Being Kon Lao

When people learn that I'm kon Lao I'm sure whatever I do they assume it’s what a typical Lao person would do. So I try to come correct. Learn about my culture so when things come up and I talk about our culture and traditions to other people they will (and I will) know whats the acceptable way to do things.

Anyways so really I wanted to talk about food.

Something cool about being kon Lao is Laotian food. I know there are tons of other delicious food out there from many different cultures, but man do I love my spicy thum bak hoong (papaya salad.) I have a lot of other favorite dishes, but this one is it. If I could eat thum bak hoong all the time with warm sticky rice I would.
 

I wanted to share my thum bak hoong recipe and technique with you. I was using one technique, but later on I figured out it wasn’t working for me and I tried another which seems to still be working for me.

Thum Bak Hoong (Papaya Salad) Recipe

3 cups shredded papayas
1 garlic clove

6 Thai chilies ( I like spice, but you can go for less)
1 tablespoon shrimp paste

3 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon msg
1 tablespoon fermented fish (padek option) 

5 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons lime juice 

8 cherry tomatoes, but in half

a pinch of salt

1. Using a large mortar and pestle and pound garlic, chillies and a pinch of salt together.
2. Add shrimp paste, fermented fish, fish sauce, msg, sugar, lime juice and tomatoes. Carefully pound together.
3. Add papaya and use a spoon to help mix ingredients together.
4. Taste and adjust to your taste, its should be sweet, sour, salty and hot.
5. Enjoy.

About 15 min to make.

Feeling free

Hey guys I’m back. Sorry I haven’t kept in touch. Things have been so hectic (you’re probably thinking yeah yeah I’ve said that too many times.) It’s not like I didn’t miss sharing my thoughts with you, but I just needed some time to refresh my brain and grow some new ideas. Something I couldn’t wait to share with you is a conversation I had with my retiring (now she’s retired) co worker.

She said her brother kicked her in the butt (not exactly her words—it’s my slang—know what im sayin? ) and made her realize that the things she’s left unfinished were occupying space in her mind and it’s holding her back from discovering what she really wanted to do. He’d say stuff like “How long have you had that dress? 5 years? And you’re hoping to lose 20 lbs to fit back into it? If you’re not really committed to losing that 20 lbs now it’ll never happen. Every time you see that dress it will remind you that you never lose the weight. Why would you let it constantly beat you up? Get rid of it. It would be better off donated.” As strong as an opinion that was I can appreciate the honesty in that. I’ve held onto clothing from my pre-maternity figure (and even bought some new clothes I was hoping to wear post maternity when I got back into shape)and I’m still not able to fit into them. After some time to think I donated all of them: dresses, pants, blouses- new tags and all.

But my mind isn’t free. It’s not just the clothes that I couldn’t fit in that was hogging up my closet that was an issue. It was stuff like craft projects I was so into making and then got side tracked and now it’s left unfinished in a plastic Rubbermaid box somewhere. I thought about options. Yard sale? How would I price them? They are my memories and it's something that I would feel too guilty selling.
On that note I can give away. Some of the things that have benefited me can also help out someone else and that’s why the things I feel comfortable with parting with I will donate. Usually to goodwill, but craft items I don’t because I don’t see them being able to sell. So I didn’t some research online and asked around. There are a few places like the art cart at Sharp Hospital and a few other non profit orgs that accept craft items. So I’m putting together boxes to send over there. I just feel like I need to get back to the basics. Sticking to what I need and then earning the things I want.

So to wrap up this rant. I will donate my crafts. Donate my clothes. Making an effort to free some space in my garage, house and mind so I can figure out a more narrow path to where my destiny was meant for.
I hope you guys are doing well and I plan to post up more rants, reviews and DIYS :)