Nov 112005
Today I experienced another first here in Taiwan. I ate red beans for dessert! It took me five years to “work up the nerve”, but I finally tried some. I had a hong dou bing. This is red beans (not pintos) that have been soaked and cooked to tender perfection, generously poured over ice (think snow), topped off with two or three tablespoons of condensed milk. It looks sorta like this
Mine had twice as many beans and half as much ice. The beans had a nutlike taste and overall it wasn’t too bad. I don’t think it will replace my favorite – mango & strawberry - though 
Let me hear from you. What is the most un-dessert dessert that you have ever had?
Well, i’m afraid my favorite “undessert” falls under the Taiwan category as well! Once at McDonalds, I thought I was ordering a mint chocolate chip McFlurry (they have that on the menu!). When I tasted it, I realized it was green bean ice cream with red beans. Let’s just say it was a long time before I got up the nerve to go back to the “comfort food” of McDonalds.
That’s disgusting. I can’t believe you tried it. I think you’re becoming Taiwanese!!
As for my un-desert deser….. It would have to be corn ice cream in Thailand. I expected the little golden chunks to be peach or mango – but it was corn! Of course one shouldn’t be surprised, since corn is a garnish for pizza, salad, hamburgers, and just about anything else you can think of on this side of the world.
Fran
P.S. I ate ONE spoonful of Jackie’s Bean Bing – lets just say that I enjoyed my strawberry & bananna while he dined on beans