The star of this week’s comic is my sister’s tiny dog Angel, with some cameos from my mom, my sketchbook itself, and a tree wearing my dad’s hat. Thought it might be fun to get a little sketchbook peek alongside the comic. Stay safe, y’all.
Dine and Design: Authentic Chicken Pho
When I visit home from college, I’m usually welcomed with my favorite meal, a steaming bowl of chicken pho. The Vietnamese noodle soup has been one of my favorite foods since I was a child, and my mom would spend hours preparing the aromatic broth. Pho is somewhat of a cure-all to me–whether it be a bad day, a cold, freezing temperatures, or homesickness. It connects me to Vietnamese culture and never fails to make me feel better.
In my poster design class, I recently created a triptych series of noodles–yes, noodles. For now, I’ll share the pho poster and provide you with a recipe that can inspire your next quarantine project.
Classic Pho Ga Recipe
Serves 6
Ingredients
For the broth:
6 star anise
6 cloves
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
3 pounds chicken backs, necks, or drumsticks (almost any cheap part will do)
1 whole chicken, cut in half
1 piece ginger, around 4 inches, cut in half
2 yellow onions, peeled
1/4 cup fish sauce
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp salt
For assembly:
1 pound dried rice noodles
1/2 yellow onion, sliced very thin
3 scallions, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 pound bean sprouts
15-20 sprigs Asian basil
1-3 serrano chilies, sliced (optional)
1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Lightly toast the star anise, cloves, peppercorns in a dry pan for 2 mins then place aside
- Char the ginger and onion in an oven on the broil setting until soft and fragrant (around 10-15 mins)
- Bring 5 quarts water to a rolling boil in a large pot
- Add all the chicken, boil for 3 mins, then reduce to a simmer
- Skim the surface of the broth intermittently to remove fat
- Add the ginger, onions, fish sauce, sugar, and salt
- Cook for about 30 mins until chicken is cooked, then take out the chicken halves to cool
- Remove skin from the chicken halves and discard
- Add the peppercorns, cloves, and anise to the broth (in a spice bag if you have one)
- Cook broth for another 60 mins
- Shred the chicken halves into bite size pieces (you may need only half of it for serving and can save the other half)
- While broth is simmering, blanch the pho noodles in another pot of boiling water for 10-30 seconds until soft but chewy
- Portion the noodles, shredded chicken sliced onions, and scallions into bowls
- Bring the broth back up to medium heat, ladle the broth into each bowl and serve
- Garnish the bowls to your liking with the bean sprouts, herbs, lime juice, pepper and enjoy!
Video Game Photography
Video games are undoubtedly a work of art: they combine immersive graphics, impressive design, originally composed music, and complex writing and storytelling to create a cohesive masterpiece. Of course every game is different, and each has its strengths and weaknesses, but overall they’re one of the most unique and interesting ways in which many different art forms can come together. Surprisingly, I had never consciously acknowledged the cinematic qualities of video games, but I always found myself taking screenshots of amazing moments, or lining up the camera in just the right way to show off an impressive view or landscape. It could be argued that I’m a bit overly sentimental, and that’s probably true, but there is something so powerful about a cinematic picture of a great game and the associations that it creates. I’m not the only one that feels this way; many games have even added photo modes, allowing normal players to take stunning pictures in-game and share them with other players, plus the PlayStation 4 has both a snapshot and screen recording feature, testifying to the popularity of saving favorite gaming moments. I find this trend interesting, especially as games get more and more realistic. Is there a potential future where video games become a dominant medium for photography? Is it possible that video game photography could be its own art form? And who gets credit for the artistic value of the photo; the game developers who created it, or the photographer that took it? Regardless, here are some of my own video game photos as inspiration, and perhaps to get you thinking about the artistic value of the medium:
Kaleidoscope #4: Music in Quarantine
When life is “normal” I think our routines and interactions prompt our listening habits. For example, in the gym you might listen to a hip-hop playlist on Spotify. Studying at the library, maybe you put on classical music or “lo-fi beats.” But what happens when you don’t go anywhere? Or see anyone? What does music sound like when every day is the same?
Personally, I’ve gone through a few different phases.
- Denial. Not denial of the current situation of course but denial of its effect on me. Maybe a better title for this phase then would be “Escapism.” Regardless, my first week of social isolation was spent curating a dance playlist. I was determined to “stay positive!” and the tunes of Stevie Wonder, Kehlani, the Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift definitely helped.
- Discovery. Finally I had all this time to listen to new albums. Whether I hadn’t gotten around to them in the bustle of my typical school week or they were a new release in quarantine, I filled the gap left by gym and studying music with music I hadn’t heard before. How sweet to soak in new songs undistracted, but how sad that they might always be tinged with the weirdness of the first time I heard them. This week was full of Conan Gray and Ingrid Andress’s debut albums, Dua Lipa’s sophomore effort, and 5 Seconds of Summer’s latest record.
- Deep Dive. More recently, I found myself looking up “2012 Country Music Hits” and latching on to Luke Bryan’s spring break-themed albums. I understand how that might be perceived as a cry for help, but don’t worry. This listening phase is all about nostalgia. It’s a second wave of escapism, high school edition. I had no idea three weeks ago that songs like “Suntan City” and “Spring Breakdown” would bring me so much comfort. But they do. Go figure.
- Darkness. As I’m writing this, I can sense the dawn of a new chapter in my quarantine music saga. Reality is setting in. Or, at least it’s getting harder to push away. The news is so overwhelming that I’ve been drawn toward music that feels small and warm and quiet. As I’m writing this, I’ve been listening to “Lonely Together” by Caitlyn Smith on repeat.
So what does music sound like when the world hits pause? As best as I can figure, it sounds like whatever keeps us sane in the moment. Rooted in place, time can start to feel numbing. But music is a way to change that — to boost your mood or switch your lens. What have you been listening to?
(Image Source: Unsplash)
early april (comic)
Hope everyone is getting a chance to get some sun this week, especially if you’re still in Michigan!
