the locally available stuff. Who knew it would be so easy? And the best part is there are no preservatives, no sugar, no crap, so you can feel good eating it and serving it to your families.
All you need:
Milk
Yogurt thermometer
Yogurt maker (you can also use a dutch oven if you don’t have the yogurt machine)
IMG_1571
 Nearly finished…
Preferred Products:
Milk – whole, local, organic (although in Vietnam I use aseptic packaged milk from New Zealand)
My Greek Yogurt Recipe
Ingredients
1 litre milk
1 heaping tbsp yogurt
 Directions
1. Pour milk into microwave-safe bowl and heat until temperature reaches approximately 175 F (this takes 7 minutes in my microwave).
2. Remove milk and let cool until temperature reaches 110-115 F.
3.  Remove skim from top of milk.
4. Slowly and gently whisk yogurt into the milk.
5. Pour milk/yogurt mixture into the yogurt maker containers and cover. Turn on machine for 7 hours (you’ll need to determine the optimal time based on your machine and preferences).
If you don’t have a yogurt maker, pour milk/yogurt mixture into a Dutch oven and cover with lid. Wrap the entire pot in a thick towel (to keep it warm) and put it in turned-off oven. Let sit overnight or until it reaches your preferred consistency.
6. To make Greek yogurt, line a mesh sieve with cheesecloth and drain yogurt for approximately 15 minutes.
IMG_1572
Turning regular yogurt into Greek yogurt
7. Serve yogurt with your preferred toppings. Some of my favorites? Fresh mango, chia seeds, almonds, dried fruits, PB2, diced apples, cinnamon, granola.
Note:
Yogurt is made up of live cultures so every batch is a bit different, depending on the temperature, climate, etc. I recommend experimenting with different brands and types of milk to see which you prefer.   
Yogurt Fans
Greek yogurt with cinnamon and maple syrup for dessert

Morning Commute

Leave a comment

After 1.5 years in Hanoi, I’ve gotten used to this scene. But for some reason today I had one of those expat moments where I stopped and realized how different life is here. So cool to gain perspective on my former life. My current commute is crazy, but I’ll take it over sitting on the Beltway any day!

imageShortcut down Food Street, a “pedestrian” walkway near my apartment

imageHanoi traffic