When is your birthday, Sue? Triple one, that’s the date I was born.
It can confuse people with November 1st, but still, pronouncing triple one sounds kind of cool. 
It was very noisy from the early morning today. It was still dark outside but the strong smell of sesame oil woke me up. My two little sisters were up to something (they have been staying with us for two weeks now), making me some birthday soup.
What is birthday soup?
- So called brown seaweed soup (miyeok-guk) is the birth day soup in Korea. However people eat it on normal days as well.
Why do people have it on a birthday?
- Brown seaweed soup was actually consumed by a woman who delivered a child. Because it helps to clean blood vessels and to produce milk, it has abundant iodine to reduce the swollen body and calcium to help build strong bones, which are all important for both mother and child.
- It is symbolic to have on a birthday, because while a baby’s mother has this soup, the baby also eats it through the milk. Though, my theory is to remind people about their mother’s hard work for delivering them and say thank you to their mother on their birthday. So on your birthday, you should say thank you to your mother.
This is a picture of the brown seaweed soup (Miyeok-guk) my sisters made for me.
I don’t know what she added to season it, but it would probably be some salt. The obvious ingredients are brown seaweed, some beef cuts, and sesame oil. It was delicious yet the sesame oil overpowered the overall taste. I hope my sister doesn’t read this post. Because I said it was very good. Sister, the thought is what counts!!
My sisters are self claimed night elves. They’ve been baking cookies, cakes and helping me cooking meals while they are staying with us.
Chocolate cake from the night elves (they used a prepackaged mix)
Brown Seaweed Soup, Food Culture, Kitchen Talk, Korean soup, Miyeok guk, Soup and Stew
Sue씨 생일 축하합니다!
Cool,happy birthday.
Drink a lot!^^Actually,you have to get all your friends drunk in exchange for presents.That’s the custom,right?
very nice thing that your sister did for you! Happy Birthday Sue (O-tanjoobi omedetoo gozaimasu!) May your day be filled with lots of good food and good friends!
Sue 씨
생일이 축아합니다 ; )
샌디
Happy Birthday Sue.
Happy Birthday Sue!
Happy Birthday Sue!
생일 축하함니다,
생일 축하함니다,
생일 축하함니다,
생일 축하함니다!
If I had some little musical notes, I’d add them because that’s me singing to you! My sister’s birthday was yesterday and I cooked my very first vegan cupcakes for her. They came out pretty good–if I do say so myself. :o)
Hope your day was happy!
Happy birthday Sue, and many more besides.
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday!
I only read about that such seaweed soup are prepared during birthday.
Oh, I just made my own Chinese version of miyuk guk today….wait till I post it, and may you give your helpful comments there to help me improve.
Happy Birthday!
I’d love to go collect my own seaweed. I might do that this year, I’m crazy like that.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday Sue! Here’s a toast to another great year ahead!
Wow~!
Thanks everyone. It will be a great year with you guys.
John, Who are you hanging out with? It is certainly not my custom.
tigerfish, I don’t know much about Chinese style cooking, but I will definitely read your post if you write that recipe.
Scott, I thought you were joking, but you really did mention that it is one of your priority tasks to do this year. Perhaps you’re eccentric.
I hope you succeed with your goal and make nice soup.
Let me know if you do.
Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes.
Grr…they tricked me!^^
Happy Birthday! I really enjoy your blog. I’d like to start cooking more Korean food, and you make it look so easy. I hope you had a good one!
John, I bet they did.
Puddleglum, Thank you. Practical guide to cooking Korean food is my new slogan.
Happy belated birthday! That chocolate cake looks good.
Hey Sue, happy birthday!
Thanks Gdog and maryeats
I had a good day.
I stumbled upon your site today and immediately sent the address to my mother. I really like the pictures at the top of the page and asked my mom if those colors would look nice in my kitchen! Then, I discovered that you have the same birthday as my daughter. My husband spent some time in Korea and we want to visit as a family someday. I’ll be revisiting your site looking for good Korean recipes that happen to be vegan. Thanks!
Hi Greta,
Do you like the header picture? It is quite bright color and very cheery picture, isn’t it? It’s just a free picture I found on the internet, though I am going to change that soon.
I guess I don’t have many vegetarian recipes yet, have I?
However this blog has been around only for 4 months, so I have been busy cooking what most people want and what is popular. I am planning to make lots of vegetarian recipes for this year, because that is one of my resolutions, but I am not sure how it is going to turn out.
I hope to see you more often on my blog.
Thanks for stopping by.
When living in Roswell, Georgia I enjoyed the fellowship
of the Korean brothers and sisters at the Mareitta Bible
Chapel.
As far as I can remember the KOREANS were at the chapel
dinners but I do not remember any special Korean dishes.
SEAWEED SOUP sounds interesting. I donot know how to find
it here now I am living in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Maybe
the health food store might have it.
We did have a Korean great grandmother who loved to take
food such as sausuages and turn them into works of art on
canvas. Of course we didnot eat the artwork of SISTER RUTH
KIM.
This i’ll definitely be trying, thanks!