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I Drew 12 Of My Favorite Chinese Recipes Into Comics So That They Are Easier To Remember
Hi! I'm Linda, and I love drawing down recipes I'm learning.
I love Chinese food. I'm Sichuanese American, and I grew up eating my Baba and Mama's cooking... And now I also love making these dishes for myself! But it wasn't always this way.
Actually, for most of my 20s, I struggled to feed myself on a consistent basis. After a long workday, even the thought of ordering out was exhausting. The thought of having to choose a recipe and go grocery shopping and meal prep and actually cook the meal was paralyzing.
It’s not that I didn’t know how to cook. Growing up in a Sichuanese household, I cooked with my family every day — and loved it! But despite that, I kept spending money on takeout or defaulting to cold cereal for dinner. I felt frustrated and ashamed: Why couldn’t I just start cooking?
This all changed last year when I started doodling the family recipes I was trying to learn.
To my joy, I realized that after drawing them down, I no longer struggled with remembering recipe steps (even ones I'm really familiar with)! In fact, drawing each ingredient out, and then arranging them lovingly onto one page, has not only helped me consistently cook for myself... But has changed my relationship with food - from something that sparked anxiety to one that now sparks joy:)
I would love to continue making more drawings, and more recipe card comics this year!
With your support, I'll be able to pay myself a living wage while doing so (and create some deliciously functional food art & recipe cards for your kitchens (and mine).
If you'd like to support my work by pre-ordering some recipe cards, you can back my Kickstarter below.
More info: kickstarter.com
This post may include affiliate links.
Sichuan Starter Pack
Tomato And Egg Stir-Fry 番茄鸡蛋 (Fānqié Jīdàn)
5 Minute Chili Oil 红油 (Hóng Yóu)
Drizzle-On-Anything Panda Sauce
Dumplings X3 (饺子)
Cold Spicy Sesame Noodles 四川凉面 (Sìchuān Liáng Miàn)
Century Egg And Pork Congee 皮蛋瘦肉粥(pídàn Shòu Ròu Zhōu)
Cold Tossed Chicken 凉拌鸡 (Liángbàn Jī)
Smacked Garlicky Cucumber 拍黄瓜 / 凉拌黄瓜 (Pāi Huángguā/ Liángbàn Huángguā)
Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐 (Má Pó Dòufu)
DIY Hot Pot Party
Hand Torn Cabbage 手撕包菜 (Shǒu Sī Bāo Cài)
Chinese guy here, and yes, all of the above are delicious. Though I'd be wary of #1 if you have a low tolerance for spicy food. Mala burns and numbs your mouth at the same time, trust me, I found out the hard way XP That's not to say it isn't delicious though because if you get pass the spice and numbness, it's actually pleases the tongue.
Can confirm "Tomato and Egg Stir-Fry" is the food of the GODS. It is so good. My ex (who is Chinese, and also did not go to medical school... though he DID go to law school) used to make it for us all the time. It's an amazingly delicious comfort food. Also, century eggs are amazing! I love them so much with a little drizzle of soy sauce. I'll be sure to share these recipes with my ex, he'll love them :D
Chinese guy here, and yes, all of the above are delicious. Though I'd be wary of #1 if you have a low tolerance for spicy food. Mala burns and numbs your mouth at the same time, trust me, I found out the hard way XP That's not to say it isn't delicious though because if you get pass the spice and numbness, it's actually pleases the tongue.
Can confirm "Tomato and Egg Stir-Fry" is the food of the GODS. It is so good. My ex (who is Chinese, and also did not go to medical school... though he DID go to law school) used to make it for us all the time. It's an amazingly delicious comfort food. Also, century eggs are amazing! I love them so much with a little drizzle of soy sauce. I'll be sure to share these recipes with my ex, he'll love them :D