Welcome back!  Today, we have a unique recipe that comes from Central China: Pearl Meatballs! The name is quite interesting but makes sense: they're meatballs, but the translucence of the sticky rice that coats the meatball mirrors the luster of a pearl. It's often served on special occasions, like Lunar New Year, where everyone gathers for a feast and can enjoy this delicious dish. Plus, it's not even that difficult to make! Pearl Meatballs Makes about 30 meatballs Ingredients: For the meatballs: 1/2 pound ground pork 1/4 pound shrimp 80 grams (about 1/2 can) water chestnuts, finely chopped 2 tablespoons green onion, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon ginger, minced 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon rice wine 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 1/2 egg white For the rice: 1 cup glutinous (sticky) rice Directions: Rinse the glutinous rice and soak in water for 2 hours. In a bowl, place all the ingredients for the meatballs and mix until even. The mixture

Welcome back!  Today, we have a popular Vietnamese dish: the Banh Mi! This is a really great recipe that hits a lot of the aspects of Vietnamese cuisine , despite being directly influenced by French colonialism with the baguette, of course. This sandwich features a combination of ingredients that works so well together, forming a product that has a variety of flavors, textures, and colors. And most importantly, it's quite healthy too! Banh Mi Ingredients: For the pork: 1 1/2 pound pork butt or shoulder 2 tablespoons shallot, minced 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 4 tablespoons (about 2 stalks) lemongrass, minced 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon olive oil You could also use a mortar and pestle for a more intense lemongrass flavor. For the vegetables: 1-2 carrots About 6-inches of daikon (this can really vary) 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup water Pinch of salt 1 cucumber 1 teasp