Jiyoon Bae 2nd draft for week 2

 

 

French Onion Soup for a surprise birthday party

 

200701508

Jiyoon Bae

 

         Dear Kevin. I’m really glad to hear that you are going to throw a surprise birthday party for my sister. And it is good surprise that you are actually planning to cook for her. I am very happy that I can help you with my recipe. French Onion Soup is her favorite and I believe you won’t have any difficulty cooking it. You should prepare enough food that can serve 8 people for the party. Make sure you prepared all the ingredients you need before cooking. The ingredients are 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 4 large onions, 2 to 5 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon sugar, half of teaspoon dried thyme, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, half of cup dry white wine, 2 and one quart of beef stock, 2 tablespoons brandy, 6 to thick slices French bread, and 3 cups of grated Swiss cheese. Now you are prepared to cook.

First, in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for 10 to 12 minutes until they are soft and look transparent. Secondly, put one garlic clove aside, finely chop the rest and add to the onions. Add the sugar and thyme and continue cooking over medium heat for 30 to 35 minutes until the onions get brown, stirring frequently. If things going well, you could smell roasted onions and your mouth will get watering. Sprinkle the flour over then stir until the rest well blended. Stir in the wine and stock and bring to a boil. Then skim off any foam from the surface. Lower the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir in brandy. Next, rub each slice of toasted French bread with the remaining garlic clove and place them in the 8 soup bowls. Fill the soup bowls about three-quarters full with the onion soup. Finally, float a piece of toast in each bowl. Top with grated cheese, dividing it evenly. Wait 30 seconds so the cheese begins to melt and bubble. Cook this French Onion Soup following this recipe and get every credit you deserve for the delicious meal as well as the surprise birthday party for my sister. With love, Joanna

 

 

My favorite aunt

 

200701508

Jiyoon Bae

 

         Have you ever needed someone special, not so close to you nor so far from you? I have. In my case, when I needed someone special in between family and friends, my aunt gave me all I needed. Having my aunt, in that aspect, gave me my exit from the loneliness and frustration I had when I was studying in Tokyo as an exchange student last year. She was in her 40s and I was just 20 years old at that time. She was working in a law firm located in one of the most expensive district in Tokyo, and I was living on my meager scholarship, saving every yen as possible. No, definitely we didn’t have much in common.

However, we had such an extraordinary friendship. It was thanks to my aunt’s generosity, understanding and affection. Thanks to her, I could let go my stress living on such a limited budget when I was in such a fabulous restaurants and bars in Tokyo with her presence. Another thing about her that made me so relieved was her understanding. She listened to my every trivial worries and complaints about Japanese people and culture even though we were never really close until I came to Tokyo, Japan. She never preached I should “suck it up”. And there’s her affection that made me almost weep when I was so lonely and felt suffocated living in Japan, surrounded by too many Japanese people who were die-hard reserved, silent and callous. All the things she gave me, from my birthday presents to all the happy and relaxed moments spent with her, were out of her sincere affection toward her niece whom she never met until she turned 47. I found unconditional love in between my family and my friends. That’s why my aunt is my favorite relative.