Is that mac & cheese on my burger?! -- HAPPY NEW YEAR! [updated 01.01.15]

[emmebear]

hello everyone!

i hope everyone had a happy christmas & wish you a very wonderful new year.

i have been on a dining review hiatus as i was caring for my father who was battling cancer. my dad required 24 hour care. my father passed away surrounded by his family on 12.06.14. it's been a very tough time for us and especially for emme who was very close to my dad. thank you for all your prayers and well wishes for my dad & our family. he is finally pain free & at peace.

i will be using this thread to update our food escapades (with a couple of additional travel photos) for the upcoming year. we made a quick weekend getaway after my dad's funeral for some healing time for the both of us. i will be updating soon.

my instagram handle is: disney_patty


here are some photos from our trip earlier this month:

​

 

[starousse]

I'm so so sorry for your loss. I'm glad to see you back and hope this is a great year for you and your daughter. Looking forward to one of your infamous awesome food reviews.

 

[Ginamarie]

I am so sorry for your loss.

Hoping that 2015 brings you light, love and pixie dust after a difficult 2014.

 

[Avery&Todd]

oh, I'm so sorry for your loss Patty - I know its hard to lose your dad - I lost mine almost 4 years ago, and there is just something about a girl losing her daddy that hits you hard..

BUT, on a more happy note, lets talk about your FOOD!!

I've stalked your reviews and I'm ready for the pictures!

We are finally heading back in June, so I'll need to keep myself busy looking at your food porn!!

 

[vettegirl]

So sorry for your loss

 

[Nohal]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Vernie822]

So sorry for your loss, girls. I can't even imagine how you are feeling. I can't wait to see updates from your trips, I enjoy reading about them.

 

[mirandaperez10]

I love Mac n cheese and burgers !!

 

[rachel09985]

I am so happy you are back! I missed you on here!!!

 

[emmebear]

I'm so so sorry for your loss. I'm glad to see you back and hope this is a great year for you and your daughter. Looking forward to one of your infamous awesome food reviews.

thank you for your kind words. it's much appreciated.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Hoping that 2015 brings you light, love and pixie dust after a difficult 2014.

thank you so much. i am hoping for so much pixie dust for this new year. the same to you and yours!

oh, I'm so sorry for your loss Patty - I know its hard to lose your dad - I lost mine almost 4 years ago, and there is just something about a girl losing her daddy that hits you hard..

BUT, on a more happy note, lets talk about your FOOD!!

I've stalked your reviews and I'm ready for the pictures!

We are finally heading back in June, so I'll need to keep myself busy looking at your food porn!!

thank you so much. i'm sorry for your loss. it has been extremely tough to deal with all of this. i'm just trying to stay busy & occupied.

a june trip...it's going to be a scorcher!

we are headed back on january 16th to celebrate emme's 5th birthday!!

So sorry for your loss

thank you.

Sorry for your loss.

thank you.

So sorry for your loss, girls. I can't even imagine how you are feeling. I can't wait to see updates from your trips, I enjoy reading about them.

thank you and i appreciate you reading my dining reviews!

I love Mac n cheese and burgers !!

i had my first one at disney & will be updating soon!

I am so happy you are back! I missed you on here!!!

thanks rachel! let's hope i finish!

 

[emmebear]

UPDATED 01/01/15: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


i thought it would be appropriate to begin this new years day dining review with pictures of a traditional korean meal on new years day.

each new years day, we prepare home made & hand made korean dumplings that are also used in a rice cake soup. the dduk mandoo gook (rice cake & dumpling soup) brings prosperity & good fortune as we gain a year in age.

last year during this time, my dad was making the mandoo (dumplings) with us. this year, he is no longer with us in body but i can still feel him. even though we all have heavy hearts & i spend most of my free time crying, i know my dad would have wanted us to move on and be happy. it felt almost wrong to continue the traditions without my dad but i know he was smiling down at us.

