Vietnamese-Inspired Pork Chops

food

Servings: 2

  • 1 lb. of pork chops (total four pieces for me)
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tsp fish sauce
  • Black Pepper
  • 1 Tbs dark/sweet soy sauce
  • 2 tsp neutral oil of choice (mixing this in with the marinade sauce helps it from drying out. it won’t be extra greasy, I promise.
  • chopped green onions

1. Chop the ends of the lemongrass into thin pieces (like chopping green onions) and then smash it with the garlic. Mix contents of marinade sauce, pour into a bowl and let the pork chops marinate for at least 15 minutes. Chop 2 stalks of green onions and mix in a small bowl with 1 tsp of oil. Let it sit while the pork chops cook 🙂

2. Cut three 1-inch slit into the ends of the pork chops — this prevents it from curling up while it’s cooking! This will literally save your life.

3. SO I cooked this in the air fryer at 325 F for about 20 mins. When it looks about 3/4 ready, I removed it from the air fryer.

4. On a stovetop grill pan (purchased from Ikea) OR skillet, I put 2 tbsp oil and put the heat on high. Wait a few minutes so you know the oil is extremely hot before putting in the pork chops. We pan-searing baby.– Click here for the link to the Ikea grill pan.

5. Add the pork chops on to the grill pan and cook for another 7 minutes — use a meat thermometer, pork should be at 145 degrees to be safely consumed. 150 degrees is okay, but 160 is pushing it and it’ll be dry and gross.

6. Once the pork chops are done, get those green onions that were sitting in oil and sprinkle them on top while the pork chops are still super hot!!! Serve over white rice, vegetables and with nuoc mam sauce 🤤

Self Care Sunday 03

self care

Last week I didn’t have an actual SCS (self care sunday) post because I did it directly to my IG, so yes we are already on our 3rd SCS!

OBSESSED with these journals I bought. They came as a trio and I’m using these to map out blog ideas! I have a stationary addiction and the floral design literally fills my heart with warmth and joy 🤓
I have a problem. Whenever I’m craving something, I’ll find a way to get to the grocery store so I can make it that SAME day. So I decided to try out crab rangoons in the air fryer!!! RECIPE WILL BE POSTED SOMETIME THIS WEEK.
Aburi Premium AYCE Sushi and Ramen. Pasadena, CA.

Last but not least, yesterday I took some time away from home and went on a date-day with le bf. We tried out a new AYCE sushi place and went shopping. Ever since I moved out to LA, I can’t find that perfect sushi place, but I think we finally found it!

They give you unlimited rounds, whereas other AYCE sushi places limit you to only 3 rounds. In addition, they actually severe sashimi as an option!! Other places don’t include sashimi in AYCE and only allow nigiri/sushi… which is a bummer because hellOo, I don’t need to eat it with rice because it’ll make me full faster! If you are ever in Pasadena, CA you should definitely check this place out.

However, keep in mind to try and come during a time that is NOT rush hour. The service tends to get slow in between rounds because the kitchen is backed up, but other than that service was amazing and quality of fish was 5/5.

Thanks for reading! Hope you guys had a lovely Sunday and if you haven’t done so already, do one thing before bed that brings you joy! 🥰

Friday Five 01

beauty

from 01/24/2020

top 5 current beauty products – January 2020

Hi friends! I’m super excited to share my first “Friday Five” with you. This week I’m focusing on beauty products. Here’s a selfie using the products and maybe this convinces you how good they are! Continue reading to find out more about why these products made it to my first Friday Five ❤

1. Revlon Photo Candid Liquid Foundation

@ Target. Price: $7.99, Clearance: $3.98 I was SHOOK when I first used this. I was at Target last week looking for a new foundation and I’m always on the hunt to budget where I can and saw some shades for this line were on clearance. I did a swatch on my hand to find my matching shade and voila! I took it home with me.

I was skeptical at first. It looked too light for my face and I was confused because it matched the shade of my hand really well.

