I MADE ASIAN FOOD IN IOWA

​🚨 I MADE ASIAN FOOD IN IOWA! 🚨
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(For the backstory on what brought me to the heartland, read the last newsletter here.)

I always miss Asian food terribly but get too psyched out to make it when I'm here.

I don't know how to make rice without a rice cooker and I get insecure that someone won't like how it tastes and I'll take it personally.

But I VOWED to cook Asian food while I was here so I didn't rush home desperate to eat rice.

So. Very proud of facing my fears to make this Gai Yang (Thai grilled chicken) dinner with the help of Greg (who grilled) and my MIL (who made the rice...I'm still intimidated to make it on the stove - taking advice if you have any!).

Yes, it meant buying sweet chili sauce at Hy-Vee (local grocery chain).

Yes, it meant using most of a bottle of fish sauce.

Yes, it meant using my bare hands to massage chicken thighs with a fish-saucy marinade right in my in-laws' kitchen.

And it was totally worth it.

The chicken was so tasty, and I could've drank the peanut sauce straight out of the bowl. 😜

Today #braveselfcare looked like standing in my identity as an Asian American, food lover and voracious home cook!

I told Greg, "It feels like a personal milestone."

I feel emboldened to keep being myself in this new environment.

(And my father-in-law even asked how I made the peanut sauce.  :)

If you liked this story, you might enjoy the comments section on the Instagram version (click/tap to read). Lots of you resonated!
 
To being brave in the kitchen and beyond,