Monday, April 25, 2011

E.A.T. World! Challenge: Korea & Ireland

We recently explored the country of South Korea during our homeschool studies.

I wrote about it on my family/homeschool blog.

I made a Korean meal to culminate our studies: stir-fry, kimchi, rice, and Bulgogi.

Bulgogi is Korean barbecue. We got the recipe from a fellow homeschool blogger mom who adopted her sons from South Korea. Here is the veganized version:

Bulgogi (Korean BBQ)

Marinade:
4 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. sesame oil
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 clove of garlic - finely chopped together

Mix together. Add 1 lb. chopped seitan. Marinade for a few hours or overnight. Cook in wok or frying pan. This was really delicious!

We began learning about Ireland around St. Patrick's Day and finished up tonight with an Irish meal (complete with Irish flag paper confetti on the table).

I was a little nervous I wouldn't get supper finished before our power went off in all of the storms swirling around tonight. We spent a portion of time in the closet under the stairs while the storm sirens blared and possible tornadoes were reported near our house. Therefore, meal prep was a little touch and go.

Potato Soup

I based it off this recipe, which uses pureed tofu. So it's actually Potato Tofu Soup. I also added freeze-dried dill. It's extra thick because my husband requested it as such.

Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato
We have been reading some Irish folktales about a man named Jamie O'Rourke. In this particular book, Jamie plants a magical potato seed which results in such a huge "pratie," the entire town grows sick of eating potatoes. We don't eat too many potatoes around our house, for some reason, so I bought a bag the other day - in honor of Jamie O'Rourke - and we've been trying to see how many ways we can eat them (so far - fried, roasted, mashed, and in soup...we've got plenty of potatoes to go, too).

Corned "Beef" and Cabbage

This is based on a recipe from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen. I didn't have a few of the ingredients, including horseradish and wine. It was good, regardless, although my 6 year old wanted no part in it.

Irish Apple Mash

I used this recipe. It's basically mashed potatoes mixed with mashed apples. Pretty good stuff, if you like mashed potatoes and cooked apples.

Irish Soda Bread

This came from the same Fat Free Vegan Kitchen post as the seitan recipe. Ryan has requested that I now make this regularly. As I am not a maker of bread, I will say this one was super, super easy. It's just whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, and plain soy yogurt. Stir, throw the resulting ball of dough on the cookie sheet, and bake.

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Next, we're moving on to Great Britain. We're planning on dressing up fancy to watch the Royal Wedding on Friday. And drink tea and eat crumpets and cucumber sandwiches all day. Ooo, maybe we'll even make a wedding cake.




15 comments:

  1. that handwriting is so cute!

    also, i love bulgogi, soo delicious. i grew up eating it. glad you enjoyed it.
    if you want to add a little more flavor i recommend adding chopped green onions, a slivered yellow onion, and tsp or two of toasted sesame seeds.

    Sarah

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  2. Oh how absolutely fun! I wish I could have been home-schooled by you! Maybe in another life ;) What a fantastic way to add to the curiculum with food. I know you've done it before, but it's so fun to read about each time!

    The Bulgogi looks super delicious; it's one of those recipes I'm going to have to try asap!

    I'm married to an Irish man from South Tipperary, and eating potatoes every which way is just about right. I lived with his parents for 4 years and got a first-hand look at what Irish folk eat, and eating potatoes is certainly in the picture...they'll even eat mashed and roasted in the same meal. etc...

    The royal wedding plans sounds excellent. I remember watching Princess Di and Prince Charles walk up the isle when I was a younger...how fun! YOu'll have to post about it. :D

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  3. Cute meal ideas! You are teaching your family well.

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  4. How fun. I love all the ethnic meals! You're definitely gutsier than me. Glad you guys were safe last night - sounds like your county got hit the hardest.

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  5. I love how you get your kids so involved in what they are studying...that's so cool!

    Are you guys okay? We are but a there's tons of damage all around us. I hope you guys are all safe and sound!

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  6. Sounds like your house doesn't have a basement. I saw the aftermath of the tornados on the news and thought of you. Thanks for letting us know you're all okay and eating potatoes!

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  7. Wish I had been homeschooled with coordinating vegan meals!! And glad you made it through the storms. We had some stormy craziness here in Memphis, but luckily, the tornado passed right under us.

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  8. Oh, you are putting me to homeschooling shame! Must not let the kids see this post!

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  9. i love your themed meals. such a cool way to teach the kids about different countries. the bulgogi sounds awesome!

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  10. I agree - the bulgogi sounds great. I have never had Koren bbq. Honestly, as a kid, I thought it was a joke! Luckily your kids will know the truth.

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  11. I just found this blog through the link from your other blog. I love it. What I have been missing.

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  12. Your posts about homeschooling make me so nostalgic for the good old days that I could cry! I'll forgive you, though, because of those great recipes. To pick out only one: we LOVE mashed potato and stewed apple! My mouth is watering at the thought...

    Enjoy your 'wedding' celebrations. We're not keen on royalty in this family (possibly because we have to pay for them!) but I'm looking forward to hearing about how you deal with Great Britain. I know you won't only stick to England!!! :o) :o) :o)

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  13. Glad you guys are alright after all the tornado scares!
    I love coordinated meals like this - the bulgogi sounds pretty good and haha I love your description of the Apple Mash -
    "It's basically mashed potatoes mixed with mashed apples. Pretty good stuff, if you like mashed potatoes and cooked apples." Well I do! Sounds great.
    I remember that Tommie DePaola book but forgot all about the "praties." I guess if you're going to eat one vegetable a million different ways, a potato would be it!
    Sounds like fun!

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  14. I like the Vegan Bulgogi, I should try, although, I should find a good tasting seitan first :-).

    ciao
    A.

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  15. Sarah, thank you for the suggestion! Will try!

    Rose, well I wish you could be one of our homeschool teachers! And teach us all about the fabulous things YOU do. I love the story you shared about your husband being Irish; good to know because it's hard to know what is stereotypical about a country and what actually is. I remember watching Charles and Di's wedding, too, although I think I was only 5 or 6?

    bitt, thank you for saying so!

    Heather, thank you! And you know it's bad when your kid "counts" signs of tornado damage as we're driving in the car.

    Michelle, although our town was pretty much on the national news, it was the immediate neighboring towns that got it pretty badly. Thanks!

    Shen, nope we don't have a basement. Not very many people in Arkansas have basements. We were going to build a basement when we built our house, but builders aren't even that familiar with the process because they are so rarely done. I forget why? Rocky earth? Water? Yup, at least we had our potatoes. Thank you for thinking of us!

    Bianca, we were as fortunate as you guys! Thank you for the compliment; maybe my kids will appreciate it, too, "one day."

    blessedmama, WHATEVER! I feel the same way about you about so many things! :)

    sarah, thank you!

    Phyllis, hey! Thank you for visiting over here!

    Penny, I am sure I'll feel the same way one day; I'm trying to squeeze in the experience and not let a moment go unappreciated. I am glad I picked an Irish recipe you can relate to! It's never easy to know. Penny, we will DEFINITELY be hitting Scotland in our studies; you'll have to give me lots of suggestions!

    foodfeud, thanks! yes, mashed potatoes and cooked apples were a success. I really love saying the word "pratie."

    Alessandra, thank you! Why can't you find a good tasting seitan? (sounds horrible! ha!)

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