Avocado Salsa: Its a Winner, Game 3!

Avocado Salsa: Its a Winner, Game 3!

  I love Spring!  Flowers are in bloom, birds are singing in the morning, days are longer, air is warmer…AND the Lakers are in the Playoffs.  Spring absolutely rocks when the Lakers are on the road to the Championships! Born and raised in Los Angeles, I am a hard-core Laker fan.  Always have been, always will be.  Lakers play a huge role in the social events of my family and friends.  When all of my friends lived nearby, Laker...

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NOT Kogi Tacos

NOT Kogi Tacos

  I’m wondering how everyone enjoyed Cindo de Mayo…  margaritas and good mexican food with friends and family?  Some of you may have read that Bebe E and I spent May the 5th at bachan and jichan’s house (grandma and grandpa) to celebrate Japanese Children’s Day, but I didn’t forget about Cinco de Mayo!  :) However, before we get to May the 5th, I’m wondering how everyone enjoyed “Star Wars...

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Guacamole for Bebe

Guacamole for Bebe

  In my Dr. Sears’ “The Baby Book”, avocado is listed as a favorite first food, but it was my friend and RN (nurse G) that I recall telling me, “avocados are a superfood”.  We had lunch over a year ago when she brought out half an avocado and started scooping out the flesh of a ripe avocado into a little bowl for mashing – baby guacamole! I almost forgot about baby guacamole until I saw it in “The...

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Kakiagedon (Mixed Tempura Bowl)

Kakiagedon (Mixed Tempura Bowl)

  A quick meal made with leftovers is kakiage donburi or kakiagedon.  Mixed tempura rests over a bed of brown rice and is served in a donburi.  When possible, I like to use leftovers in a new dish because it’s usually easy to prepare and keeps the dinner menu exciting. Earlier this week I made kakiage tempura and wrapped each leftover kakiage individually in plastic wrap and then placed them all in a ziplock bag.  I like storing them...

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Chinese Baby Bok Choy

Chinese Baby Bok Choy

  Sauteed Chinese baby bok choy is another quick and easy veggie that I make regularly for dinner.  It goes really well with the ready-made char siu that I buy at the 99 Ranch Market deli, and makes for a REALLY quick dinner on days when there’s too much going on and I don’t have a lot of time. Until I met bebe dada, I only bought baby bok choy when I made chow mein (a recipe for a future post).  He taught me how to prepare this...

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Yudofu (Japanese Simmered Tofu)

Yudofu (Japanese Simmered Tofu)

  Last night was one of those night’s where Bebe E and I were home alone for dinner.  It was quiet and lonely…   :( For the past several years bebe dada’s been involved in a fundraising committee for a large charity in our county, and last night was the kick-off planning meeting for their annual winter gala. I slightly dread these evenings when he’ll be home late (or if he’s traveling) because it means the...

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Sauteed Pea Sprouts

Sauteed Pea Sprouts

  Sauteed pea sprouts always seemed foreign to me.  It’s a dish that I love, but one that I’d only eat if I ordered it at a Chinese restaurant.  It turns out pea sprouts are really easy to cook and enjoy at home. A few months ago we went to visit bebe E’s paternal grandparents on a day when my mother-in-law, whom we refer to as “Yin Yin” (paternal grandmother in Chinese), made pea sprouts.  How lucky for us...

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Tororo (Grated Japanese Mountain Yam)

Tororo (Grated Japanese Mountain Yam)

  This post is for you, my friend on the islands!  :) Since I still have 1/2 a yamaimo left in the fridge after making yamakake soba for lunch, I made tororo (seasoned, grated Japanese mountain yam) as a side dish. It’s basically a bowl of grated and seasoned Japanese mountain yam.  Simple and delicious with good umami. My Mom used to make tororo for us as a side dish and it was always such a treat. I must have been a weird kid...

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