The Top 8 Korean Dishes You Need To Try

To the uninitiated, Korean cuisine can appear intimidatingly complex. With bold flavors, innumerable side dishes, and detailed table etiquette, exploring Korean cuisine is surely a cultural adventure. Korean dishes balance fresh flavors of meat and vegetables, along with the sweet spice of chilli paste. However, there is more to Korean cuisine than meat, veggies, rice, and spice. Here, you can find a top 8 list of distinctly Korean dishes – from pungent Kimchi to refreshing bingsu.

1. Korean Barbeque – Samgyeopsal, Bulgolgi and Galbi



2. Kimchi



3. Haejangguk



4. Mandu



5. Bibimbap




6. Jeon




7. Kimbap




8. Samgyetang


Marshmallow Fluff Makes the Easiest Buttercream Frosting


"Buttercream" and "forgiving" are two words that don't typically go together. This three-ingredient recipe is the exception. If you're in the market for a sweet vanilla frosting, and have a thing for marshmallow, this is the hack on buttercream you need in your life.

Fluff Into Buttercream Frosting: Watch the Video


How to Make It

With three or four common baking ingredients and the help of a stand mixer or hand mixer, it will take less than five minutes for this marshmallow fluff buttercream to become your reality. Also, the ingredients here are all measured in a one-to-one ratio — like, one jar, one cup, one teaspoon — so it couldn't be easier to remember.
  • - Cream 1 cup (2 sticks) of softened, unsalted butter and a 7.5-ounce jar of marshmallow fluff in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, until it's light and fluffy.
  • - Slowly add about 1 cup of powdered sugar, and beat over low speed until fluffy incorporated.
  • - If you want an extra boost of vanilla flavor, go ahead and beat in about 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
  • - If you're not using it right away, store the buttercream in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.


The Best Ways to Use Fluff Buttercream

If you're wondering how best to put this vanilla-marshmallow buttercream to work, my best advice is that there are absolutely no wrong answers. If you feel the urge to grab a spoon and dive in, go right ahead — no judgment from us.
Because of the buttercream's thick and sturdy texture, it pairs well with everything from cakes and cupcakes to making cookie sandwiches, frosting brownies, and filling cream puffs and eclairs. In the mood for an over-the-top, indulgent breakfast? Add a little fluff buttercream to your stack of pancakes, waffles, or French toast.

Everything You Need to Build the Ultimate Food-Lover's Christmas Tree


10 Christmas Trees Made Entirely of Delicious Food

Christmas trees in the kitchen or dining room don't usually make the most sense. However, we'll make an exception for these fun look-alike treats. Because presentation is key this time of year.
Whether you want to get creative with a cheese platter or make DIY sweets, these are some of our favorite edible Christmas trees.

    Fruit and Cheese

    This cheese board couldn't be any simpler to put together. Use different colored cheese cubes and red and green grapes to create a layered Christmas tree. Use a celery stalk for the tree stump, and a rolled cream cheese ball for a tree topper. We love how Dan of Cakes Cottage added sprigs of rosemary and thyme to create a realistic pine needle effect to the appetizer platter. And those fresh herbs probably make the whole thing smell insanely delicious.

    Cupcakes

    Part decoration, part dessert — and all fun! Chocolate cupcakes are the perfect base for pine trees made of ice cream cones and festive green frosting. Dust them with powdered sugar for a snow-covered effect, and you'll have a sweet treat that's almost too pretty to eat.

    Peanut Butter Cups

    If you still have some Halloween candy, this festive DIY is a great way to repurpose peanut butter cups of all sizes. And the best part about this dessert? You don't even have to turn on your oven. You need two sizes of peanut butter cups, chocolate kisses, and melted chocolate — we recommend using white chocolate so you can color it green or red for the garland drizzle. Wrap these up for a tasty party favor or serve them at a holiday party.

