Winy's Kitchen

No croissant, no bacon and no breakfast sausage. It takes an attitude to enjoy a bland breakfast. This oat milk by the way is my favorite! Next to it is my breakfast bowl with egg white, kale, beans and sweet potatoes .

I have been thinking about the stabilizing power of traditions…

After a delicious sit-down Thanksgiving dinner there will be lots of fun and cherished traditins that follow. For my family, it has become a tradition to put up the tree, adorn our home with twinkling Christmas lights, make gingerbread man cookies while the Christmas music is playing in the background!

But the truth of the matter is it doesn't matter what specific activities each family partakes in. What truly matters are the recurring traditions that ground us. These traditions serve to fortify our familial bonds and remind us of our shared humanity.

We are all interconnected by stories, and our personal narratives contribute to a larger tapestry of existence. By actively engaging in these living stories, we transform our customs into rituals that transcend mere repetition; they take on profound significance.

By reading this page, you have left an imprint n my story. May this holiday season fill your life with an abundance of joy and peace.

It is no Michelin star but I sure made it with love. My poor son just got back from his debate tournament at 10:30 pm without eating! He called me when he was still on bus and said “Mom, get the food ready. I am starving…”

What is your comfort food?

If I had a bowl of Chinese rice porridge with some side dishes in the morning, some sushi with an orange or guava for lunch, and then end my day with a bowl hot wonton soup and some steamed veggie, I can honestly said I am in heaven!

While many of us are trying to eat healthy for our body, it is important to recognize that food plays in important part in our emotional well-being. Many would said, but my “comfort” foods are all unhealthy. I would argue that perhaps you need look deeper to reflect upon your upbringing and see if there are any food that is “naturally” healthy but also comforting at the same time. Develop an inventory of list of both food and non-food( hopefully all healthy) so that when you’re feeling down, you have something to turn to. Perhaps, what you can also do is modify your comfort food and make it healthier. For example, my husband knows eating oatmeal is good for his cholesterol, but oatmeal is not something he grew up eating, so he adds some furakaki and some chopped green onion to make it more palatable to his Asian taste but satisfying to his mind. If ice cream is your favorite, perhaps you can consider switching to an açaí bowel or adding some chopped nuts and berreis to your ice cream.

My son took his first SAT this past Saturday. As soon as he finished his test, he said to me “Mom, I need a good bowl of udon.” So that’s what we had for lunch!

The long awaited dumpling chain, Bafang Dumplings originated from Tawian has arrived in Gardena, CA! So excited for some really good Chinese fast food!

Soup for the Soul!

It was a sad day today. One of the clients I visited regularly eloped again and was living on the street for many days. He was a mess when the staff picked him up. His issues are too complicated to explain. Rather than getting mad at him or scolding him for all the inconveniences he has cost to others, I decided to make him a bowl soup. He took a big long sip and said “It is good to be home” I sighed ….

Mental illness is very difficult to treat or even manage. What I try to do during my each visit to make them feel good about themselves.

Alma’s Place: Soul Food for the Soul

On my way out from Dollardhide Community Center, I saw this beautiful display of “Hydration Station” put together by Alama, a volunteer who is also local restaurant owner. The staff told me Alma has been coming here daily to set up the table to give seniors and everyone something to drink during this kind of hot weather. It was 3 o’clcok and I had not eaten, so I figure I needed to eat something but also to support her kindness. That was absolutely so sweet of her to do that!

For those who don’t know Compton, it is a city primary blacks. I come here every month for work but I have never eaten there. Alma’s Place is located in this small stripped mall along with Popeye Louisiana Chicken and a black salon. I felt kind of out of place when I drove in. But as soon as I walked into this cute place I was welcomed by what I called “Southern Hospitality” The cashier was so nice and so helpful! He said “You are not from here, aren’t you? ” (No kidding, I thought). “But everything is all really good. And if you want my recommendation, I would said catfish with collard green and mac n cheese” So I ordered what he recommended but switched mac and cheese to black eye peas thinking it is healthier ( my dietitian guilt) . But then he said “Come on, you gotta try our mac n cheese! Let me give you a sample”

While I was waiting for my food, I sat at the table and observed all the details of this plac…the decor and the pictures on the wall. Suddenly I felt like I knew Alma. I can feel a sense of love and community that she has for Compton and she uses food as the medium to express that.

When the food finally came, I bit into the first piece of freid catfish. I could hear the crunchy sound. Then covered my mouth and said OMG, this is so good! Coated with cornmeal, the catfish was flavorful, well seasoned but not too greasy! And like the cashier had promised, everything was good. The quality of the food is good, so is the service, the presentation and the decor. Alma’s Place is indeed a place for soul food for the soul! And if you happen to be in Compton, go visit Alma’s Place! You won't be disappointed.

My seniors have taught me the value of aging with grace.

Every season of life has its own challenges. As we get more gray hair, more wrinkles and more sagging skin, it can also be a beautiful thing. I found that it is easier to say no when you get older. You have more humor towards things you cannot control. You also have become wiser and are able to see things more clearly.

Despite the ups and downs, every step of the way is a place to experience grace upon grace. Coco Chanel once stated " No one is young after 40, but your can be IRRESISTIBLE at any age.

May we all age well!

優雅地面對老化。

人生的每個季節都有其自身的挑戰。 隨著我們的頭髮越來越白，皺紋越來越多，皮膚越來越鬆弛，它可能也是一件美麗的事情。 當你年紀越大老時，你對你無法控制的事情更具有幽默感。 同時你也變得更聰明了、在看事情和處理事情上面也更有智慧。
儘管曰子過的風風雨雨，但每一步都是恩典上的恩典。 Coco Chanel 曾說過“40 歲以後沒有人年輕，但你在任何年齡都可以有「不可抗拒的」魅力。
謝謝我的前輩們給我的引導、願大家平安、健康、世界和平！

This past Easter Sunday, we had a simple brunch with scrambled eggs, taro pancakes, farm fresh srawberries and “Happy Easter” donuts. Then we went off for a beautiful hike to see wild flower. Happy Spring!

Eat Healthy. Enjoy Treat Sparingly. And Stay Active!

Who wants to decorate the gingerbread house with me tonight?

This pod cast summarizes everything I have been talking for years...

Nutrition and mental health: Exploring the surprising science of food and emotion Clinical Psychologist Julia Rucklidge discusses the role of nutrition in treating and preventing mental health disorders. Author Michael Moss talks about how food is being designed to keep us wanting more.