Best Travel Apps!

With my upcoming trip to the United Kingdom, I have a couple of apps that I use when planning a trip, and others for when I have reached my destination. Here are a few that I use!

Planning:

• Kayak (The best deals on flights)
• Priceline (I name my own price when it comes to hotels)
• Trip Advisor (I always check reviews)
• Travel Zoo (Excellent cruise specials)
• Home Away (Tons of vacation rentals at your fingertips!)
• Airbnb (Great apartments, condos, and flats)

Packing:

• Pack The Bag (Create a list of everything you need and check it off as you go!)

Exploring:

• Tour Wrist (View panoramic shots of sites that you'd like to visit)
• World Lens (In a foreign country and don't know the language? This app will translate written words for you. Just point your smartphones camera and voila!)
• Hear Planet (Amazing!! Carry your own travel guide in your pocket. Enjoy prerecorded explanations of landmarks and exhibits.)

Now...Get out there and explore!

Southeast Asian Porridge!

I am on a roll with the Asian recipes this month! I recently had an amazing dinner party where I delighted my guests with an authentic Cambodian hotpot! Well, after finishing up the broth, I had a ton of veggies left over! So, not wanting to waste them, I decided make one of my favorite hearty stews.

Porridge... I know what you're thinking and no it's not your typical porridge from nursery rhymes and fairy tales. This version differs from the European porridge (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) that uses oats, milk, or water, because it uses rice!

This recipe calls for the flavors of Southeast Asia, such as Korean juk and Cambodian Bo bor sach moan.

Ingredients:
-chicken thighs 1 lb or any chicken you have... Thighs give more flavor
-1 large can of chicken broth or chicken bouillon
-1/2 cup fish sauce
-4 tbsp of ginger powder or thinly sliced raw ginger
-2 crushed garlic or 1 tbsp of minced garlic
-1 tbsp of star anise
-1lime
-1bunch of chopped cilantro
-2 cups of rice
-2 stalks of green onion
-1/2 cabbage (not traditionally used but I had so much leftover!)
-1tbsp of lemongrass
-1 package of button mushrooms, sliced
-1 cup of mung bean sprouts
-salt to taste
-crushed black pepper to taste
-I add a heaping tbsp of beef pho paste for extra flavor
-pepper of choice for spice. I used Korean red peppers

Directions:
Simply put in a crockpot, fill with water and cook on low overnight 7-8 hours. Delicious and hearty!!

Cambodian hot pot

I had tempted my friends with the notion of a delicious Cambodian hot pot dinner. Well, it is now winter and the perfect night to enjoy a tasty, spicy, hot pot has arrived!

Now, most of my friends are Chinese and Japanese and hadn't heard of a Cambodian version of their hot pot, so I just couldn't wait to see their reactions at the first taste of this spicy, slightly sweet, and flavorful portrayal.

The Chinese version is referred to as Chinese fondue, steamboat, or huoguo. The Japanese call theirs shabu-shabu. Below is the recipe and instructions for Yao hon, courtesy of my Cambodian best friend and her mom. Thank you mama Keo!

Step 1:

Find your local Asian market. You will not find these ingredients in your typical grocery store.

Ingredients (broth)
1 large jar of soya bean paste for sukiyaki
1 bottle of Coco Rico
4 jars of Dragonfly barbecue sauce
3 jars of shrimp paste
5 tablespoons of fish sauce
Lime
Raw peanuts
Chicken bouillon or chicken broth

Step 2
(Prepare broth)

Roast peanuts at the bottom of a large pot on medium. Keep swirling until brown.
Pour all of the other ingredients into the pot. Simmer for 30 minutes while you prep vegetables, meat and starch.

Step 3
(Starch)

Steam rice or make noodles

The best imported Jasmine rice from Thailand

Step 4
(Prep Vegetables)

Wash and organize the following onto platters:

Spinach
Watercress
Cilantro
Green onions
Cabbage
Lettuce
Mushrooms (bottom or baby Portobello)
Peppers for individual bowls
Bok choy

Step 5
(Protein)

Slice flank steak
Take shells off shrimp
Grill chicken
Tofu
Fish balls
(We added roast pork as a bonus)

Step 6
(Prepare hot pot)

Set the table or places on the floor. I used an elective griddle and a Korean gas grill set with a skillet.

