Sukiyaki

Hello. It is raining today. The forecast said this gloomy weather will last till next week. Too bad...

Yesterday, I cooked sukiyaki using the beef I won. It was really delicious!!!

Anyway, I have a very bad fortune today. This morning, my braces broke, I forgot my cell, the train delayed for 15 min, I heared that my cake I sent for the submission was hard when it arrived, and I lost the yodoran contest, which I really wanted to win. I somehow felt I'm gonna lose, because there is a certain rule that the same person won't win in a row... but kind of shocking if you make an effort, you know!!!

Hope the rest of my day ends peacefully :(

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Sukiyaki

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30min
Number of servings: 3-4

Ingredients:
400g (0.8lb.) thinly sliced beef
1 yaki-dofu (grilled tofu)
8 musubi shirataki (bundles of translucent konnyaku noodles)
6 shitake mushroom
2-3 long green onion
1 nama-fu (fu is made from wheat gluten which absorbs the broth)
200g (0.4lb.) shungiku (garland chrysanthemum)
beef fat (or cooking oil)
1 cup (200cc) warishita (commercially available sukiyaki sauce)
fresh raw eggs if desired

Quick recipe for "warishita": 1/3cup sake, 1/3cup mirin, 1/2 cup soysauce, 3tbsp sugar, 1/2cup dashi broth.

Directions:
1. Cut yaki-dofu into bite sized pieces. Boil musubi shirataki 2-3 minutes in order to skim the scum. Remove stems and cut shitake mushrooms into half. Cut long green onion into 7cm (2.5inches) slices on the diagonal. Cut nama-fu into bite sized pieces. Cut shungiku into half.

2. Melt beef fat in Nabe (large casserole) and move around to oil the entire base. Cook few slices of long green onion, add beef, cover and steam until half-cooked. Then remove the beef and set aside.

3. Add vegetables and "warishita", and simmer until half-tender. Then put back the beef and simmer until everything is done.



If desired, serve with beaten fresh raw eggs.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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We dip sukiyaki into beaten fresh raw eggs to eat!
I don't like raw eggs, though...

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My Accomplishments

Hi! We are blessed with fine weather every day. I wish we could have more new year's holidays!!! My work started from yesterday :(

Today, I will list the rest of my accomplishments last year.

On 12/13, I received a copy of recently released Taiwan version of sweet recipes book which of the Japanese version was published by Cookpad in 2006/11. My recipe (Ginger Cheese Pancake Christmas Tree) is on this book, too. Can jose read this?




On 12/25, my Spiral Salmon with Black Vinegar Sauce using black vinegar won 3 bottles of black vinegar juice! This recipe is very healthy and interesting ;) I rolled nutmeg seasoned cottage cheese and shiso (Japanese basil) with smoked salmon, and poured dashi flavored black vinegar sauce.



On 12/26, I won a family award at Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg)'s contest. I hope I won... I mean, my name wasn't listed on their website but on their e-mail newsletter, which was confusing...






Last week, I counted the numbers of awards I received in 2008 and found not that many... I have been trying this contest stuff for about 3 years, but maybe it might be time to go on to the next step! Will see... I will try to move on this year!
But every time when I feel a pressure in my life, I try to think that I should be happy being healthy. Why do I want further?!

Changing my story, yesterday, I saw on the news that Wedgewood went bankrupt! Couldn't believe it!!! I wasn't that fan of the brand, but I feel sad since I knew the name for a long time...
Waterford Wedgwood files for bankruptcy

We don't know what might happen the next :(
Best wishes for our future!!!

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My Accomplishments

Hello. The wind is in the south, so we have very warm and comfortable temperature. Needless to say, it is going to rain in the afternoon :(

As usual, I will list my recent accomplishments.

On 11/7, I finally won the grand prize at QBB's cheese recipe contest! QBB is a company located in Kobe. They manufacture and sell cheese and milk products. Also they sell nuts, margarine, and chocolates (such as Lindt). Every year they ask people for recipes using their products. I have been applying for this contest since 2006, and finally I did it! My awarded recipe is "Cheese in Pork Ball, Black Vinegar Sauce".

