Dumplings, Chapter One

So, I am beginning to try new recipes to try and become the world's greatest cook (see earlier blog entry). Aaaaaand, I am not quite there yet. :P I have made a "Peanut Butter Cup Surprise Cupcake" which was very very well recieved. But, the next one, "Red Velvet
Whoopie Pie", was not as great. The filling is delicious, but the Red Velvet part was not the best, I will have to try again, I'm not sure if I mixed it to much, that is what usually happens when I bake. I tried to make some artisan bread, and not that great. I mean it was edible and it was eaten, but I don't know if my expectations were too high or what it was.

My other try at a new recipe were Chinese pork dumplings/potstickers. Now, I'm gonna play the race card here, I'm not Chinese, I'm Korean, I can make Korean food, but I'm not genetically inclined to make Chinese food. (Does that work as an excuse? Didn't think so.) My husband and I did eat the all, but kept thinking in my mind how these taste nothing like I thought they would.
I did make the dough for the potstickers from scratch, and they came out ok. I figure with a few tweeks and a few more trials, I should be able to make a pretty mean dumpling.

My next goal is a traditional Korean dish. I have made bulgogi, which if anyone has not had it is missing out. It is a marinated beef dish, and when done right, will make you cry with happines. I am wanting to try and make either kimchee or mandu guk. Kimchee is basically like french fries in the U.S. There are so many different types and are always served with each meal. Mandu guk, is the Korean version of wonton soup, let me tell you my mom makes all these dishes so well, so I have a lot of catching up to do.
I am hoping to do a few new dishes each month, it can get pretty expensive though, a lot of these dishes have special indgredients that I don't use on a daily basis, so I will see how it goes. I hope to do a better job of posting them as I do them.