Your broth should be ready. Ladle enough onto each pot to fill it nearly to the top. Squeeze half a lime and add more to your taste preference!

Seat everyone around the pot with their bowls of rice, chopsticks or spoons.

There are two ways of enjoying this meal. Either each person can select their preferred ingredients and place them into the pot, watching them bubble and cook right before their eyes, or you can choose a leader and they can dump in a bunch of yummy veggies and meat and watch it cook. Then they can ladle the contents into the bowls of guests.

If the broth becomes thick and reduces, add more Coco Rico to the mixture, stir and squeeze more lime.

Now, enjoy the feast and conversation! I served 17 people with one pot and still have plenty to enjoy the next day!

There will be lots of veggies and meat leftover depending on how much your party are. I plan on making porridge in a crock pot with my leftovers. I will post that recipe as well! Yum!

Happy friends!

An Unexpected Journey

It's ten o'clock and The Hobbit doesn't release until midnight. Well, the line is already out the door and there is hysteria and excitement in the air. We are ready! Everyone chatters about Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trivia and enthuse about upcoming movies.

An hour later, we finally sit down and yes... The Hobbit IMAX 3D is spectacular!

The trailers were stellar as well. An extended trailer for Star Trek: Into the Darkness was so good! Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes) may just be the best villain EVER! I predict that it will be ten times better than its predecessor!

The new trailer for Zack Snyder's, Man of Steel will give you chills! That movie is on my can't wait list!

Now, The Hobbit... It was ridiculously entertaining. Martin Freeman (Watson in Sherlock Holmes and from the British version of The Office) is the perfect man to play Bilbo Baggins. He is a remarkable mixture of clever and comical! Perfection!

The dwarves were all a treat. Of course Richard Armitage as Oakenshield was stunning. The other dwarves were all hilarious, charming, and full of vigor and surprises. I must give special appreciation for Ballin. That guy was amazing. He portrayed such emotion that made you forget he was in costume and makeup.

Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, and Saruman returned to add nostalgia to the experience. There was even a cameo of Frodo! The game of riddles between Bilbo and Gollum was great, and Radagast and his rabbits were just pure fun!

There was never a dull moment. Each scene was cleverly crafted to bring the book and the appendix of the book to life! There is nothing here that will disappoint!

You must drop everything, right now, and run to the theater, because four years of waiting has finally paid off. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is an A+ for me!

Best British Dramas on Netflix!

Here is a pretty spectacular list of what British tv shows and series you can catch on Netflix. If you are an Anglophile like myself, you will definitively appreciate this one!

-Downton Abbey (um...duh!)
-Dr. Who
-Being Human (much better than the U.S. version)
-The Inbetweeners (love it!)
-North and South
-Wives and Daughters
-Catherine Cookson Anthology (they are all good!)
-The IT Crowd (hilarious!)
-Skins
-The Grand
-Upstairs, Downstairs

Please, comment if I missed one of your favorites!

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

When five people in the course of a week recommend a book, you better listen and buy it right away! This was the case for me.

Five of my friends raved about Gillian Flynn's new book, Gone Girl. It is an incredibly suspenseful thriller that is sure to keep you up all night, flicking through pages in rapt astonishment!

It is about a woman who has gone missing and her husband who is suspected of killing her. You will be amazed at how well done this story is. It is told from the husband, Nick's, point of view and through Ann's diary entries. You think you know how this will end. I guarantee you, you don't!

Trust me, this story, set in three riveting parts, is remarkable. You haven't read a book this twisted before. I will be picking up her other books ASAP. Sharp Objects and Dark Places are sampled at the end of Gone Girl, and I am already hooked.

This makes me wonder, should I be writing mysteries too? Well, Where's Katie and Dark Lake, my latest short stories are mixtures of horror and mystery. Dark Lake is up now and Where's Katie will be posted after the contest. Check out Dark Lake on my writing site. Http://www.Knlee.net

                                     

Anna Karenina!

Tolstoy's Anna Karenina has been revamped by director Joe Wright, and the result is incredibly intoxicating. Starring Hollywoods favorite period piece leading lady, Keira Knightly as Anna Karenina, Jude Law as her husband, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Vronsky, this movie is guaranteed to intrigue.

