Ode to Wandering Chopsticks: Ma Po Tofu

it's no secret that i harbor a food crush on Wandering Chopsticks, she's the Ch? i never had. and i've been fortunate enough to have met her. don't be jealous. Ch? WC, as i fondly call her, is wonderful - warm and effusive. i spent a lovely day with her in CA when i was in town for a phamily reunion. if you haven't visited her blog, you should. pretty much most of the things i've learned about blogging, i learned from her.

so i was uber excited when i noticed that this month is WC appreciation month, or more formally, October Tried & Tasted: Wandering Chopsticks, hosted by the Recipe Center. if i don't hit up my grandmother, then i go to WC for my vietnamese food fix. she knows everything. you want to know about fish sauce, she's got something on it. you want to know how to properly wash and cook rice? she's got you. she's like a one stop shop... restaurant reviews, her brand of soy sauce preferences, recipes of many nationalities, gardening tips and basic all around awesomeness. i've already created a few of her creations, and i intend to still use her as a point of reference and inspiration, so this challenge wasn't really much of a stretch for me. i made her Ma Po Tofu, a dish i made some time ago but now i'll just use her recipe cus it is the SHIT. it's effing pure genius. she asked me if she needed to tweek it and i was like, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! translation: no, please don't, why mess with pure perfection?

i actually had to make this dish twice in as many weeks. the first time turned out great but the camera that had the pix of such greatness was left at a friend's house and i wasn't about to trek 45 minutes to pick up said camera. my solution? to make the dish again, only this time, directing Nuria thru the process. the only change i made was the amount of spiciness and use of peppercorn. that's just a taste preference, everything else, it's all WC.

i've also been inspired by or made few dishes of WC's:

Lemongrass Chili, her version, which she sent me a stash to compare. again, don't be jealous! Ca Ri Ga in a French Bread Bowl, she made a Ca Ri Ga Pot Pie (ingenius)10 Cloves of Garlic Chicken, her version with 40 Cloves Bò Kho, her version Steamed Fish with Ginger and Scallions, her version. Sichuan Green Beans, her version. Th?t Kho, her version.

Today's song: Charlotte Martin, Darkest Hour