The Best Sesame Chicken in Upstate NY

The picture speaks for itself.

You are welcome to disagree with me, but I truly believe that Asia Cuisine Korean & Japanese Restaurant in Ithaca, NY has the best sesame chicken (Korean Style) in upstate New York to ever grace my lips. This is not your run-of-the-mill local neighborhood Chinese buffet sesame chicken (unless of course you do live in or near the Ithaca Commons, then well...lucky you).

These are juicy yet crispy yet tender little nuggets of chicken in a red spicy sauce from heaven. Yeah, it's that good. When you order in for this dish you also get some tea...I thought it was green tea at first, but does not taste like green tea...kinda tasted like rice actually...anywho. If anyone does know the name of the tea, kindly leave a comment below to educate me.

 

When you order this dish in, you also receive a side of rice and a variety of kimchi. What is kimchi exactly? It is a Korean condiment made of fermented vegetables with a variety of spices. (Thank you Wikipedia). I encourage you to not be a ninny and try the stuff, you may surprise yourself and actually like it.  

It's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall type of place, but who cares really? The food is phenomenal.

Also Asia Cuisine has a HUGE selection on it's menu with daily specials. 

Jared had the Smoked Salmon Roll, California Roll and Tuna Roll (8 pieces a roll).

Who: Asia Cuisine Korean & Japanese Restaurant

What: blow-your-mind good Sesame Chicken & a whole host of really yummy Asian dishes

Where: 126 N. Aurora St., Ithaca, NY (in the Ithaca Commons)

Click here for menu.

Red Velvet Cupcakes: The Comeback

I feel I can confidently say I have redeemed myself. If you remember this post from this past July my first encounter with Red Velvet cupcakes was a bit of a disaster. Not one to be defeated, I had to revisit this romantic classic for this Valentine's Day.

Comment on this post for a chance to win tickets to the Seneca County Triangle Concert Series. The first concert will be at Ventosa Vineyards on February 23rd! Watch the Lake to Lake Girls Podcast on www.fingerlakes1.com next Wednesday, February 20, 2013 when we announce the winners! Winners will be picked at random.

If you're looking for a last minute gift idea for Valentine's Day, take a swing at these tasty cupcakes and surprise someone you love and impress their socks off when you tell them they are made from scratch. 

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yields 12 Cupcakes

For the Red Velvet Cupcakes You Will Need...

3/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 1/2 tbs red food coloring

1 1/2 tbs baker's cocoa powder

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp vinegar

3/4 tsp baking soda

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.

I used these adorable ones to get with the romantic and cutesy Valentine's Day theme.

Then beat together the butter and sugar until lightened in color and fluffy -this could take 3-5 minutes. Add in the eggs one at a time and beat until well combined. In a separate bowl, mix the food coloring and cocoa powder until it forms a paste, then add the paste to the butter mixture and blend well. Next add the buttermilk and blend well. Then add the flour and blend until just combined, do not over mix or your batter will fall when baking! In another separate bowl, combine the vinegar and baking soda, then add to the batter until fully incorporated. Distribute evenly between the paper liners and bake for 20 minutes. They are done when a tooth pick is inserted to the middle of the cupcake and comes out clean. While letting the cupcakes cool (for at least a half hour) prepare the cream cheese frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting you will need...
1 cup (8 oz) of cream cheese, room temperature
6 tbs butter, room temperature
4 cups confectioners sugar
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Beat the butter and cream cheese until well combined and fluffy. Then cup by cup add the confectioners sugar until well combined and there are no lumps, remember to scrape the sides down between cups. Finally add in the vanilla extract and combine well. Once the cupcakes are completely cooled (this is very important otherwise the heat from the cupcakes will melt the frosting off the cupcake), pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. Garnish with some dusted cocoa powder on top or a sprinkle of shaved chocolate.