• 28Jun

    Want!

    Interesting

    Recipes

  • 26Jun
    Categories: Recipes; Comments: 0

    cremefraichesorbetberries
    I had some leftover whipping cream and buttermilk and made some crème fraîche! I combined the recipe for sweetened crème fraîche and the one for crème fraîche sorbet to make this. Truthfully, I should have left out the sugar before I made the crème fraîche because the sorbet recipe calls for sugar as well, so it was a little too sweet (but still yummy!). This smells a little like frozen frosting or cookie dough, and has a rich, clean taste that really brings out the natural flavors of the berries.

    I really like this recipe because you can basically make ice cream, without an ice cream machine!

    Whisk everything together, then decant into a metal loaf pan (I used a glass dish that I lined with aluminum foil).  Freeze until firm (several hours), and serve with plenty of berries.

    And for those of you that don’t know how to make crème fraîche yet:

    • 1 c. whipping cream, room temp
    • 1 tbsp buttermilk or 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

    In a jar with a lid, place whipping cream and buttermilk (or sour cream); cover securely and shake 15 seconds. Set aside at room temperature for 24 hours or until very thick. Stir once or twice during that time. NOTE: Cream will thicken faster if the room is warm. Stir thickened crème fraîche well. Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving. Cover tightly and store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Since I knew I would be using this recipe for sorbet, I added 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract into the creme right before refrigerating to give it a vanilla flavor.

  • 24Jun
    Categories: Recipes; Comments: 0

    bestblueberry_2

    I had some extra buttermilk and tons of blueberries so I decided to make some blueberry muffins. I think these turned out great, though Dan said that they would have tasted better without the almonds on top. Also, this recipe made a little more than 12 muffins, so I put the extra batter into my Hello Kitty silicone muffin mold.

    • 2 c. fresh blueberries, picked over
    • 1-1/8 c. plus 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 2½ c. unbleached all-purpose flour
    • 2½ tsp baking powder
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 2 large eggs
    • 4 tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
    • ¼ c. vegetable oil
    • 1 c. buttermilk
    • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

    Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray standard muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or line with paper liners. Bring 1 cup blueberries and 1 teaspoon sugar to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, mashing berries with spoon several times and stirring frequently, until berries have broken down and mixture is thickened and reduced to ¼ cup, about 6 minutes. Transfer to small bowl and cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.

    Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk remaining 1-1/8 cups sugar and eggs together in medium bowl until thick and homogeneous, about 45 seconds. Slowly whisk in butter and oil until combined. Whisk in buttermilk and vanilla until combined. Using rubber spatula, fold egg mixture and remaining cup blueberries into flour mixture until just moistened. (Batter will be very lumpy with few spots of dry flour; do not overmix.)

    Divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups (batter should completely fill cups and mound slightly). Spoon teaspoon of cooked berry mixture into center of each mound of batter. Using chopstick or skewer, gently swirl berry filling into batter using figure-eight motion. Sprinkle topping evenly over muffins (see struesel topping recipe below). Bake until muffin tops are golden and just firm, 17 to 19 minutes, rotating muffin tin from front to back halfway through baking time. Cool muffins in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool 5 minutes before serving.

    Steusel Topping

    Prepare streusel by combining 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar, pinch table salt, and ½ cup plus 3 tablespoons (3½ ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour in small bowl. Drizzle with 5 tablespoons warm, melted unsalted butter and toss with fork until evenly moistened and mixture forms large chunks with some pea-sized pieces throughout. Proceed with recipe as directed, sprinkling streusel topping over muffins before baking.
    (N.B. I only used half of the topping, and sprinkled with almond slices)

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  • 23Jun
    Categories: Show and Tell; Comments: 0

    Sorry I’ve been so absent recently. Turns out that trying to get a full-time job while helping my mom and planning for graduation and graduation parties really takes it out of you. Not to mention the daily grind of planning meals, running errands, and shopping, making appointments, and so on. Fortunately/Unfortunately I am now employed! I will be starting my new job Monday (29th) which has enabled me to already spend my first paycheck by shopping! Not only this, but I feel as if I will also have even less time now (if that were possible) to update my site. On the up side, I plan to read and study on my now 2 hour round trip commute so I will become more literate and my Japanese might, just might, be able to get back to where it was.

    Recipes

    Interesting Sites / Articles

  • 17Jun
    Categories: Wish List; Comments: 1

    Hula Cookies’ Cookie Tin
    (Chocolate Chip Mac Nut, Kona Coffee Chocolate Chip, Honey Papaya Oatmeal, Pineapple Ginger Mac Nut, Double Chocolate Chip Mac Nut, and Hula’s Delight w/Coconut Pineapple Mango and Mac Nut.)
    http://www.hulacookies.com

    Hawai’an Food Online
    Ono Char Siu
    Ono Kalua Pork $8.99
    Dynasty Lup Chong
    Hula Brand Saimin Noodles
    Orchid Inarizushi No Moto
    NOH Hawaiian Haupia Seasoning
    NOH Poke Mix Seasoning
    http://www.hawaiianfoodonline.com

