Monthly Archives: May 2013

Recipes from My Home Kitchen cookbook by Christine Ha

Recipes from My Home Kitchen cookbook by Christine Ha

In her kitchen, Christine Ha possesses a rare ingredient that most professionally-trained chefs never learn to use: the ability to cook by sense. After tragically losing her sight in her twenties, this remarkable home cook, who specializes in the mouthwatering, wildly popular Vietnamese comfort foods of her childhood, as well as beloved American standards that she came to love growing up in Texas, re-learned how to cook. Using her heightened senses, she turns out dishes that are remarkably delicious, accessible, luscious, and crave-worthy.

Millions of viewers tuned in to watch Christine Ha sweep the thrilling Masterchef Season 3 finale, and here they can find more of her deftly crafted recipes. They’ll discover food that speaks to the best of both the Vietnamese diaspora and American classics, personable tips on how to re-create delicious professional recipes in a home kitchen, and an inspirational personal narrative bolstered by Ha’s background as a gifted writer. Recipes from My Home Kitchen will braid together Christine’s story with her food for a result that is one of the most compelling culinary tales of her generation. You can get the book here.

Christine Ha talks about her cookbook “Recipes from My Home Kitchen”

Christine Ha is the winner of Season Three of MasterChef. Legally blind, she wants her skill to inspire others with disabilities that anything is possible. She lives in Houston, where she is completing an MFA in creative writing at The University of Houston.

Amy Tan speech at the White House

Amy Tan speech at the White House

Amy Tan performs at the White House as part of a APA community heritage month celebration. She talk about her Asian American heritage and how it tied to the American dream. From her parents past to her book the Joy Luck Club, she shares how they intersect to create a truly Asian American heritage. You may relate to some of her own personal experiences in your life.

Amy Tan speech at the White House

88 Jade Way : Episode 2

88 Jade Way : Episode 2

Web series 88 Jade Way continues with episode 2. The shady Mr. Moolah is back at 88 Jade Way, this time attempting to woo Gengha, the resident Mongolian alcoholic. Things get hairy when Red finds a monster in his closet – but Mr. Fu uses Gengha’s rage to help deal with the bizarre threat. Mr. Fu’s solution blows Red’s mind, while Mr. Moolah continues his mission to take over Fu’s building.

Previous episodes:
88 Jade Way : Episode 1

88 Jade Way : Episode 2 (contains adult language and situations)

Lyrics to Love Happens
Love Happen
It happen you see
It happen to you and it happen to me
Love happen
Wo Ai Ni

Lyrics to Fu Me Once
Fu me one, Fu me twice
One more time I’ll roll the dice
Lock your door, watch your back
Soon enough, Fu, you get whacked
Fu me up, Fu me down
The party’s on Fu, you’re the clown
Through my eyes you’re a scared ol’ fellow
Under every light – a bit, hmm, too yellow
Fu me fast, Fu me slow
I plant my seed and watch it grow
This old house, soon be mine
THen no more Fu
It’s business time!

Arvind Mahankali : 2013 Spelling Bee Champion

Arvind Mahankali : 2013 Spelling Bee Champion
Arvind Mahankali (Speller 163) spelled “tokonoma” and “knaidel” correctly, smiling and nodding as he did. He is the winner of the Bee, and the first male champion since 2008. Knaidel is a German-derived Yiddish word. Arvind, who finished third in each of the past two Bees, has gotten out on German words. “The German curse has turned into a German blessing,” he said. Arvind said the words were extremely hard, and there were several he didn’t know — particularly “melocoton,” the word that eliminated fellow four-time competitor Grace Remmer (Speller 39).

The New York eighth grader studied six hours on Sundays, but 30 minutes other days of the week. He said he plans to stop studying spelling and begin studying physics. “It means that I am retiring on a good note,” he said.

Arvind hoisted the trophy over his head, with his parents and brother joining him on the stage. Before the finals, Arvind — who was the only competitor to return from last year’s finals — said he was feeling “pretty happy with my performance.” “Right now, it’s just fun,” he said.

For spelling his words correctly, he gets:
*From Scripps, a $30,000 cash prize and the Scripps National Spelling Bee engraved trophy
*From Merriam-Webster, a $2,500 U.S. savings bond and a complete reference library
*From Encyclopedia Britannica, $2,000 of reference works including the Britannica Global Edition, 2013 Encyclopedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite DVD-ROM, and a three year membership to Britannica Online Premium

Arvind Mahankali : 2013 Spelling Bee Champion

Arvind loves math and science and hopes to one day pursue a career as a physicist. That explains his choice of role model and the person he would most like to meet (Albert Einstein), but doesn’t explain his favorite song (“I Believe I Can Fly”). A speaker of Telugu and Spanish, Arvind enjoys tennis, basketball and drama, and counts Novak Djokovic and Shaquille O’Neal among his favorite athletes. Arvind is making his fourth consecutive trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He placed ninth in 2010 and finished in third place in both 2011 and 2012. Of all the words he’s seen and spelled, his favorite so far is sardoodledom.

ISA! Variety Game Show : Episode 3

ISA! Variety Game Show : Episode 3

The ISA! Variety Game Show continues with episode 3. Hosted by Amy Okuda, Philip Wang, and gamemaster Yoshi (KevJumba), the show continues with some fun questions for contestants Ted Fu, Jen (FrmHeadToToe), David Choi, Clara C, Ally Maki, Freddie Wong, Brandon Laatsch, Wesley Chan, Mike Song, and Anthony Lee. Questions for the contestants include their favorite Pokemon, best viral dance moves, who would be the last standing in Zombie apocalypse, and who had the highest SAT score.

Previous episodes:
ISA! Variety Game Show : Episode 1 & 2

ISA! Variety Game Show : Episode 3

Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Season 2 Episode 4

Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Season 2 Episode 4

In Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Season 2 Episode 4, Ben Baller connects with Basketball Wives Draya Michele to turn her niece into a diamond princess. After being 45 minutes late, Draya chops it up with Ben Baller to tell him what she wants. He’s got 5 days to create a pair of diamond earrings with 12 grams of 18k gold, 0.3 carats of VVS1 G color diamonds in a micro pave setting. The price tag $2,500. When Ben Baller delivers the goods, he has a little pay back before Draya gets the final product. In closing, Ben imparts a little advice for everyone “Never step off your chariot to address peasants throwing tomatoes.”

Previous episodes:
Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Episode 1
Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Episode 2
Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Episode 3
Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Episode 4
Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Episode 5
Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Episode 6

Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Season 2 Episode 1
Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Season 2 Episode 2
Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Season 2 Episode 3

Ben Baller’s Insane Jewelry Season 2 Episode 4