Wow… my first blog post in ages!  The 2nd half of 2019 was a bit of a blur for me as we went through a complete kitchen renovation.  It was so painful but the end result was well worth it.  Stay tuned for photos of my new kitchen which I love so much that I’ve been cooking up a storm since December!

Happy Lunar New Year to those who are celebrating!  I wish you all a properous Year of the Rat with good health and much happiness.  In our Vietnamese culture Tết (Lunar New Year) is the biggest holiday of the year.  I tell my non-Vietnamese friends that Tết is the equivalent of Christmas celebration in the US.  There are a few traditional dishes that Vietnamese people prepare for the new year.  These dishes can be enjoyed year round but due to the high cost for the ingredients and the time it takes to make, Vietnamese people tend to save them for Tết.  I remember vividly that Mom and Grandma would stay up late to cook the Caramelized Pork and Stuffed Bitter Mellon.  Days before Tết they would start the process of pickling Mustard Greens and Bean Sprouts.  These dishes were used as offerings for our ancestors which my Mom still do so here in the US.  Here are links to the traditional dishes cooked via the Instant Pot to save you some time:

Thit Kho Tau IP (Caramelized Pork and Eggs)

I have Thit Kho Tau  for quite awhile on the blog.  It’s 1 of the most popular recipes on here beside Pho Bo.  This year I decided to add large/tiger shrimps to add another layer of flavor.  The amended the recipe to include directions for adding optional items such as shrimps and fried tofu.
Thịt Kho Tàu Instant Pot (Vietnamese Caramelized Pork and Eggs)

Kho Qua Ham IP (Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup)

Khổ Qua Hầm Giò Sống Instant Pot (Pork Paste Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup)Khổ Qua Hầm Giò Sống Instant Pot (Pork Paste Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup)

Dua Chua (Pickled Mustard Greens)

Pickled Mustard Greens (Dưa Cải Chua)

Dua Gia (Pickled Bean Spouts)

Pickled Bean Sprouts (Dưa Giá)