On 12/1, I won the cranberry award at Cookpad's cranberry recipe contest. The top prize was Home Bakery which I wrote before. Like I said, I put a lot of effort into it, but it was just my luck... Anyway, my "Chinese Style Cranberry Steamed Rice" was awarded.




On 12/1, my "Christmas Shiratama Dumplings, Healthy Tofu Custard" was posted on Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg)'s website. They asked me and others who regularly post recipes to create sample Christmas recipes using their egg. Shiratama is mochi-like dessert dumplings. I poured a mixture made from tofu + egg + sugar + vanilla flavoring. It really tastes like custard ;)

Then on 12/3, my seasoning recipe received a prize at kondateclub: the site introduces seasonal dishes. Every month, they ask for some recipes based on a topic. I sometimes apply for it, but I never got a grand prize and this time as well. I need to try again. My awarded seasoning is balsamic vinegar + sesame oil. It is really good! I have some recipes using this seasoning:
- Italian Gimbap
- Italian Japanese Natto
- Japanese Balsamic Salmon Tartar Sandwich
- Sesame Balsamic Cream Cheese Sandwich
Sorry, those recipes are in Japanese...

This week I was going to translate my recipe but didn't have a chance to :( I will try the next week!

Yesterday, I had eyelash extensions done! 55 eyelashes for each! They last for 10-30 days depending on how you care!!! You can't use mascara, scrub your eyes, sleep on your tummy... etc. Honestly, too much to care! To keep beauty is not easy.

Again, I'm gonna see my friend after a long time this afternoon. Hope it won't rain hard...
Have a good weekend :)

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My Accomplishments

It is very sunny here in Tokyo! We expect no rain for a week or so! But the sky is not clear... It's smoggy a little.

Okay. Today, I will list my accomplishments!

On 7/12, I won 2 dozen of Kirin Ichiban by submitting my Chinese recipe: Stir-Fried Chili Bean Sprout! It wasn't a contest, so I was just lucky enough to win :)
Surprisingly, my boyfriend was really happy with it! I asked him why and he told me that the beer I used to serve him was Happoshu (low-malt beer)! I don't drink beer, so I didn't realize it until then!!!

On 7/17, I won the grand prize at the Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg) contest! This was my second time to win the top prize :) This time, they asked for the summer sweet recipes using their eggs, and I submitted my "Danish French Toast with Lemon Sauce"! I wrote that I went to the cafe on 7/21, which was the prize.


On 7/21, I won "the Idea Pon Award" at Cookpad's Ajipon recipe contest. Ajipon is Mizkan's citrus seasoned soy sauce! They asked for stir-fried recipes using it and I submitted my "Ajipon Stir-Fried Colorful Vegetables".





On 7/28, I won 2 awards at mozuku recipe contest organized by Itoman Mozuku Sangyo in Okinawa. Mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) is noodle-like seaweed which is mainly produced in Okinawa. My "Mozuku and Nameko Soup Rice Bowl" won the second prize (outstanding performance award) and my "Ginger Vinegar Marinated Mozuku Tomatoes" won the third prize!

Then today, on 7/30, my "Watermelon Broiled Eels on Rice" was introduced in the Cookpad's e-mail newsletter as an amazing summer treat recipe ;)







I'm changing my story! Speaking of summer, we need to be careful of food poisoning! There was a news that 5 people fell ill with food poisoning at a yakiniku restaurant! The source of food poisoning was Campylobacter! It is said that chicken is the most common food implicated as the source of Campylobacter contamination. Any raw poultry - chicken, turkey, duck, goose, game fowl - meat and its juices may contain Campylobacter, including organic and “free range” products. We Japanese sometimes eat those raw, so we need to be careful, or cook thoroughly!!!

