Spicy Konnyaku
Konnyaku, is the Japanese term for the root vegetable (plant) or yam cake, also known as konjac, konjak, konjaku, devil’s tongue, or elephant yam. To me, konnyaku is a vegetable that was as common as broccoli at our family’s dinner table when I was growing up. It’s also a favorite of mine. I loved it, even before I knew what I was eating. I just accepted it as “konnyaku”, a Japanese food that my Mom cooked, and it wasn’t until I was in middle school that I bothered to ask what it was: yam cake. In...
read moreMini Katsudon
Mini katsudon is the epitome of a quick weeknight meal that will fool everyone into thinking you slaved over your stove for at least an hour or two. I like to let my family think I’ve slaved over a beautiful Japanese meal once in awhile, even though I really haven’t. But they’re starting to catch on. I guess you could say I’ve been having a hard time finding time to blog, writing for work, consulting for a new client, and of course, cooking and still being a full-time stay at home mom and now a volunteer mommy at...
read moreShio Koji Asparagus
Shio koji asparagus is fresh asparagus sautéed with shio koji and olive oil. It’s a really easy side dish for enjoying fresh asparagus and goes great with almost any seafood or protein. Summer is still in full swing and we’re still as busy as ever. With our schedule full of activities and fun, I haven’t had much time to spend in the kitchen, other than to throw together quick and easy meals. Shio koji works great for quick meals since you only need a small portion of shio koji and these asparagus spears can be whipped up...
read moreShio Koji Salmon
Here’s a super easy and quick shio koji recipe that’s great on a busy weeknight, and perhaps better than getting take-out. These days I’ve been so busy fully engrossed in our summer that I haven’t had much time for “fancy” cooking (or blogging – boo). Thankfully, shio koji seems “fancy” but it’s actually a super-easy short cut for “fanci-fying” any meal. If you missed my primer on shio koji, the post is available here. Shio koji is packed with umami flavor and provides...
read moreShio Koji
One of the great things about Japanese cuisine is that many of the standard ingredients used in Japanese cooking have been around for ages. Shio koji is one such ingredient. My new freelance writing gig over at About.com has certainly motivated me to get back on the (food) ball. Everyone has been talking, posting, pinning, sharing, and tweeting about shio koji the last few years and I guess you could say I’m (unfashionably) late to the party. You can find my full article on shio koji at About.com here. Shio Koji Definition Shio koji,...
read moreKinpira Gobo
Kinpira gobo is a traditional Japanese side dish made of gobo (burdock root) and carrots. It’s both savory and sweet and sometimes has a hint of red chili spice, depending on the cook. While gobo is considered a mainstream vegetable as far as Japanese and other Asian cuisines are concerned, it is less common in Western cuisine, although in recent years it has gained more visibility. Growing up in a traditional Japanese home (albeit in Los Angeles), its not unusual for someone like me to love a root vegetable such as gobo. My Mom...
read moreBarley and Spinach Salad & Mothers Day 2014
I hope everyone had a beautiful Mother’s Day weekend! We enjoyed a nice weekend spent with family and we also took Bebe to her first Dodgers game. Of course, she had more fun looking through the binoculars at the outfielders and eating frozen yogurt while playing with our family, but she was a good cheerleader and had a blast. Here are some photos of our family at the game. Or skip down to the salad recipe at the bottom of the post. Me and my Mommy. Bebe and Mommy. Photographer and my favorite uncle. Nothing beats frozen yogurt in...
read moreDesserts for Japanese Childrens Day 2014
Happy Japanese Children’s Day! May 5th is Kodomo No Hi, also known as Boys’ Day. It’s a day for celebrating the well-being, happiness and health of all children in our family. To celebrate Children’s Day, Bebe and I kept things simple. Since our favorite Japanese restaurant is closed on Mondays, instead we went to our local Japanese supermarket to grab a bite to eat in their amazing food court. Bebe feasted on her favorite cold zaru udon noodles and tempura shrimp, while I opted for hot kitsune udon to nurture a sore...
read moreJapanese Rice Vinegar
Today’s blog post was meant strictly as an ingredient spotlight about Japanese rice vinegar, short, sweet and professional, yet I’m compelled to admit that I almost burned down our kitchen yesterday. It was that kind of Monday for me. Please feel free to skip down to the vinegar article, if you like. From the moment I woke-up, I was feeling off, not fully rested, and still feeling like I hadn’t shaken off the weekend nor our adventures in Los Angeles during the latter part of the week. With my head-not-on-straight, I started...
read moreMame Gohan (Brown Rice with Green Peas)
Mame gohan, or Japanese rice with green peas, is a very simple dish that requires few ingredients and it’s often served during the springtime. This dish made a frequent appearance during my childhood because it is one of my Dad’s favorite rice dishes. Not surprisingly, mame gohan is a dish that his mom, or my obaachan (grandma, pronounced “oh-bah-ah-chan”), used to make for him and their family. This dish brings back many good memories of trips I’ve taken to Japan over my lifetime. When I was younger, I often...
read more