    Shop Kawaii
    San-X Rillakuma Relax Bear Sun Visor Organizer (For when I get a car??)
    Lemon Co. Push Pin Hooks (for when I get a job??)
    San-X Mamegoma Tupperware with 2 Removable Compartments
    http://www.shopkawaii.com

    Crescent Trading
    Things I think I’m buying from Rakuten and Yahoo Japan, pending a quote.
    Rakuten:
    - Hiragana Letters: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/smilezakka/75606/
    - Panda Picks: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/yellowstudio/10953/#10953
    - Scissors/Pinch: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/parkridge/11090/
    - Sando Bento: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/coo-coo/memere-sandwich2-rd/
    - Egg Stencil: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/smilezakka/75587/

    Yahoo:
    - Walle Keychain: http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w39581973
    - Hawaii Hello Kitty Bento: http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d88263486
    - Momo Panda Bento: http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d93447518
    - Pon de Lion Bento: http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h127938065

    Things I still want to buy, but can’t or wont:

    • Smart Bento – http://shop.iloveobento.com/products/smart-bento
    • Stand Mixer (Kitchen-Aid)
    • Mochi Maker
    • New Laptop (smallest Macbook)
    • New Camera (I’m thinking Canon Rebel or a higher end powershot that has higher quality images but is still pretty portable)
    • Various cookbooks, especially Healthy, Quick, baking, “For Two”, or Asian
    • Wall-E Croc Jibbitz
    • Exodus to North Korea: Shadows from Japan’s Cold War by Tessa Morris-Suzuki
    • A Short History of the American Stomach by Frederick Kaufman
    • Mele O Hawaii Starbucks Music CD
    • Japanese Thermal Straight Perm
    • Honda Fit Hybrid
    • Sili-Plat Silicone Baking Sheet
    • Small Ice Cream maker (do they have bread machinese/ice cream makers?)
    • new iPHONE
    • AG+ Bento (http://www.rakuten.co.jp/tpfactory/1813351/1813352/#1387134)
      • I have the Large White one, but would like other colors or the rectangular one (see bottom)
  • 10Jun
    Categories: Recipes; Comments: 0

    dannymacaroons_2

    Danny watches this podcast where this recipe was featured. Of course, he took this “cookie” recipe and turned it into something his own!

    • 3/4 cup raisins
    • 3/4 cup almond slices
    • 3/4 cup shredded coconut
    • 2 cups crushed chex cereal
    • 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
    • 4 ounces of semi-sweet or milk chocolate

    Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees. Measure ¾ cup of the sweetened condensed milk into a measuring cup with a pour spout. Sweetened condensed milk is really thick and sticky. If you spray the measuring cup with cooking spray first, the condensed milk will slip right out of the measuring cup. In a large bowl combine raisins, almonds, cereal, coconut, and the condensed milk. Mix well.

    Line a baking sheet with sides with non-stick tin foil. If you only have regular tin foil then you have to “grease” the foil, preferably with shortening. You could spray it with cooking spray or smear butter all over the tin foil. Place 1/8 of a cup the mixture onto the foil lined oven trays. They don’t really spread or change shape when they are cooking so they don’t have to be really far apart. Bake 14-15 minutes or until light golden. Cool slightly before removing from tray, cool on wire rack.

    While the cookies are cooling, put about two cups of water in the kettle and bring it to a boil. Put the chocolate chips into a small baggie. Pour the water into a medium bowl. Set the baggie of chocolate chips into the bowl. In about 5 minutes the chocolate will be melted. Snip the corner of the baggie. Squeeze the chocolate into a funnel shape and squirt the base of each cookie with melted chocolate. If desired, spread the chocolate into a thin layer on the “bottom” of the cookie. We just left it as is.

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  • 10Jun
    Categories: Recipes; Comments: 0

    buttermilkbananas_4

    I had some leftover buttermilk from a recent recipe and by request made some buttermilk pancakes from scratch.

    • 1 c. all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp baking soda
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 1.5 tbsp sugar
    • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
    • 1.5 c. buttermilk
    • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (or use salted, but omit 1/4 tsp salt)
    • 1 banana (or other fruit of choice), almond slivers

    Use a griddle or fry pan. Heat it while you whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, and 2 tablespoons butter; whisk to combine. Batter should have small to medium lumps. Slice half of the banana and mix it into the batter. Test pan by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If water bounces and spatters off griddle, it is hot enough. Spray pan with butter-spray or brush pan with pastry brush with butter. Make pancakes whatever size or shape you want. When pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around edges, flip over. Cook until golden on bottom. Repeat with remaining batter, serve warm. Top with other half of banana (sliced), and top with almond slivers if desired.

    This makes more than enough pancakes for two people, I would say three or four people. I look forward to trying this with blueberries, and maybe some other fruit!

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  • 02Jun
    Categories: Restaurants; Comments: 0
    MATSUTAKE
    HIBACHI GRILL/SUSHI

    GOG Page
    Food Decor Service Cost
    18 14 14 $25

    March 25th, 2009
    Now this is just a personal problem of mine, but it really irks me when non-authentic Japanese restaurants pop up, make chains, and invade neighborhoods. I had a restaurant gift certificate to this place or I would most likely never have gone. And I mean never.