    Pizza

    Who says pizza isn't a Christmas food? This festive take on our favorite takeout dinner is a savory way to celebrate the holidays. Keep things as pine tree as possible with a pesto base, and top it with "decorations" of your choice. We love how Sonja and Alex of A Couple Cooks arranged slices of red onion to look like garland, and dotted diced red pepper all over the pie, but we're thinking just about any of your favorite toppings can be made Christmas pizza-appropriate. Don't forget to add a snowy dusting of mozzarella cheese!

    Cinnamon Rolls

    Waking up to this gooey cinnamon roll on Christmas morning might just be more exciting than opening presents. Maybe. Pamela, the blogger behind My Man's Belly, uses her favorite cinnamon roll recipe and cleverly shapes the dough to resemble a Christmas tree. Top it off with a generous drizzle of icing, and dig in.

    Veggies

    We're loving this super-simple veggie platter tree. Okay, so it's just broccoli florets and cherry tomatoes, but it looks amazing. The colors pop perfectly, and it couldn't be any more festive. Slice a star from your favorite citrus fruit for a tree topper, and pile some pretzel sticks to make a trunk. Serve with your favorite dip for a festive appetizer everyone will remember.

    Caprese Salad Skewers

    Looking for an easy-to-eat appetizer for a holiday cocktail party? You've found it with these caprese salad skewers. To make them, all you have to do is load up three sizes of wooden skewers with cooked tortellini, basil leaves, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella. Stack the skewer sizes to form a colorful Christmas tree, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It looks im-pasta-bly fussy, but it's so easy!

    Gingerbread Cookies

    Gingerbread houses are so last year — switch things up with these beautiful cookie trees. Stack different sizes of star-shaped gingerbread cookies to create a tree, held together by homemade icing. Sprinkle the assembled trees with a dusting of powdered sugar for a stunning snowy effect.

    Brownies

    You don't need any special cutters or pans to make these Christmas tree-shaped brownies. Just make brownies the way you normally would, then slice them into triangle-shaped pieces. Debbie at One Little Project recommends using bamboo skewers to create a grid of triangles before you cut, so you can get as many as possible! Use green icing of your choice and drizzle over each brownie, and pop in candy canes for tree trunks.

    Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

    These chocolate-covered strawberry trees just might be the cutest treats we've ever seen. Add green dye to melted white chocolate, and use chocolate sandwich cookies as the base for the dipped berries. We love the white sprinkles and baby stars on top!

    How To Make Spritz Cookies


    How To Make Spritz CookiesMakes about 7 dozen bite-sized cookies

    What You Need

    Ingredients2 1/2 cups (9 ounces) all-purpose flour
    3/4 teaspoon fine salt
    2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
    1 cup (4 ounces) powdered sugar
    1 large egg
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    EquipmentMeasuring cups and spoons
    Stand mixer or electric hand mixer
    Rubber spatula
    Mixing bowl
    Whisk
    Cookie press
    Baking sheets — aluminum, not nonstick


    Instructions

    1. 1.Heat the oven: Arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat to 350°F. Have 2 unlined, ungreased, preferably aluminum (not nonstick) baking sheets ready.
    2. 2.Combine the flour and salt: Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
    3. 3.Cream the butter and sugar: Place the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer and large bowl.) Beat on low speed until combined, then beat on medium speed until fluffy and lightened in color, about 3 minutes.
    4. 4.Add the egg and vanilla: Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the egg and vanilla, return the mixer to medium speed, and beat until well-combined, about 1 minute.
    5. 5.Fold in the flour mixture: Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl again. Add the flour mixture, return the mixer to low speed, and mix until just incorporated. Do not over mix.
    6. 6.Fill and use the cookie press: Fill the cookie press with as much dough as will fit. Fit the press with a die. Press the dough directly onto 2 baking sheets, spacing them as close together as the press will allow. Press only 1 shape per baking sheet, as different shapes (i.e., trees and wreaths) have different baking times. Refill the cookie press with more dough as needed.
    7. 7.Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies for 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets between racks and from front to back. Bake until the cookies are a pale golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes more depending on the shape, removing any sheets of cookies that are ready first. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. Repeat with pressing and baking the remaining dough, being sure to cool the baking sheets completely between batches.

