pomera

pomera is a portable digital typewriter. With this device, you can ONLY write the text, so you can concentrate on writing!



I use pomera (DM20) to write my recipe. I can write faster without the Internet distraction ;) hehe!



Anyway, I always ask my darling to take my pic but he always presses the button when I'm not ready (while I'm talking like below...)



Why?! Because I mostly ask him before our meal, so he is hungry X( Needless to say, he has to take me again! LoL :P



BTW, who takes your picture?!

Anyways, the movers came on Saturday morning and got competitive quotes from them. Surprisingly removal in the morning costs more than in the afternoon... And the cheapest was $600!!! We need to try more to reduce our stuff!!!

Busy Monday! Take care :D

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Stir-Fried Ginger Pork and Cabbage

I love cabbage because it is cheap and healthy!

This recipe is the absolute best use of cabbage. The cabbage blends together well with the pork and adds volume to the dish! A hint of ginger makes it more healthy and appetizing.

It goes perfect with white rice :D

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Stir-Fried Ginger Pork and Cabbage

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10min
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
250g (8.8oz.) thinly sliced pork
250g (8.8oz.) cabbage
1 tbsp. sake
A
* 50g (1.8oz.) grated onion
* 1 tbsp. grated ginger
* 2 tbsp. soy sauce
* 1 tbsp. honey or sugar
flour
cooking oil

Directions:
1. Cut thinly sliced pork and cabbage into bite-size, and lightly flour the pork.
2. Heat cooking oil in a frying pan, add pork and stir-fry until pink color is nearly gone (about 1 minute). Add cabbage, sprinkle sake, and continue cooking until cabbage is almost tender (about 3 minutes).
3. Add A and saute until coated and the sauce thickens slightly.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Enjoy!

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IH Rice Cooker

After many years, I finally won an IH (Induction Heating) Rice Cooker at the contest!!!



What I currently own is a micom (microcomputer) rice cooker. It is an electric rice cooker using direct heating method calculated by a built-in computer. The heat is delivered to the inner pot by thermal conduction. Thus, the heat applied to the rice is weak compared to the gas, so some people think it is better to cook in a pan than using a micom rice cooker.

In the hope of making electric cookers better than cooking with a gas, IH (induction heating) rice cooker was invented in 1988. An electric current is passed through coils around the pot and the pot's metal itself immediately heats up, so the entire pot quickly rises to a high temperature and cooks the rice evenly. To be sure, you can cook rice perfectly without soaking in water before cooking!



What I won is an IH rice cooker with an additional "pressure cooking" function (Sanyo ECJ-XW100). As seen in the image, the rice is stirred up by the pressure and cooked more evenly just like it cooked in the furnace!



Rice is the staple of Japan. There is no wonder most Japanese have a rice cooker at home. But our budget rice cooker (6 years ago) was micom so I kept on using it, hoping I could win the IH rice cooker someday, and now my dream came true!!! Anyway, I will keep my micom rice cooker because IH consumes a lot of electricity and I might not want to cook flavored rice with it because the flavored rice leaves the smell after cooking.

Anyways, I am happy that I can cook tastier rice at home!!!

Do you have a rice cooker at home?!

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The New Starbucks Logo

I finally got a chance to post about this! Did you already read about the news (on Jan 5th, 2011) that Starbucks would make a change to their company's logo, removing the Starbucks word-mark around the siren and enlarging the siren image itself from this coming spring?!



Are they just bringing everyone to the attention of their 40th anniversary (as a start) because of the economic slowdown?!

I know we can get used to it after a while, but I don't like this change since the new logo is not that eye-catching... I prefer it framed in the word-mark! or, I wish they don't serve bitter coffee anymore...



torresfelipe illustrated the future Starbucks logos on twitpic! A dot in the end?! LoL.



Anyways, what do you think about this logo change?!

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EVOLG

As I wrote before, EVOLG are the gloves that enable touch panel operation!

I got them online for my darling for Christmas (the black ones) and were really convenient, so I bought another pair for myself :D



Since they come in free sizes, they are little large for me, but at least I can take a phone call, it doesn't matter!



I love them!!!

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7 Issues on our Renovation

Last week, we had our condo rooms torn down.

Then on Saturday, we had a meeting with our contractor to talk about the renovation issues. Lucky or not, there were 7 of them X(



#1. Flooring
As I wrote before, we have to lift 10cm to apply the wooden plyboard floor (double flooring) which might make our room feel cramped and small. To save the height of the ceiling, our option is to apply cushion flooring (direct flooring), which can keep LL45 (sound insulation level). However, the cushion can sink if you walk or put heavy stuff on it. Thus, it can have gap between the floor after years.



#2. Air Pipe
A huge air pipe was running the hallway, so we have to lower the ceiling, which makes the space really cramped if we apply the double flooring...



#3. Water Pipes
To run the water pipes, we have to lift the bathroom flooring up to 15cm. Since the height to the ceiling is short, we are thinking of extending the bathroom area or not...



