Making dumplings with mom tonight – or, to be more accurate, snapchatting while mom makes dumplings. I made exactly one of these.
foodie

Terry’s Famous Beef Noodle Soup
My mom has long been known as the chef of the household (hence the name Noms From Mom). But when it comes to the Taiwanese classic dish, beef noodle soup (牛肉面), my dad reigns supreme in the Jeng family household. This recipe, now named after him, has taken him years to perfect. It’s not a quick dish (nor should it be), but as an expert beef noodle soup consumer, I can tell you it is worth the wait.

Soba Noodle Salad
Mom has been away on vacation, so in her absence, I’ve been taking a page out of her book and experimenting with some dishes I’ve always wanted to reverse engineer. In this case, we’re tackling Soba Noodle Salad, a Japanese or Asian Fusion dish, depending on who you ask.

Pot Sticker Tofu
This is another of mom’s ‘whip it together’ classics, made from ingredients normally found in the fridge. I should say, normally found in her fridge which, in all fairness, is more well-stocked than most. It’s called Pot Sticker Tofu because you get that crispy edge from pan-frying like you do with a pot sticker dumpling. But unlike real pot stickers, this dish is veggie-friendly and super super quick and easy to make.

Bean There, Done That
This may seem like a healthy veggie dish… but as my mom reveals, all is not as it appears.

Zha Jiang Mian (or Chinese Spaghetti)
There are many names for this classic Chinese dish – Zha Jiang Mian, Chinese Fried Sauce noodles, Spicy Pork noodles, 炸醬麵, etc. Growing up in the Jeng family, however, this dish was most commonly known as Chinese Spaghetti.
Noodles and meat sauce? What’s not to love?!

Pho-tastic
Growing up, I was never a huge fan of noodle soup or really any clear broth soup. What a fool I was. Now I make or eat noodle soups any chance I get… like today’s lunch – this homemade Vietnamese pho.

Spicy Tofu Meat Magic
First off, please pardon the naming of this dish. There is a real authentic Chinese name for it (香乾肉絲) but unfortunately no perceivable English translation (see Lost In Translation). So for now, we’ll call this Spicy Tofu Meat Magic. Yum!

Winning Pork-and-Shrimp Wonton Recipe
This is one of my favorite Chinese dishes to make because a) it’s relatively easy and fun to do with a group, b) once you assemble them, there are multiple ways to serve them (more to come later) and c) look how cute!!!!
#NomsFromMom Quickfire: Clay Pot Rice
Mom invented yet another dish tonight, inspired by this hole-in-the-wall restaurant we went to when we were in Hong Kong earlier this year. Mom did not love the ambience (she refused to touch anything and insisted they turn off their fans), but I guess the memory of the clay pot rice stuck with her.
Here’s what she whipped up tonight – clay pot rice (cooked to crispiness at the bottom) with homemade salted pork, bok choy and leeks. We ate every last bite.