Here’s another Korean dish I learned to prepare this week. 

Recipe: Baechu Doenjang Guk (Cabbage in Soybean Stew)

 
What you need to prepare:
2 tbsp Canola Oil (or whatever cooking oil you use at home)
3 cloves Garlic, minced
200 grams Beef Strips
4 cups Beef Broth
4 tbsp Soybean Paste (Doenjang/Korean Soybean Paste)
1 head Napa Cabbage, chopped
100 grams Mushrooms, sliced 
Black Pepper (to taste)
2 spring onions, chopped 

Optional:
Chili Flakes/Green Pepper/Red Pepper: to make the dish spicy
Zucchini (sliced): for added nutrition, flavour and colour
A few drops of Sesame Oil: makes it more tasty and fragrant

What you need to do:
Long way:
1. Saute garlic in oil. 
2. Add the beef strips and stir for 5-7 minutes.
3. When beef strips turn light brown, add the beef broth.
4. Add soybean paste and dissolve it with the broth.
5. Let it simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Throw in the cabbage and mushrooms. Cook for another 10-15 minutes.
7. Add pepper to taste.
8. Turn off the stove, serve in a bowl and add the spring onions on top.

Short way:
1. Bring beef broth to boil. 
2. Once broth is very hot, add soybean paste. Stir until paste is dissolved.
3. Add beef strips and leave for 10-15 minutes. 
4. Throw in the cabbage and mushrooms. Cook for another 10-15 minutes.
5. Add pepper to taste.
6. Turn off the stove, serve in a bowl and add the spring onions on top.

Recipe: Baechu Doenjang Guk (Cabbage in Soybean Stew)

 
Tips:

  1. You can change your beef ingredient to tofu, chicken or pork.
  2. Other options for broth is Anchovy Broth or Vegetable Broth.
  3. The beef strips should be thinly sliced so it will cook easily and will be tender. You can ask the butcher to slice them for you or buy packed beef strips from Asian supermarkets.
  4. If you don’t have any mushrooms or spring onions at hand, that is fine.

This dish is good for 4-6 people. 

For other Korean dishes I’ve cooked, click below for the recipes:

Went on a day trip to Bathurst while my Mom was here. We gathered up our other friends and rented a bus for the day so everyone won’t have to stress about driving to and from. Bathurst is lovely and quiet town with pretty houses, vast wineries and friendly people.

Something about Bathurst:

Bathurst is a regional city in the Central Tablelands of New South WalesAustralia. It is approximately 200 km west of Sydney and is the seat of the Bathurst Regional Council.

 Bathurst is the oldest inland settlement in Australia[2] and has an estimated population of 34,303 people.[1]Bathurst City is the 29th largest population area of the 135 regional NSW population areas in 2009. Residents of Bathurst are known as “Bathurstians”.

Bathurst is often referred to as Gold Country as it was the site of the first gold discovery and where the first gold rush occurred in Australia.[3] Today it is education, tourism and manufacturing that drive the economy. Internationally known racetrack Mount Panorama is also a landmark of the city. Bathurst has a historic city centre with many buildings remaining from the gold rush period of the mid to late 1800s. {source}

Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)



What we did in Bathurst:
Sightsee. We walked around the town when we arrived in Bathurst. Took a lot of photos of structures made of beautiful architecture. 

_MG_087Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)2
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)

We saw the Mount Panorama Circuit, a motor racing track where the Bathurst 12 Hour race is held every February. There were a fair bit of bikers that waved hello to us when they saw me taking their photos.
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)

We had lunch at a park on top of Mount Panorama. Together with family and friends we had a feast of home cooked meals.
P1170Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)567


Taste their wine. Our bus driver was able to find a winery company which accommodated us on a Saturday. The owners of Mt Panorama Winery (117 Mountain Straight Mt Panorama, Bathurst) welcomed us with happy smiles and lots of wine bottles to taste. 

Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)


Even their dog was friendly enough to join us during the wine tasting. She even stayed still so I can take a photo of her.

Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)

The Husband had to pat her goodbye before we left.
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)


Have coffee, pie and ice cream.  When in Bathurst, visit Annie’s Ice Cream Parlour right on the corner of George and Church Streets. The restaurant’s theme brought us back to the 60’s as Elvis and other popular icons’ photos from the 60’s era are found on the walls of the shop. They make good coffee and serve homemade ice cream (must try!). And this was where I got to taste the best apple pie ever!

Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)

Their apple pie’s filled with chunky and sweet apple slices, it was sooooo good. Served hot and perfect with a sprinkle of icing sugar and cream on the side.
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)


On our way to Bathurst:
I always enjoy the scenic routes of any travel in Australia during road trips. With the bluest skies and vast landscapes, I’m always in awe of the beautiful sceneries outside of my window.

Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)



We had a quick stopover at Echo PointKatoomba in Blue Mountains. This was where we had morning tea so we took this opportunity to marvel at the fog surrounding the Three Sisters Mountain.

Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)
Wanderlust Wednesdays: Bathurst (NSW, Australia)

Pandora, one of the world’s famous jewellery designers and creators, has launched its Spring Collection 2012 and it (finally) included the Camera charm. I’ve visited their stores for the past two years hoping that they’ve come out with a camera charm but I always come home empty-handed. Last week, a friend gave me a tip that it is available in stores. I called the nearest Pandora branch to my office (to make sure that my visit won’t be futile) and the staff confirmed that they have a few pieces in store. Dropped by after work and voila! I went home with a big smile on my face and a pretty little box of Pandora.
Style Musings: Camera Charm From Pandora
Style Musings: Camera Charm From Pandora


That little box contained my first ever Pandora charm, the Camera. It was fascinating how detailed they’ve created this little piece of jewellery. The Camera is complete with distinct lens and dials.  And the back of the camera amused me to no end as it even has a screen, viewfinder and dials too. I love it!  I feel that a camera is befitting of being my first charm because like a charm bracelet, the camera is beautiful tool that captures great moments in life. And that’s what I want for my future charm bracelet, something that will hold pieces of my life’s charmed moments.

Style Musings: Camera Charm From Pandora
Style Musings: Camera Charm From Pandora

I’ve always been fascinated by charms. I’ve searched a few sites online for options on which store I’d like to buy my first charm from and I chose Pandora because we have stores here in Australia. Two years ago, I thought to myself that I want my first charm to be a camera and the idea stuck. I don’t even have a bracelet that will hold all the charms I plan to have because I’m in no hurry. I also don’t know when I will buy a bracelet. For now I’m happy that my wish to have a camera charm came true. 

I want my future charm bracelet to be special so my plan is to buy each charm in my own sweet time. Acquiring each one will be based on milestones and celebrations of my life. Now I wonder what my next charm will be. 
I shared this photo on my personal FB page and captioned, “Breakfast and coffee under Cherry Blossom trees with the Love of my Life. I’m so grateful for moments like these it makes my heart tender.”
We’re still officially in Winter season in Sydney but it is in the middle of August when Cherry Blossoms start to bloom. We found out that Auburn Botanic Gardens (corner of Chisholm and Chiswick Roads, Auburn) were holding a Cherry Blossoms Festivals on 18-19 & 25-26 August (two weekends)

I’ve been hinting at the Husband that I want to go on a picnic as soon as the weather becomes warmer and it was great timing that we learned that there were Cherry Blossoms in Auburn. So we woke up early yesterday morning, took the train to Auburn and got on Auburn Council’s free shuttle bus to Auburn Botanic Gardens. 

A coffee and ice cream van welcomed visitors at the entrance. Perfect for early birds like us. It was a bit chilly in the west yesterday and it was comforting to have a hot cup of coffee as soon as we got there.


It was a great thing that we were there early. We got ourselves a lovely spot near a line of Cherry Blossom trees. It was the perfect setting to appreciate the beauty of the place and of course, see Cherry Blossoms up close.


The quiet we enjoyed while only a few visitors were present was partnered with a few quick breakfast bites of Empanadas, Cookies and Macaroons.


The Auburn Botanic Gardens was a huge enough space to explore. We went around some of the gardens and enjoyed watching the geese and a peacock on the pond.


It was one of those Sundays where the weather, scenery and company were all perfect. 


We’re very happy we discovered this event as we are missing Seoul in Spring where we fell in love with the Cherry Blossoms. There may not be a lot of Cherry Blossom trees in this part of our world, but we still appreciate their beauty just the same.