Tonight, my boyfriend doesn't need dinner, so I am kind of lazy not cooking anything!
It's OK sometimes ;)

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Hikarin Cafe

Hello! We are having high 90's almost daily!
The heat from the ground is steamy like a sauna and makes me dizzy :(
Because of the heat or not, I was extremely drowsy this morning that I fell back to sleep... Also, I dozed off while standing on the train... I'm okay now though!

Yesterday, the third Monday in July, was Marine Day (a holiday) in Japan!
My boyfriend and I went to Odaiba to go to the "Hikarin Cafe". It is a cafe opened by Nosan Corporation which is famous for their Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg)! I wrote about them often since I won some prizes at their contests every season.
Last week, I again won a prize, "the grand prize", and received lunch for two at their cafe! That's why we went there ;)

The cafe is open from 7/19-8/31, for a limited time only. They have an anti-aging food platter for adults and a well-balanced food platter for kids! Moreover, they have many different kinds of sweets and drinks. They all use healthy ingredients including their eggs!

The cafe was kind of crowded, but we could seat without waiting, which was good! It was a bright white cafe with a lot of cute images of Hikarin, the character of Yodoran, on the windows. There were some of my recipes in their handmade recipe books displayed there! We had a good relaxing time!

Moreover, there are many entertaining places in Odaiba. At the DECKS Tokyo Beach, there is a place called DAIBA 1-CHOME SHOUTENGAI (image on the right) where you can time-trip to Showa era (1950s). Also, there is a SEGA amusement theme park called Tokyo Joypolis.

On this day, there were a lot of people going to Fuji TV's "Odaiba Boukenou Final". I have no idea what that is, but it seems like popular with kids.

If you have a chance to visit Tokyo this summer, Odaiba is a place you want to go ;)

And lastly, you know what!? My bracket broke off again...
No more 3s!!!

Okay, I have another thing to write, but maybe tomorrow.
Good night!

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My Accomplishments

Hello! It is sunny today! Hope it lasts.

Today, I will list my recent accomplishments.

In March, I wrote that I passed to the finals and create drink recipes using camu camu juice concentrate for a Peruvian restaurant called "Miraflores".
I won the grand prize!!!
The prize winning recipe is CAMU CAMU BEER, which is very easy!
You put 1tbsp of camu camu juice concentrate in a glass, pour 175cc of beer, and garnish it with mint leaves.
The sour taste of camu camu matches the beer perfectly; very refreshing!
It is going to be served at the restaurant in the near future.

Then again, I won the special award at the Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg) recipe competition by Nosan Corporation.
This time they asked for the recipe using their brand-new mayonnaise and Yodoran.
I think this is my fourth time to win this contest. Once I won the top prize, but the rest were the specials though.
I made kabobs using boiled eggs and chicken fillet with 'cod ovum-mayonnaise mixture' and aonori on top.
It is rich in flavor but not greasy because I used the chicken fillet!

Then yesterday, I won a special prize at Suntory's contest using their tennensui (Southern Alps natural mineral water). The contest was held at Cookpad (recipe site).
They asked for rice bowl recipes that use their water to cook rice and toppings. The rice bowl I made is not that special. I just cooked what I had in my refrigerator: ground meat, enoki, and natto with miso and vinegar seasonings.

Last but not least, I advanced to the finals of the survival food contest which I mentioned before! The finals will be held at Tokyo Big Sight on June 7th! I hope I can enjoy.

You know what?! I am unlucky with money!
Very funny, but I am losing all the money related prizes.
Of course, money isn't everything though.

Speaking of money, yesterday morning, I calculated my expenses because the receipt papers bulged my wallet and wanted to throw them away.
It's been a month since I last calculated, so the figures didn't add up.
5,060yen was missing!!!
I couldn't remember what I bought in a snap, so it couldn't get out of my mind for a whole day...
Anyway, I finally remembered in the evening! I added 5,000yen that I borrowed from my boyfriend. When I returned, I just subtracted the same amount, which made my expenditure plus minus zero!
But not sure about 60yen, hmm...