    Continuing my ramen hunt from Maneki Neko, I ordered the ramen here. They warned me when I ordered it that it was going to be spicy and that it was not authentic. Well, they were half right. It wasn’t spicy, but it also was not authentic in the least bit. Unless you count dumping a square block of Maruchan Instant Ramen into a pot of water and cooking it with the included packet of seasoning authentic. They did add some other ‘toppings’, but they didn’t mask the tell-tale ramen noodle/sauce combination.

    My best advice is to only go here when you have a gift certificate of some kind and only order sushi. The sushi is pretty decent and if you’re getting $50 worth of sushi for about half the price, I’d say go for it. Oh, and sit as far away from the hibachi (grill) tables as possible. The annoying, loud groups enjoying their theater meal tend to echo in this large, empty restaurant.

    matsutake1

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  • 02Jun
    Categories: Restaurants; Comments: 0
    EAT FIRST
    CANTONESE
    Going Out Guide
    Food Decor Service Cost
    13 7 14 $17

    April 19th, 2009
    I think this is the worst real Chinese food I’ve ever had. The Americanized dishes are worse that what you’d find at our local take-out place or mall food court, and the off-the-wall traditional dishes just didn’t taste clean. I guess when our waiter asked us if “we were sure” we wanted what we ordered, we should have taken that opportunity to book it.

    A few bites on the intestines saw the quick dissolving of the sauce, and left to shine on its own, the intestines tasted like intestines. As in, they had not been cleaned and I felt like I was eating what was previously in the intestines (poop). The sausage and bok choy was far too salty for my liking.

    eatfirst6

    From Zagat

    “No ambiance, no atmosphere – no problem” because the food at this “spartan” Chinatown “standard” is “cheap and fabulous”, especially if you “stick to the Chinese menu” that’s posted on the “sheets of paper taped to the wall” and is “not for the faint of heart”; in contrast, the “Americanized” choices get dissed as strictly “for those who long for Chung King” – but that still works for patrons who just want a quick “bite before a game.”

    Food: 20, Decor: 6, Service: 15, Cost: $17
    Chinatown | 609 H St. NW (6th St.) | Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro | 202-289-1703

  • 02Jun
    Categories: Restaurants; Comments: 1
    CENTRAL MICHEL RICHARD
    NEW AMERICAN/FRENCH BISTRO
    http://www.centralmichelrichard.com
    Food Decor Service Cost
    25 26 17 $38

    April 7th, 2009
    Central is a treat to go to. There’s just no other way to explain it. The atmosphere is nice and whimsical, in fact it reminded me of the scene in Beauty and the Beast where all the plates and cups dance. You can see the kitchen from your table, and it is lively and vibrant without being annoying or too loud. This restaurant really is a crowd pleaser. Not only do they execute traditional dishes extremely well, but they also offer a great variety of interesting and unique dishes. Because of this, I think it’s safe to say that any group or assortment of individuals can go here and order something delicious off of the menu without feeling as if they’re settling or being forced to try something they aren’t comfortable with. In fact, the most popular and recommended dish from our waiter is their fried chicken. Since this restaurant is so versatile, you could go here either for a business meeting or a date.

    I decided on the rabbit since I had not tried rabbit before. The rabbit was very interesting. It tasted like chicken, but with the texture of pork. I liked it, but some parts of the rabbit seemed to have different textures, as if they came from different physical parts of the rabbit rather than from the same place. The best part of the dinner was definitely the cheeseburger. It was cooked to perfection, and even though it was a plain burger, it was topped with crispy potato pieces and bacon. We rounded out the night with an amazing banana split. I think we could have easily made a meal out of the burger and the dessert.

    Our waiter was annoying and provided spotty service, but we forgave the restaurant as a whole for his mistakes. This restaurant was not that expensive. Like other restaurants, you can get many great dishes for not that much money. The burger was $18 after adding a few dollars on here and there for cheese and bacon, while mine was $31.

    central6

    From Zagat

    At Penn Quarter’s latest “‘it’” spot, all-star chef Michel richard (Citronelle) lends his “signature cheeky style” and “culinary chops” to “haute cuisine packaged for everyone” via a “mouthwatering” New American-French lineup that’s billed as “comfort food gone upscake”l with its “informed” service and “smart” looks, it draws “daunting” crowds of bon vivants who exult in “vibrant” scenery, a “hot bar scene” and “super-high quality” that “doesn’t break the bank.”

    Food: 25, Decor: 22, Service: 22, Cost: $52
    Penn Quarter | 1001 Penn Ave NW (10th St.) | Federal Triangle Metro | 202-626-0015

    central7

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    On this site, you'll find:
    Reviews (Book, Movies, Music, Restaurants, and Miscellaneous Products & Services), Recipes, Bento, Portfolio, and eventually tutorials for making Bento (including book scans), learning Japanese, and maybe some other handy-dandy things.