Homemade Pork Won Tons

While many people are focused on losing weight and working out this January, i've been busy in the kitchen and at the grocery store. I find cooking to be super therapeutic for me. I have difficulty staying focused and cooking helps me deal with that. When you're cooking something substantial, there is a lot of stop and wait and that's where I tend to thrive. While something is boiling, you can switch gears and chop something else up. While something is baking you can fold laundry and vacuum your living room. I thrive on chaos and do better when a million things are going on at once.

Anyway, for Christmas, I got brand new pots & pans, a couple of outstanding cookbooks and a new immersion blender. I've had a great time making things! My friend, Mimo, is a great cook and he made some homemade won tons a few weeks ago. I've been dreaming of them ever since I saw him making them and because my favorite food are the dumplings at Heavenly Asian in Valley Junction!!!! (YOU HAVE TO TRY THEM - out of this world) So, last night, I gave it a try! I didn't have high hopes because i'm not very good at constructing food that remains durable upon cooking. To my surprise, everything worked and they were delicious. I will tell you this, the recipe called for pork mince (I had to look it up - it's just ground pork). I went to the Hy-Vee on Court Avenue (small) and I couldn't find any ground pork, so I bought graziano's sausage. This little taste of Iowa made a huge difference! It actually tasted delicious with the Graziano's sausage (doesn't anything with Graziano's sausage, though?)!!!! The spice in the meat complimented the spice in the sauce. If you would like to try this activity out for your self, here is a link to the recipe. This could be a good activity for parents and kids because it involves construction and learning about other cultures.