making mandoo is serious business. it is a 2 day process. it is a 2 day process because you have to squeeze all of the water out of the tofu (usually pressed down by bricks) to ensure that that there is no excess water.

the mandoo or dumplings contain: pork, beef, tofu, kimchi, garlic, scallions, mung bean sprouts, jjap chae noodles & seasoning.

the delicious filling.


next, we use a korean dumpling wrapper (made with rice flour) and begin the tedious process of of making the dumplings. we make 2 shapes...one for the soup, and one to steam/fry.


option 1: i made these!

option 2: these are made for the soup

we were starving at this point and decided to steam a few as the soup was being prepared.


the wonderful steamer. this is where the magic happens:

and some delicious mandoo that have been steamed:

look at this perfect mandoo ready to be eaten:

and i ate 5 of these before lunch:

inside view


we dip the mandoo in a sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar and korean crushed red pepper.


emme loves mandoo too.

and for the star of the show: dduk mandoo gook.

dduk is korean rice cake and these were freshly made. the rice cakes and mandoo were cooked in a soup made from bone marrow (can we say YUM?!) and topped with garlic, scallions, julienned eggs (whites & yolk are separated and julienned after cooking into a very thin omelet) & toasted keem (nori).

so amazing!!


here are come close ups:

rice cake (dduk)

mandoo



emme also loves dduk mandoo gook.

after visiting my dad at the cemetery, i decided to steam some more mandoo and then pan fry them. YES!

the rice paper wrapping is so light and chewy..when it's fried, it is so fluffy and non-greasy. inside was moist and outside was so crunchy & tasty.

maybe this was too much korean 101 history but just wanted to share.


and oh yeah, coco likes dduk too:

emme & i wish you a new year filled so much joy & many blessings!

 

[JulieODC]

I'm so sorry about your Dad, wishing you peace in 2015

I love following your instagram, especially when you post traditional Korean food pics. I'm drooling over those dumplings! If you ever have an actual recipe for things you make, please share!!

Looking forward to hearing about your dining adventures!

 

[dgthree]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Cancer is a rotten disease.

 

[Niki Andiokno]

Condolences on your loss. I know how much your Dad meant to you; and always enjoy your family photos. I hope those pics remind you what a special man he was to you and Emme.

That Korean New Years Eve meal looks wonderful. My husband's best buddy growing up was Korean/Filipino. Jun's Mom cooked me a few great meals, and I have learned to cook some at home. Totally awesome cuisine.

 

[pumba]

Your dad left such a good legacy ..you and your sweet daughter...Making these dumplings will be a great way to honor him..

My sympathy to you and your family..

You have been missed...but I understand about caring for our parents..

Hugs and Best wishes for a great NEW YEAR

 

[rustyanchor]

emmebear, so sorry about your father. Wishing you, Emme, and your family peace and happiness in the coming year. I love your posts, so I'm excited to see you document your upcoming Disney trips! Oh, and that soup looks DELICIOUS.

 

[disneypofq05]

I am so sorry to read about your Dad. It seems like you have many fond memories of him and I wish you and your family much happiness in the upcoming year.

I have always enjoyed reading your reports and looking at your pictures. You New Years Day meal looks delicious. I can't wait to read the rest of your report!

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Sorry to hear about your father. Looking forward to hearing about your Disney Dining adventures in 2015!

 

[jennc27]

Condolences on the loss of your father. I just lost my mother on Dec 19, 2014 to cancer. I understand the emotional and physical strain of the 24 hour care for him and also trying to be a mother.

Thank you for the reviews you have done. I have enjoyed reading them and looking forward to this one. They bring great memories of the one and only time I have been to WDW with my mom, dad, DH, and our two DS. Can not wait to go back.

 

[OasterP]

Patty - I'm so sorry about your dad. When I saw your name I was excited for a review but afraid that you might have lost your father.

Oh Emme is getting so big! I've read all your previous reviews and I can't believe how she has grown up. I think she's right around my sons age, so I know how fast it can be.

Can't wait to read about your trips! You deserve some fun!