    Recipe Notes

    • - Storage: Baked spritz cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
    • - Freezing: Freeze fully baked and cooled spritz cookies in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container (a bag is not recommended, as it does not protect the cookies) and store for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature for 10 minutes or reheat in a 275°F oven for 3 minutes.


    How To Make Pinwheel Sugar Cookies


    Pinwheel cookies are a simple upgrade on a classic sugar cookie, perfect for the home baker who wants to bake beautiful sugar cookies but doesn't have the time (or desire) to decorate two-dozen cookies with royal icing. The premise is simple: Mix up your favorite sugar cookie dough, divide that dough into two, color and flavor one of the doughs, roll them out, roll them together, slice, and bake. The hardest part of baking pinwheel cookies is deciding how to color and flavor the dough and rolling the two doughs together, but there are a few tricks to make both easier.


    How to Upgrade a Basic Sugar Cookie Dough

    Sugar cookie dough is pretty straightforward. Cream together butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla, and finish with some flour and salt. The genius of a pinwheel cookie is simply dividing this dough into two parts and flavoring one. Extracts and food coloring can just be folded into the dough (as is the case with our peppermint pinwheels), but for additions like chocolate or gingerbread spices, the dough may need an ingredient enhancement. Here are a few flavoring ideas, plus their ingredient upgrades.
    • - Extracts: Peppermint, lemon, lavender, or almond extract can simply be stirred into the dough. Adding a few drops of food coloring to correspond with the flavoring distinguishes the two layers and is required for the pinwheel effect.
    • - Cocoa or chocolate: Chocolate in any form is drying to a cookie dough, so we add an extra egg yolk to the chocolate portion to keep the dough supple and prevent cracking while rolling and cutting.
    • - Gingerbread: Adding molasses to one half of the dough will give the dough enough moisture to take on a considerable amount of spice and give the dough a rich caramel hue.


    How To Create a Pinwheel Design

    Once you've got your two dough portions mixed, it's easiest to roll these doughs out while they're still soft, before chilling. Once chilled, divide the doughs in half again. These smaller portions make stacking and rolling the dough easier (no long rolls to wrestle) and give you the option of alternating the design of the pinwheel. Stack one dough on top of the other. The bottom layer of dough will be the outside of the pinwheel. Working along the longest edge of the doughs, roll the dough into a tight pinwheel. Take your time to avoid gaps in between the rolls. The step-by-step pictures here will help walk you through the process.

    Whisk the flour and salt together: Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.


    How To Make Pinwheel Sugar CookiesMakes 24 cookies

    What You Need

    Ingredients2 1/4 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour
    1 teaspoon fine salt
    8 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature
    1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar
    1 large egg
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (see note below)
    3 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
    1 large egg yolk
    EquipmentMeasuring cups and spoons
    Stand mixer with paddle attachment
    Parchment paper
    Plastic wrap
    Rolling pin
    Spatula
    Ruler
    Knife or pizza cutter
    Offset spatula or butter knife


