my cinnamon rolls

i have gone back to baking as a hobby again. this time, venturing into breads...

menus, menus...

got these from my fellow volunteers:

FROM A RESTAURANT IN ULAANBAATAR

Vermicelli with pickled garbage
Feef with cast iron
Fried tasted bean curd
Small plate pain
Beef paunch

IN BEIJING

Explosion of chicken
Boiled mucus of hogsfoot
Fried trice in squirrel shape

funny. but can you really imagine them?

see you again aaron, mc!

the most recent batch of volunteers (february) walking along portion of tourist avenue, to margie's place for the set dinner. everyone brought something as well (see those bags?). the dinner was also meant to be a farewell bash (kinda) for aaron and marie claude from canada. it's like welcome (for the new) and goodbye (for the old) at the same time!

FOR THE STOMACH: beef adobo, steamed rice with beans, asian salad and cornick (deep-fried corn)

jim, aaron (bye superman!) and sarah

rayso, lindsay, mc (back) and christianne



alain and lindsay



christianne and willy

dishes i cooked

cooking in mongolia is quite exciting and challenging. very limited variety of vegetables - not much local crops and mostly are imported from nearby china. meat products consist of mutton, beef, chicken and pork. tofu - fresh and dried is available. the local mushroom has a good texture and flavor but once winter is around, it only becomes available in dried form. seasonings and herbs come from abroad too - korea, japan, china and some european and south american countries.

fruits - apples, pears, grapes, bananas, plums among others, are imported as well.dairy products available are milk, yogurt, cheese (local and imported ones), dried yogurt and butter.

here are some of what i made out of what was in the market and groceries...

philippine 'ginisang munggo'

(steamed rice with sauteed mung beans)

dried tofu cut into strips, with green beans

fried tofu, sauteed with red onions and yellow tomatoes, seasoned with fish dashi

fried rice with egg and pork strips, on a bed of dried korean seaweeds