Well Heeled Blog > brunch

Have I turned into THAT Friend?

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coffee Have I turned into THAT Friend?I put 95% of my non-rent payments on my credit card (and most of the time, I pay my bill on time and in full every month). Yes, that means I am the annoying person who uses a card to buy a $0.59 chocolate at the local bookstore. Today I went to get brunch with a couple of friends, though, and I realized why it’s always helpful to have cash on hand.

My friend paid for our brunch at the restaurant, and I said I would pick up the tab when we go get coffee at the downstairs coffee shop. When we got to the register though, of course there was a giant sign that said CASH ONLY. I was a little embarrassed but my friend very nicely took care of that as well, and told me not to worry about it.

I had a great time, but I just hope they don’t think I’m THAT friend who uses the “no cash” excuse to get free food. ‘Cause nobody likes THAT friend. -_-

I am going to start carrying a little bit of cash now. Especially when we go out to dinner next time.

photo by dailylifeofmojo

With Dim Sum, You Always Win Some!

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dim sum photo With Dim Sum, You Always Win Some!

If you’ve never tried dim sum before, boy are you missing out!

Dim sum is a brunch originating from Southern parts of China. In many metropolitan areas (especially coastal regions such as New York City, the Bay Area, and Southern California), dim sum is widely accessible. Many Chinese restaurants serve it in the morning until 3pm in the afternoon.

Dishes are served in small plates (think tapas), which makes it perfect for sharing with a group. There are a variety of savory and sweet dishes (although if you are a vegetarian, your choices will be severely limited. If you’re a vegan, then I imagine most dishes are completely off-limits). At some restaurants, servers will push around carts filled with steaming plates of pork buns or shrimp-stuffed noodles. If something catches your eye, you can order the food straight from the cart. At other restaurants you will be given a menu (some with pictures) and will order from there.

Dim sum is also a budget-friendly brunch choice. With prices as low as $1.50 a plate (usually includes 3-4 pieces), a brunch for 4, including tax and tip, ranges from $35-$50: an incredible value for the quantity and tastiness of the food you receive. Delicious and budget-friendly – what else can you ask for? icon wink With Dim Sum, You Always Win Some!

Some of my favorite dishes are lotus-wrapped chicken, BBQ pork buns (I like the ones with the glazed top, not so much the steamed version), fried taro cake and fried turnip cake, shrimp rice noodle rolls, congee with salted pork and thousand-year-old eggs, and egg tarts. As you can tell, I have many favorites… the one thing that I am NOT partial to, however, is “Phoenix Talons” (or, in less elegant – but much more realistic – parlance, chicken feet). My favorite tea is Chrysanthemum.

What are your favorite dim sum places?

Sundays Are Perfect for “Eggs Benedicts” And Naps

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Both of which, incidentally, cost very little.

Last night, after watching Iron Chef America, I suddenly had an impulse to exercise my culinary creativity. (I spent the 20 minutes before bed thinking about what I can make for breakfast).

I’ve decided to work on an improvised, healthier version of eggs benedict, both to save my heart from artery-clogging hollandaise sauce and to use up all the vegetables still sitting in my fridge.

It’s basically an open-faced sandwich. Crust-less, toasted wheat bread with cucumber slices, julienned carrots, caramelized onions, and apple-smoked chicken sausage, topped with a poached egg.

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(Below is what it looks like before the eggs are placed on top)

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The taste was pretty good, and the veggies made me feel good about my meal. I made four of these little “eggs benedicts” for boyfriend and I, and they are all gone now.

How To Poach A Perfect Egg (In Pictures!)

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For the longest time, I couldn’t poach an egg. It was frustrating because I love to eat poached eggs but can only have them in restaurants. But now, I’ve figured it out (hint: shallow pan + vinegar!). Poached egg is the purest way of eating an egg – no oil, no butter, just delicious eggy goodness. And because it’s an egg, it’s super cheap – less than $0.25 per poached egg. I just poached an egg (the most perfect looking egg I’ve ever poached) and have captured it in pictures for posterity.

So here is my step-by-step guide of how to poach a perfect egg:

1. Fill a small and shallow saucepan (2-3 inches deep) with water. Put on a gentle boil (small bubbles in the water). Just remember, the smaller the saucepan, the easier it will be for you to control the water temperature.

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2. Pour 2 tablespoons of white vinegar into the water. The vinegar will help the egg whites stay together.

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3. Break an egg into a small bowl or cup.

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4. Gently slide the egg from the bowl into the saucepan. The egg will come to rest at the bottom of the saucepan – this is another reason why a shallow pan works best.

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5. Use spatula to push egg whites towards the center of the egg. This makes the egg look pretty and collected. Then let egg sit in simmering water for ~3 minutes until the egg whites are firm. ***NOTE: if your pan is very shallow like mine (around 1.5 inches), the top of the egg doesn’t quite get cooked. So you may have to carefully flip the egg over to ensure the egg whites are all cooked. Use a spatula and a spoon for this task. Take care not to break the yolk.

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6. Use a slotted spoon to lift egg out of water bath. (I don’t have a slotted spoon, so I just use a wooden spatula and a spoon to carefully get the egg out of the bath). If you’d like, you can use a paper towel to pat the egg dry.

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7. Garnish with your choice of seasoning. (I used pepper and garlic salt)

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8. Break into the egg. Rejoice as the yolk flows out like a pool of sunshine. Enjoy!

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If Loving Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants is Wrong, I Don't Want to be Right

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By  Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants, I am referring to these almost-too-good-to-be-true delights.

trader joes chocolate croissants If Loving Trader Joes Chocolate Croissants is Wrong, I Don't Want to be Right

Health-wise, these are not great for you (don’t look at the nutrition panel if you don’t have to). But taste-wise? Crispy, buttery, chocolate-y goodness all around. The best part is that there’s virtually zero prep involved (except time).

You just take a frozen croissant, set it out in room-temperature environment for 9 hours to let it rise, then pop it into the oven to bake for 15-25 minutes. Homemade taste & feel without all the work!

The personal finance blogger in me also appreciate the fact that the box of four croissants sells for $3.99. $1 a croissant? Amazing!

When I am feeling especially decadent, I will eat two of these. In one sitting.