    Instructions

    1. 1.Whisk the flour and salt together: Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
    2. 2.Cream the butter and sugar: Place the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer and large bowl.) Beat on medium speed until fluffy and lightened in color, about 3 minutes.
    3. 3.Add the egg and vanilla: Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the whole egg and vanilla, return the mixer to medium speed, and beat until well-combined, about 1 minute.
    4. 4.Add the flour mixture: Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl again. Add the flour mixture, turn the mixer to low speed, and mix until just incorporated, about 30 seconds.
    5. 5.Divide the dough: Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the cookie batter a few stirs by hand, scraping the bottom of the bowl, to ensure that all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated. Place half of the dough on a piece of parchment paper; set aside.
    6. 6.Flavor half the dough: Fit the bowl with the remaining dough back onto the mixer. With the mixer on low speed, add the melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and egg yolk and mix until just incorporated, about 2 minutes.
    7. 7.Roll out the doughs and chill: Place the chocolate dough on a piece of parchment. Cover with a second piece of parchment and roll the dough into a 12x6-inch rectangle that's about 1/4-inch thick. Keeping the dough sandwiched in the parchment, transfer it to a baking sheet and refrigerate. Cover the reserved vanilla dough with parchment and repeat rolling it out into a second rectangle. Stack this dough on top of the chocolate dough in the refrigerator. Refrigerate until cool but pliable enough to roll, 25 to 30 minutes.
    8. 8.Divide the dough again: Remove both doughs from the refrigerator and remove the top piece of parchment from each. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut each dough in half crosswise to create 4 (6x6-inch) squares of dough total. You should have 4 squares of dough: 2 chocolate and 2 vanilla.
      Stack a square of vanilla and a square of chocolate dough together, lining them up as precisely as possible. Keep in mind that whichever dough is on the bottom of the stack will be the outside of the pinwheel. Roll the stacked square into a 6x8-inch rectangle.
    9. 9.Make pinwheel logs and chill: Starting from a long end, roll the rectangle of dough tightly up into a log. The first roll might feel awkward, but you can use an offset spatula or butter knife to tuck the edge under and create a tight seal. Use one hand to guide the dough into a roll while pulling up with the parchment paper underneath to create a tight roll. Wrap the pinwheel log in parchment paper. Repeat stacking and rolling the remaining 2 squares of dough to make a second pinwheel log. Refrigerate both logs for 1 hour.
    10. 10.Heat the oven and line baking sheets: Arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
    11. 11.Cut the dough logs: Remove 1 pinwheel dough log from the refrigerator, unwrap, and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Turn the log a quarter turn every three or four cuts to prevent a flat side. Place 12 rounds on each baking sheet, spacing them at least 1 inch apart.
    12. 12.Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies for 7 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets between racks and from front to back. Bake until the cookies are just set in the center (they will not brown), 5 to 6 minutes more. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Let the baking sheets cool (you can use the same parchment), then repeat with cutting and baking the remaining dough log.

    The 5 Best Coffee Shops In Chiang Mai, Thailand


    In recent years Chiang Mai, the cultural center of Thailand, has rapidly transformed itself as well as some trendy shops and restaurants. Following these developments, a variety of great coffee shops have sprung up all over the city, looking to entice passersby with their aromatic cups of coffee and sweet pastries. Take your pick from our best finds.


    1. Librarista
    Librarista counts among Chiang Mai’s most sophisticated coffee shops, with modern décor and a cozy atmosphere. The place serves as a library, a coffee shop and a meeting room. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by the charming garden area out front and the massive statue of a Chinese dancing cat alongside other quirky decorations. The coffee shop itself features light wooden bookshelf and an elevated ceiling area, complemented by high-ceiling windows. Customers are welcome to browse the extensive shelf and pick one of the many Thai or English books on offer. Get comfortable in one of the cushions spread out on the floor, enjoy one of their steaming coffees and sweet cakes and take in the quirky surroundings.

    Address: Nimmankemin Soi 5, Chiang Mai, Thailand, +66 53 895 678


    2. Ristr8to
    Ristr8to has earned a reputation for making the best coffee in Chiangmai, using only quality beans from around the world to ensure a strong flavor. The owner has previously gained experience in Australia and brought a variety of sophisticated equipment to the city. Visitors can take their pick from delights such as Ethiopian espresso or Colombian cappuccino. The well trained staffs truly know their coffee and are outstandingly skilled. The detailed menu provides all imaginable information on your hot beverages from the gram weight of the milk to the amount of caffeine. Whether you are an expert on coffee, a gourmet or just looking for a quality drink, Ristr8to is one of the most noteworthy cafes around.