The cinematography was breathtaking. From the very first scene of the movie, the audience is pleasantly surprised by the excellent set which is constantly changing as if the movie took place on the stage. You go from one beautiful scene to the next with expert choreography. The actors move as if they are in an dance of some sort. It is both interesting and breathtaking in some scenes. Some may feel that this is distracting from the story, but I found it remarkably well done.

Now, the acting was also impeccable. Keira Knightly was a divine treat. She was able to convey her hesitation to fall for Vronsky, her love and passion for him, and her smothering feelings of misery with expert modesty. Her face can depict each emotion with such subtlety that the audience is left captivated.

Jude Law is also a treat. His muted personality and display of restraint in the face of betrayal is unnerving. He is wonderful and really captures the essence of that character. He really is a saint.

Now, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is adorable, yes, but he is not Vronsky. The only case of miscasting in this movie. Not only was it the ridiculous mustache but the very way he carried himself throughout the movie. It was painfully apparent that he was trying way too hard to be this character. We can kind of let this slide by, because of the superb acting of the rest of the cast.

Kelly MacDonald was lovely and had some of the best lines. Matthew MacFadyen was ridiculous in an excellent way! Emily Watson was a delight as well as a few surprise Downton Abbey appearances. Hello Mary Crawley!

It must also be noted that the parallel love story of Constantine Levi, played by Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter) and his pure love for Kitty is a breath of fresh air.

If you have an adult attention span and an appreciation for classic literature and stupendous acting, then you will love this movie. It is a treat to the mind and the eye. Check it out in select theaters now, or wait until it is released on DVD. Either way, it is a must see!

This week in movies!

As we begin the race to Christmas and all of the wonderful movies that will be released let's go over what Hollywood has in store for us!

This week I will be reviewing the new rendition of Anna Karenina, Rise of the Guardians, and Lincoln! Hooray, The Hobbit is coming soon and I already have my ticket for its midnight release!

We can look forward to Django Unchained (Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Christophe Waltz), The Impossible (Naomi Watts and Ewan Mcgreggor), Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise), and Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away!

Of course Les Miserables is coming soon as well! Very excited. Stay tuned!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt=The new Batman

Rumors claim that the amazing Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who played Robin in the new Dark Knight Rises, will portray Batman in the 2015 Justice League! Who is excited?!

I think he is an excellent choice and would love to see him put on the bat suit! However, there is a possibility that this rumor was leaked to promote sales of the blue ray/DVD release of The Dark Knight Rises. Hmm... cruel joke if it is just a publicity stunt. What do you think?

Best Teen/Chick Dramas...Thank you Netflix!

Teen/Chick Shows:

1. Gossip Girl
2. Revenge
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Pretty Little Liars
5. Heart of Dixie
6. Desperate Housewives
7. Make it or Break It
8. Jane By Design, a new favorite!

Hello Netflix! Top Drama Shows

This category is a little tricky, there are a few shows on here that can also be considered comedies, crime dramas, and mysteries.

Drama:

1. Mad Men
2. Breaking Bad
3. Sons of Anarchy
4. Damages
5. Sherlock Holmes 
6. Lie to Me
7. Revenge
8. White Collar (It's also pretty funny)
9. Weeds
10. Law And Order: SVU
11. Law And Order: Criminal Intent (Only the ones with Vincent! He is my favorite!)
12. Vera
13. Inspector Lewis
14. MI5
15. Nikita

Hello Netflix! Top Comedy Shows

Comedy:

1. The Office
2. How I Met Your Mother
3. Glee
4. Rules of Engagement
5. Raising Hope
6. Frasier (Classic)
7. 30 Rock
8. Freaks And Geeks (Check out Seth Rogan!)
9. That 70's Show
10. Family Guy
11. Futurama

Hello Netflix! Top Sci-fi Fantasy Series

Netflix has definitely stepped things up with their available content. Here are my favorite TV shows, available now. Check them out! 

Sci-fi/Fantasy:

1. Doctor Who
2. Once Upon A Time
3. The Walking Dead
4. Being Human U.K. Version (George is amazing!)
5. The Vampire Diaries
6. American Horror Story
7. Legend of the Seeker
8. Being Human U.S. Version
9. Merlin
10. The X Files
11. Warehouse 13
12. Firefly
13. Eureka
14. Terra Nova
15. Heroes
16. Supernatural
17. Battlestar Gallactica
18. Yes, Star Trek is available as well!