#4. Kitchen (water piping)
The kitchen used to be along the back wall, so to have a counter kitchen, we need to extend the water pipes from the side wall.

#5. Kitchen (air piping)
Also, we need the air pipe above the stove, so double ceiling is necessary. Our contractor said it does not look cramped, but it cost more X(



#6. Lavatory Pan
Due to the pipe laying (back side), we have to change the model of our lavatory pan (from TOTO Purest QR 4.8L to MR6L), which uses more water (1.2L more).



#7. Double Sash Windows
All windows in the room were double sash. It blocks out noise and temperature difference. It might cost more to keep them all since they are old and need some touch-ups.



Anyways, we have to decide on the flooring by Wednesday...
Hope we find the best answer!!!

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Bite-Size Jap Style Tonkatsu

New recipe is up today!

I rolled up a slice of pork with bacon and Japanese flavors: shiso leaf (Japanese basil) and umeboshi paste (pickled plum paste)! Actually, this tonkatsu has a pronounced flavor without any sauce (unlike the image).

Needless to say, it goes well with white rice. Perfect for bento meal :D

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Bite-Size Jap Style Tonkatsu

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15min
Number of servings: 6 pieces

Ingredients:
6 thinly sliced pork
6 half-size bacon
2 umeboshi (pickled plums)
3 shiso leaf (Japanese basil)
A
* flour
* beaten egg
* Panko (bread crumbs)
vegetable oil for frying
grape tomatoes if available

Directions:
1. Work with one slice of pork at a time. Place the slice of pork so that the length of it is running flat and vertically towards you. Place the half-size bacon and shiso leaf (cut in half) on top of the pork and spread umeboshi (remove the umeboshi seeds and mash) onto one side start rolling. Repeat with the remaining pork slices.

2. Flour the rolls, dip in beaten egg, then roll in panko. Fry them in oil at 180C (356F) until cooked golden brown.




My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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This week, we had our condo rooms torn down. I can't wait to see the contractor to discuss about the flooring!

Fingers crossed!!!

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変身写真

For our next trip overseas, I wish to visit 台湾 (Taiwan)! Day before yesterday I had a dinner with my ex-coworker and she showed me some pics taken at a photo studio in 台北 (Taipei) and were amazing!!! It is called 変身写真. You can be like a different person! Cute, glam, cool, etc...! For instance, you can be transformed into a doll (princess) with gorgeous background!!! And they are done at a low price!!!

The above pic is from my wedding dress-up. I edited it with PhotoFunia. 変身写真 looks something like this but is much more gorgeous!

I know there are many studios there. If anyone knows a good photo studio in Taiwan, please give me an advice :D

Also, I heard food in Taiwan is pretty good. Any good place to eat is welcome!!!

Not knowing when to go, though. lol

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What's Your Passion?

Lately, I found this question on Kym's post with an awesome quote.

"Passion is a pre-requisite. Without passion, you won't be successful. But you can't be stupidly passionate, you have to do your homework"



Needless to say, I have a passion for cooking.
Currently for our new home, and last year for our wedding, too! And at any time, I have a passion for my darling! Some of you know that I had a hard time before the engagement. haha. Also, the gym and the hula dancing!

I always believe, my passion will bring me the chance to attain the ideal. In other words, even if things are not going well as planned, they result BETTER if I try hard!

That's why, I am mostly passionate about everything around me. (I try not to be stupid, of course...)

BTW, some people ask me why I don't turn my cooking into a career. Answer is easy. I want to be passionate about it freely (from my viewpoint)! I think it'll be my hobby for a while longer.

What's Your Passion?

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Distracted...

Distracted by my own thought for the renovation (flooring), I sliced my hand (my thumb) with a slicer. OUCH!!!



My darling says there is never any need for ME to worry about it, but the contractor... yeah... I know! I am always like this X( I once ran a blender without a lid and messed up my kitchen because my mind was somewhere else.

Have you ever done anything careless like this?!

I really have to be careful!!!

Anyways, this glittering pink color makes me happy :D



It's my pen case which came with the kitson magazine. Nowadays, there are many magazines that come with huge gifts in Japan! I never paid for those but this one. hehe

Bye for now :)

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Start Date of Renovation and my Worries...

Today, our long-awaited renovation starts. I thought we were well prepared but my worries never seem to end X(

On Saturday, we went to see our new home once again before the renovation starts and realized that the height of the ceiling is not high enough to apply the wooden plyboard floor. To apply this, we have to lift about 2 or more inches from current condition which might make our room feel cramped and small.



All condos in Japan have a sound insulation control and we have to keep LL40 (sound insulation level) for the flooring. Thus, to reduce the thickness, some people use carpet or vinyl flooring.



I have to talk to our contractor to change our choice?! We made an appointment this weekend to discuss about it!

It is still cold and dry in Tokyo. My black fur beanie which I bought last year in spring at half price now became useful ;)



Have a good one!

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