Yum-yum indeed

I tried Yum-Yum Thai restaurant off Harrison Ave in Cary a couple of weeks ago and it was so good I had to go back! I am happy to report that the food was just as good the second time around, although the dining experience was slightly disrupted by a burning truck in the parking lot. Quite the drama! Luckily no other cars or people were hurt.

I had the fresh basil rolls and a basil-tofu stir fry - both pictured above. My friend had the eggplant stir-fry the first time, and another friend chose the Pad Thai the second time. They kindly let me sample and I was delighted. The ingredients were fresh, and the food tasted very good. None of that over-creamy, bland taste that some other chain "Thai" restaurants try to fool you with. The only minor quibble I had was that the food wasn't hot enough for my taste - but that was easily remedied by a couple of squirts of Sriracha hot sauce. Also, I thought the stir-fry dishes were a bit on the sweet side, but that is a matter of personal taste I suppose.

It's a surprising find, tucked away in a corner of an unassuming strip mall. But worth the drive given the dearth of really good Thai restaurants in downtown Raleigh where I work. The atmosphere was fairly quiet and the service quick and friendly both times. You do sometimes have to wave the waitress down, but this doesn't bother me since its pretty common in Southeast Asia. I've never been there for dinner , but for a catch-up lunch with friends or a business lunch, Yum-yum thai lives up to its name!

The Man Also Cooks (Sweet potato leaves)

One of the secrets to a successful marriage, in my humble opinion, is having two partners who can cook, clean, bathe the children, etc. Sometimes The Hubby cooks dinner, and I am always super appreciative. He made dinner on a weeknight last week. I had bought some sweet potato leaves and Silver Queen corn from the Durham Farmer's Market . I was introduced to sweet potato leaves by a co-worker from China. She tells me that sweet potato leaves are even higher in iron and Vitamin C than spinach, though it is typically a food that is eaten by poor people. Well, I think it's rich and delicious enough to be a treat for everyone! And I'm always happy when I find it at the market. This is another one of those treasures that you can't find at the big grocery stores.

The dinner: Blackened Tofu, sweet potato leaves braised with garlic, and fresh buttered corn. Served with wheat rolls. Mouth-watering!
To make the blackened tofu: slice a slab of extra-firm tofu into 1-inch thick slabs. Drain on paper towels, press another paper towel on top gently to drain out as much water as you can. Rub the tofu with Cajun blackened seasoning, then pan-fry in hot peanut or canola oil till slightly crispy on the outside.

To make the sweet potato greens: Wash the greens and cut each leaf off at the stem. We left them whole, though they could be chopped. Heat some olive oil in a saucepan, and sautee some coarsely chopped garlic until fragrant. Add in the washed sweet potato greens and sautee for a minute or two. then, add half a cup to one cup of good quality, low-sodium vegetable broth and allow to simmer for 10 minutes until tender. Serve hot. They tasted a bit like spinach, a bit like collards, and a bit like sweet potatoes - altogether very tasty.

Fabulous, delicious, nutritious, EASY weekday dinner. Thank you Man of the House!