Available for sale January 2013

Greetings everyone! I'd like to thank you all for the support and wonderful comments.

So, The Chronicles of Koa is my newest dark fantasy series and I am excited to share an annotated chapter each week for free.

Think of it as the trailer for the book which will be released in its entirety on Amazon in January 2013! Happy holidays :D

Read highlighted chapters now at www.knlee.net

Homemade pho

Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup, made with a delicious beef broth, vermicelli noddles and an assortment of veggies, is a wonderful meal (and an excellent hangover cure).

Life of Pi!!!!!

I had to run home to tell you all about The Life of Pi.... Let me preface by saying that this movie had me crying like a baby. I don't want to reveal any spoilers because I want it to be as surprising to you as it was to me. 

So, this review is going to be difficult. The Life of Pi is about a young boy's life and his incredible journey of survival. Each actor that portrayed this character was great. Iffran Khan was Pi as an older man, Suraj Sharma is Pi as we see him during his journey, a young man, and finally, Ayush Tandon and Guatam Belur are Pi as an adolescent and small child. Each one actually looked like they were the same character at different stages of their life. 

We see Pi go through his childhood being teased by his name Piscine...those kids were relentless. His father runs a zoo and eventually they decided that they must move from India to Canada in order to start a new life. This is where the movie takes off. Of course, the ship sinks. Consequently, Pi is left on a small life boat with a zebra, an orangutan, a Bengal tiger and a hyena. 

I am afraid that I cannot give away too much, but Pi sees some pretty incredible things, and manages to survive. All I can say is that at one part of the movie, towards the end, I found myself stunned. I held my breath in shock for what seemed like minutes, trying to suppress the tears. 

I admit that I didn't expect it to affect me that much. I thought it was going to be a visually stunning movie with some inspiring moments, and that it was. What you don't know, is that there is more to this story, and be on your guard, lest you want to bawl your eyes out like I did. Lol, there were others with tears in their eyes, but I think I understood the deeper meaning of the story and couldn't suppress my emotion, although I did try. 

You must see it in 3D, or it will be a shameful crime. Ang Lee has to be in the running for best director in the Oscars. As James Cameron would agree with me, the 3D was stunning, but not only that, but this film was shot mostly on water, with animals. Do you know how hard that is? I'd like to thank Ang Lee for directing, Yann Martel for writing the novel, and David Mcgee for the screenplay. Go now. See it.

Thanksgiving Dinner @ The Liberty-Charlotte NC

As promised, I am glad to tell you all about my Thanksgiving dinner at The Liberty in Charlotte, NC. I was happy to book a reservation for my friends and I when I saw the three course dinner that they were offering. That third course, was a dessert bar! 

 First of all, I've been to The Liberty on numerous occasions and they have an awesome lamb burger. The location is in the lovely South End are of Charlotte and the interior decor is nice and chic, with a lovely dining area and separate bar area.

Ok, now, let's get to the food!

First Course: My guests and I enjoyed delicious pumpkin gnocchi, rock shrimp salad, and lobster and crab cakes. I particularly loved the sauce on the pumpkin gnocchi (my first time having pumpkin!) and the vinaigrette on the crispy rock shrimp salad.

 

Second Course: Prime rib with creamed spinach casserole and mashed potatoes with a mushroom gravy...yum! The pork was also delicious with smoked Gouda mac and cheese, bacon wrapped ham and sweet apple compote. Wow! It was the only dish that really looked like typical Thanksgiving fare, but it was definitely superb.

Third Course: Dessert!!! I was wary, since I am allergic to eggs, and it's rare that a restaurant has a dessert that I can actually eat. To my surprise, they had plenty for me to enjoy! I had the berry cobbler and apple crisp...amazing! They also had an assortment of chocolate cake, cookies, bread pudding with marshmallows, cheese cake with strawberry sauce, lemon meringue tarts, and a few other things that I can't quite name, since I've never tried them. Just know, there was a smorgasbord of sweets on that table!

It was an overall delightful experience and completely stress free, with no clean up! Yay! The service was wonderful and the owner even stopped by. He was very friendly and personable. I'd recommend The Liberty to anyone. If you're ever in Charlotte, please stop by. They have amazing burgers, salads, and a yummy, popular, fresh pretzel appetizer.

Thanks The Liberty!