    Address: 15/3 Nimmanhemin road, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, +66 53 215 278


    3. Marble Arch
    Named after London’s famous Marble Arch, this charming café is filled with references to the British capital and the United Kingdom. Located in the trendy Nimmanhaemin area, this café is the ideal place to work and is filled with worktops and chargers. Within the relaxed atmosphere, visitors can sip on steaming coffees and nibble on sweet treats. The modern and clean café is a wonderful detour on your shopping tour throughout the area and feels like a piece of home for English travelers and expats. With its chic décor and dynamic ambiance, Marble Arch remains an all-time favorite spot for a coffee.
    Address: 12/6 Nimmanhaemin Lane 9, Chiang Mai, Thailand


    4. Good Morning Chiang Mai
    Tucked away in a side street of the old city lies Good Morning Chiang Mai, one of the most atmospheric cafés in the city and an excellent place for breakfast and coffee. Good Morning Chiang Mai also functions as a guest house and features an enchanting garden area with furniture spread out across the lawn. In the idyllic setting, visitors can enjoy fresh juices, smoothies and steaming cups of hot coffee alongside scrambled eggs and tasty fruits. Whether you are looking for a late brunch, a quiet place to get some work done or somewhere to get that caffeine kick, Good Morning Chiang Mai is without a doubt one of the best cafés in the city.

    Address: 29/5 Ratchamanka Soi 6, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, +66 53 278 607


    5. Into the Woods
    This inconspicuous building is home to one of the city’s most magical cafés and has been decorated with different fairy tale themes from Little Red Riding Hood to Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel’s gingerbread house. The unique Into the Woods serves a variety of sumptuous coffees and hot beverages. Additionally, it features a food menu and numerous sweet cakes and treats. Visitors can lean back in comfortable chairs or explore the book shelf in the back. For those who need to work, Into the Woods provides a speedy wifi connection in case you need to catch up on some last minute assignments.

    Address: 191-193 King Prajadhipok Sriphum Road, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, +66 81 5317793

    Thai Desserts You Didn’t Know Existed


    Thai people love their sweets, and if you rely on the options that your local take-out place offers, you’re missing out. Usually, ending a meal with a plate of seasonal fruit like papaya, watermelon and pomelo is standard in the average Thai diet, but it’s just as easy for one to indulge in the array of intricate and coconut-rich desserts that Thailand has to offer.

    Khanom Krok
    These creamy and fragrant bite-sized desserts are cooked in a charcoal-heated pan with small craters, which result in little, rich coconut cups. They are a favorite among Thai people and are widely eaten in the mornings at street vendors around Bangkok. Common toppings are green onions, sweet corn and taro and these treats are best eaten piping hot off the pan.



    Luk Chub
    These pretty little desserts are shaped into mini Thai fruits and vegetables like mangos, chilis and mangosteens. The process of making them is uncommonly labor-intensive and it requires grinding steamed mung beans into a sweet paste, shaping them, dipping them in food coloring, and glazing them in gelatin. No wonder this dessert was only available for the royals back in the day.



    Tup Tim Krob
    This dessert is made of water chestnuts dipped in red food coloring, then tossed in cassava flour which gives it a soft, chewy exterior. The water chestnuts are then served in ice and coconut milk, which is lightly seasoned with salt. It’s perfect for a hot day. Tup tim krob is a good example of how Thai desserts typically balance sweet and salty flavors.



    Bua Loy
    This is a popular after dinner treat. It calls for mashed, steamed taro mixed with sticky rice flour and shaped into small balls, which are then boiled in water until they float to the top and served in warm coconut milk. The name of this Thai dessert means “floating lotus” and it comes in different colors created from infusions of pandan leaves and mashed pumpkin. The texture of bua loy is smooth and soft, which makes it very comforting to eat. Sometimes, a poached egg is served with it, because…why not?


    Woon Bai Toey
    Thai people eat gelatin in many forms. This one is made out of the fragrant pandan leaf and layered with coconut cream jelly. Thai jellies are usually a little more “al dente” than your average Jell-O treat, which is why they hold their shapes so well.