Mondays with Mom

Mondays with Mom: The Man of the House

umma — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:00:08 +0000

MoM reflects on the changing nature of kitchen chores in immigrant households.

Traditionally in Korea, the men are never in the kitchen. My husband is no exception to that. For as long as we have lived in the US, our attitudes concerning kitchen duties haven't changed that much.

In part because he is required to do more work outside of home including gardening and etc, and I spend more time inside at home, cleaning the house, and cooking. So a typical scene after work is that my husband first heads to the TV set in the family room, and I head toward the kitchen.

Mondays with Mom: Winter Kimchi

umma — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:46:33 +0000

Mom remembers winter kimchi making, in the late autumn with the entire village.

At a certain point in late autumn, on a chilly, and sunny November day, the entire neighborhood's grandmas, moms, and chunyu (young maid) will gather around in one house, or in a two or even three houses for the winter kimchi making.

In the southern part of Korea, where I grew up, I think about those winter kimchi making fall days as a fun memory. Mostly, I would just watch since I was not big enough to directly join in, but I helped with odds and ends and stuff, carrying a bucket here and there, delivering more hot peppers, or sesame seeds.

Mondays with Mom: Goguma Memories

umma — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:46:36 +0000

Memories of roasted Korean sweet potatoes during the fall and winter nights ...

"Gun goguma, gun goguma!"

This is the cry of the street venders during the winter - tempting everyone to try their baked sweet potatoes. I would hear this cry during the winter, when I walked home from school, when it was already dark since I had to stay late for extra study sessions. They tasted so good! They were warm, sweet and filling, especially since I was so cold and hungry walking home from the bus station.

Mondays with Mom: Korean Side Dishes

umma — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:58:17 +0000

Mom gives her take on "banchan" - the enigmatic side dishes of many shades and stripes that are consumed with every typical Korean meal.

When you go to the Korean restaurants, without ordering, you’ll always be served different small side dishes that are made of various vegetables, meats and fish. And of course there are several different kinds of kimchi, always. Sometimes I’ve seen people who have never eaten Korean food seem alarmed because they didn’t “order” the side dishes! (Don’t worry they are included!)

Mondays with Mom: Filet Mignon & Kimchi Soup?

umma — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:10:22 +0000

Umma upends the traditional Korean meal for a little "fusion."

Mondays with Mom is a column penned from the perspective of a member of the older Korean generation. AsianSupper contributor umma immigrated to the US in the 1980s and currently lives in Washington state.

Mondays with Mom: How to Make Black Garlic

umma — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:31:14 +0000

Umma reflects on the Korean obsession with garlic, and shares a home-cooked recipe for her own black garlic!

How I hate the smell of garlic coming from someone’s mouth (as well as mine)! Okay, maybe I hate it a little bit less when it’s coming out of my own mouth.

Mondays with Mom: White Rice, Brown Rice

umma — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:55:52 +0000

Contributor umma recounts the days of old when white rice was cherished. Not so much these days.

Mondays with Mom is a column penned from the perspective of a member of the older generation. AsianSupper contributor umma, which in case you didn’t know means “Mom” in Korean. Umma immigrated to the US in the 1980s and currently lives in Washington.