Sorry for the details...
Better not borrow or lend money!

I'm drowsy now.
Good night.

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My Accomplishments

Today, I am very upset about my supervisor.
We three run websites.
My supervisor and my co-worker (both men) got promoted but I didn't.
It is not fair!!!
Is it just because I'm a woman?

Anyway! Just for a change, I will list my accomplishments.

On March 21st, I won an outstanding performance award at metabo-help.com.
They asked for recipes to fight metabolic syndrome. My award winning recipe is "Salty-Sweet Miso Fried Daikon Radish and Almonds". The miso I used is Tenmenjyan, which is sweet miso of China. Daikon Radish and Almonds are high in vitamines and mineral. There are abundance of oleic acid and magnesium in Almonds.
Hope this recipe is good for anti-obesity!

On April 26th, I won a special award at the egg recipe competition again.
This competition was organized by Nosan Corporation, the producer of "Yodoran" Hikari brand of iodine-enriched eggs.
This time, they put out a call for spring bento recipes that use "Yodoran".
I made "Easy Spring Soboro Mazezushi".
It is sushi rice mixed with soboro (Japanese dish, usually made with minced chicken) and vegetables.
I cut the usuyakitamago (crepe style fried egg) into flower shapes using a cookie
cutter and decorated on top.
My boyfriend loved it, because he likes soboro gohan ;)

On April 28th, I won Tomisen award.
Tomisen is a website that deliveres homemade soba (or udon).
Their soba and it's sobajiru (stock sauce for soba or udon) have an authentic flavor.
Therefore, they asked people to use their sobajiru for other recipes.
I created "Sobajiru Marinated Tomatoes".
The recipe is similar to my Dashi Marinated Tomatoes.
I soaked peeled cherry or grape tomatoes in sobajiru.
They were juicy and delicious!!!
The recipe was so easy that I didn't expect to receive an award though.

Then on April 28th, my "Ethnic Style Stir-Fried Beef and Vegetables" was introduced at Vegete's website.
I wrote about vegete before.
This time, Asahi put out a call for recipes to go with the beer, that could be made
within 30 minutes.
I used a lot of vegetables that enhance stamina to enjoy drinking :)

Okay, time to go.
Might see you next week... hopefully tomorrow!

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My Accomplishments

After the thunderstorm on Friday, the weather has changed to spring!
It is getting warm day by day! Hope it lasts.

Yesterday, I was so busy that I couldn't have a chance to write my diary. Actually, this week, I am going to attend PHOTO IMAGING EXPO 2008 on the 19th and we have a national holiday on the 20th, so I might not coming back to keep my diary, but don't forget about me :)

Anyway, yesterday, I was terribly out of luck :(
I found that I lost prizes at 4 contests held at cooking sites.
To tell the truth, I am doing poorly these few months...
Am I storing the luck???

Whatever!
I will list some of my recent events.

On 2/24, I won a special award at Valentine's Day egg recipe competition.
This competition was organized by Nosan Corporation, the producer of "Yodoran" Hikari brand of iodine-enriched eggs. I made White Chocolate Cranberry Brownies using 3 eggs to give a moist texture.
My sister loved it!
Might be good for Easter, too.

On 3/3, I won a fighting-spirit award at nabe photo contest.
This was organized by Commupla, the community site for women.
I made Cod Fish And Pork Nabe Flavored with Sichuan Pepper.





On 3/11, I won a B prize at sweet treats contest held by Kyoritsu Foods ( food manufacturer).
I decorated a chocolate bar with sugar sprinkles.



I have three more... but I'm not that satisfied with the results, so I won't write.

Different story.

Now my recipe, using Kagome's basic canned tomato sauce product, become a recipe sticker, and available on the can!
The recipe is Healthy Tomato Tantan Harusame.
It is sesame and the tomato sauce based stir fried harusame.


Okay, I wrote enough and kind of drowsy now.
See you again with happy news, hopefully.

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