Happy Mother’s Day! Today, I’d like to share some recipes I’ve learned from these very important women. These recipes are foods that I’ve eaten and loved at various stages of my life. They’re all the labors of love of generations of mothers from my family. From No Knead Bread to Taiwanese Chow Mein, these recipes come from the women that I love the most.
Special Mother’s Day Shoutout To My Mom
This year hasn’t been very easy for my mom, but she’s such a positive person and always reminds us to be optimistic and strong in the face of difficulty. This year, I’m glad I was able to help fulfill her lifelong dream of visiting Japan. It made me so happy to see her and my dad excitedly exploring Tokyo and trying all the different tasty treats we came across during our trip.
I’ve achieved a lot in the past year that would never have been possible without the lessons that she’s helped me learn growing up. She’s the reason for my love of food and my connections to my culture, and I’m so proud to be her daughter. To my mom: Happy Mother’s Day, I love you!
Mom’s Special Recipes: My Childhood Flavors
My mom’s recipes are the flavors I’ve known and loved growing up. Some of my favorite moments of my childhood involve running home from school to smell her delicious cooking. They’re simple flavors, but are such a crucial part of my day-to-day even today.
My Mom’s Weekly Baking: No-Knead Bread
These freshly made no-knead bread is one of the recipes that I had to learn from her as soon as I left home for college. My mom baked bread for us every weekend, and I love that smell of fresh bread filling the house. As I’ve started my own family, I’ve picked up that habit for myself as well. Now, I’m the one bringing her bread instead!
My mom makes this No Knead Bread recipe for us all the time and I swear it’s better than any store bought bread! Today, I made 2 types of toppings: Olive, and Sundried Tomatoes with Cheese, but you can add ANY topping you’d like!
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Crispy Pan Fried Pork Buns: The Tastiest Breakfast
Having these Crispy Pan Fried Pork Buns with a glass of soy milk for breakfast is wildly satisfying. My mom makes these in bulk sometimes and it honestly tastes just like the ones from Taiwanese breakfast shops! These buns freeze super well in bulk, and are a really great way to start the day. It has the juiciest meat fillings inside the crunchiest skin!
These Crispy Pan-Fried Pork Buns – Sheng Jian Bao are going to BLOW YOUR MIND!! Super juicy pork filling, soft fluffy buns, and pan-fried to a perfect with a crispy bottom, this is my mom’s secret recipe that is super easy to make at home.
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Mapo Tofu: A Simple Dish With The Best Memories
Mapo Tofu is such a simple household dish, but its one comfort food that’s deeply ingrained in my memories. It’s one of those dishes that shows up often on the dinner table, and I’m just as excited for it every single time. Spicy, meaty, and savory, I can finish so many bowls of rice with this Mapo Tofu recipe. It’s a speedy recipe, and so easy to make!
When I think of comfort foods, I think of recipes that I grew up eating made by my mom and grandma; Mapo Tofu is one of the first recipes I learned to make on my own.
I am sharing my family’s Mapo Tofu recipe that will have you downing bowls and bowls of rice. Mapo Tofu is spicy tofu and pork stew that is savory, spicy, and the ultimate rice killer. Every family has its variation of Mapo Tofu, but this is my favorite since it is what I grew up eating, and it’s also fast and easy to make at home! Don’t worry if you can’t eat spicy food; just adjust the seasoning to your liking.
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Grandma’s Authentic Taiwanese Recipes
Growing up, my grandma has always been one of the best cooks I know, so being able to cook for her now and share her recipes with the world has been a dream come true! Grandma’s recipes are incredibly authentic dishes made with simple steps, and she has tons of secret tips and tricks! Every time I return to Taiwan, my first priority is peeking over my grandma’s shoulders as she cooks us these authentic Taiwanese dishes.
Grandma’s Most Requested Deep Fried Sesame Balls
My grandma had many secret family recipes, but this Deep Fried Sesame Ball recipe is always a winner: crunchy outsides holding sweet red bean paste. My mom’s friends in university use to get so excited when my mom would visit home because that means she’s coming back with boxes of my grandma’s famous Deep-Fried Sesame Balls. Nothing beats my grandma’s recipe – crunchy, super simple, and highly delicious!
These Freshly Fried Crispy Sesame Balls are our secret family recipe passed down from my grandma, and I am excited to share it with you today. Deep Fried Sesame Balls that only require FIVE simple ingredients. Nothing beats my grandma’s recipe that is super simple and highly delicious!
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My Favorite Taiwanese Chow Mein
I think Grandma’s Taiwanese Chow Mein is the BEST VERSION of this recipe, but maybe I’m a little biased, because I love my grandma’s cooking. This Chow Mein recipe is umami-packed and super fragrant! My grandma knew how to make delicious noodles without wasting any time…and this recipe is certainly a great example! Fragrant, and saucy, these noodles will disappear as soon as they’re served!
Nothing reminds me more of home than my Grandma’s Taiwanese Chow Mein that is savory, addicting, and is the one that you find at night markets in Taiwan. Crunchy cabbage, juicy pork, fragrant shiitake mushroom, and saucy noodles, this recipe is everything you want in your chow mein! The best part … grandma’s waste no time; this recipe is quick and super easy to make at home.
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Dry Salted Roasted Peanuts: Grandma’s Perfect Snack
These roasted peanuts are so iconic in my family that I’d bring back BAGS of these roasted peanuts from Taiwan. You might be thinking, what’s so special about simple salted peanuts? My grandma’s roasted peanuts are so famous that her neighbors would even offer to buy them from her as gifts! In fact, I even flew back to Taiwan just to learn how to make this roasted peanut recipe, so I can share this recipe with you!
I am not kidding when I say these are the BEST Roasted Peanuts you will ever try, and I got all her secret tips! Every time I go back to visit my grandma, I would bring bags of her roasted peanuts back from Taiwan. You can add the roasted peanuts on top of rice, salad, or noodles, or even enjoy it on its own.
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Learning New Perspectives From My Mother In Law
My mother-in-law is also a particular inspiration for me when it comes to cooking. I’m so thankful that she’s part of my family, especially since without her, I wouldn’t have my best friend and husband Dom. I learn lots about Taiwanese culture from my side of the family, but she gives me a fresh new perspective on my culture.
She comes up with such creative ways of boosting flavor in her dishes, and this Creamy Japanese Curry is a wonderful example. I don’t think I’ve made curry a different way ever since I learned about some of her hacks. Her tricks to extra creamy curry changed my life!
My mother-in-law’s SUPER CREAMY Japanese Curry with a SECRET INGREDIENT for extra creaminess. I was so impressed the first time she cooked this curry for us, I had to steal her recipe!
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Need More of My Family Recipes this Mother’s Day? These Recipes Will Be A Hit!: