How To Cook Tteokbokki 떡볶이 [Toppokki / Dukbokki] Easy Korean Spicy Rice Cake Recipe

This recipe for Tteokbokki 떡볶이 or Korean Spicy Rice Cake, alongside majority of the Korean food recipes I know I learned from an Ajumma 아줌마 (Korean elderly woman) who owned a Korean restaurant near the place where I used to live. My friendship with this ajumma didn't really start off on the right foot, you see. She used to dislike me.

For her, I was this annoying girl who speaks in broken Korean while asking for extra servings of kimchi more than a normal customer would. Until I grew on her. I somehow and surprisingly charmed my way through her heart and the next thing I know she was handing me a notes of her Korean food recipes before boarding the plane that will bring her back to her motherland for good.

I miss her. I miss hanging out in her restaurant and annoying her with my Konglish until she feeds me good food because she'd rather see this annoying girl devour her food happily instead of talking things she cannot understand. But when we speak the language of food, we become friends, there was nothing we cannot understand.

부대찌개 Budae Jjigae Recipe [How to Cook Korean Army Base Stew]

I am not the type to whine about the rain because I seriously love cold weather I could be a self-appointed ambassadress for rainy season. But the incessant rain these past few weeks made me realize that too much of anything is no fun at all. I often wondered when will it stop. Even the things we love can be tiring times, I reckon.

The only consolation is that I could make my favorite soups and stews without risking heat stroke in our kitchen. I once made beef bone broth in the middle of Summer it drove people in our house to ponder over all my other questionable choices in life. 

The other day I made one of my favorite Korean food, Budae Jjigae (부대찌개) popularly known as Korean Army Base Stew. 

Korean Potato Pancake Recipe [How To Make 감자전 Gamja Jeon]

I have always been a believer of the wonders of US Dehydrated Potatoes. I have been working on various recipes using it and every time, I am falling for the convenience it brings. I have previously mentioned here on the blog that I am one of those old souls who appreciates the art of slow food. However, it does not negate the fact that sometimes, convenience and time come as a priority - especially when a situation calls for it.

I am a recipe developer and food stylist by trade so, it is important to me that the materials I am using for my clients are of good quality, convenient to use, versatile, and do not require too much time to prepare because in this profession, time is gold.

In recipe development, I often use US Potatoes - fresh, frozen, and dehydrated. I am a believer of the nutritional value that one can get from US Potatoes so it is part of my arsenal. I have shared recipes here on the blog that use both fresh and frozen US Potatoes. Now it's time to tackle  US Dehydrated Potatoes.