Here’s the thing: once this foundation oxidizes after a few minutes, it matches your skin tone. Perfectly. So go one shade lighter.

WOW. I was impressed. I needed a new foundation because I originally was using Loreal Infallible Matte, but it made me look so bland. And if I tried one of those “glow” or “dewey” foundations, it made me look too oily. I needed something in between, with a natural finish. This was it!

  • PROS: Says “anti-pollution” (I think that means it won’t clog pores) and no flashbacks– I can vouch for that because I went clubbing last weekend (lol).
  • VERY natural finish. Medium-full coverage that’s buildable.
  • Lasts throughout an entire 8-hour shift, DOES NOT SMEAR when you need to itch your eyebrow or whatever, doesn’t make you look too dry or too shiny.
  • CONS: May be difficult to blend if you don’t have a good brush or blender. It’s kind of thick when you first squirt it out.

2. Loreal Infallible Full Wear Concealer #385 Amber

@ Target. Price: $10.99. I’ve heard a million good things about this concealer so I had to jump on board. I normally never wear concealer because my skin has never had any intense blemishes, etc. but last month…ya girl was going through some sh*t and now I have THE WORST acne scars!!!! While I am working on my nightly skin routine to try and get rid of it, I needed something to COVER IT for now.

I chose a darker shade because I really wanted to make sure my blemish is covered. Spot application is key here– you want to make sure you are dabbing with your applicator for a well-blended result and not swiping the concealer onto your face.

For the price, you can‘t go wrong. I don’t have experience with higher-end products (because my financials don’t allow it lmao) this does the trick just as good~ please see selfie at the top of this post 😉

3. Covergirl TruBlend Serving Sculpt Palette #500.

@ Target. Price: $9.99, Clearance: $4.98. I normally use Benefit’s Hoola. I’ve been dedicated to it for years. But you know what… I’ve noticed it doesn’t last all day and it’s kind of pricey.

So I took a trip to Target and once again, found something on clearance and now I’m saying goodbye to Hoola and HELLoo0 to Cover Girl.

I was surprised how pigmented the bronzer was and it lasts me a good 8-hour shift before I need to touch-up, but I generally don’t need to. Ever.

4. E.L.F. Nourishing Night Cream

@ Target. $12.00 for 1.76 oz. I first discovered this gem when I purchased a trial size pack of their hydration skincare line. I have pretty sensitive skin and certain products make my skin burn after application (I’ve tried Bliss), but this didn’t sting at all. I just ran out of the trial sized one last night and was like okay, the full size will be worth the buy.

When I wake up in the morning, my face looks super refreshed and I finally no longer have peeling, flaky skin.

Great for sensitive skin and extremely dry skin. Incorporating this into your nightly routine would be quite beneficial for both you and your wallet.

5. Tangle Teezer Brush

@ Costco. $7.99. Last but not least!!! Is your hair dry because you style and dye it too much? Split ends that always get tangled up? Can’t brush your hair after your shower? Yes??? Well, ME TOO GIRL. It’s bad…. but I finally found the holy grail of ALL DETANGLING BRUSHES.

The bristles are extremely flexible, which is why this product works!!! That’s the science behind this hairbrush. It is able to weave itself into the tangled hair and in result, you can brush your hair and say goodbye to nappyness.

Click here to order it online from Nordstrom.

ty 🥰

Thanks for reading! Next Friday, 01/31, I will have a new Friday Five topic (that won’t be beauty). Stay tuned!

Update!!

life

Joy is not in things: it is in us.

— Richard Wagner.

THANK YOU TO THOSE supporting me since my “just like mama” blog from 2019 to “tbh xtina” on WIX and now WordPress! I think this will be a better platform for me to create and establish a blog community with other bloggers so I thought to give it a try.

I plan to transfer my old posts from TBH XTINA to this site so please be patient with me!

All new future posts will be posted here. I will continue using my Instagram account and will change all links there.

Blessings, Xtina 💞