Ratatouille Pizza

It is warm again today! The high is 68F (20C)! I hope this weather lasts...

Have you seen “Ratatouille"? It is a movie released in June, 2007. Last summer, there was a contest related to this movie and my "Ratatouille Pizza" won the Second Prize! I will translate the recipe since it is fun for your party ;)


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Ratatouille Pizza

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30min
Number of servings: 25cm (10inch) pizza

Ingredients:
100g (3.5oz.) eggplant
100g (3.5oz.) zucchini
100g (3.5oz.) diced tomato can
50g (1.8oz.) green bell pepper
50g (1.8oz.) red bell pepper
50g (1.8oz.) onion
0.5 clove garlic
1 dried bay leaf
0.5 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. olive oil
25cm (10inch) pizza dough
sliced cheese
red bell pepper rings
black olive slices
thin strips of green bell pepper

Directions:
1. Dice eggplant, zucchini, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onion. Soak the diced eggplant in water to remove the oxalic acid and drain.


2. In a pan, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil, add the diced onion and dried bay leaf, stir until onion softens. Add diced eggplant, zucchini, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper, cook over medium heat.

3. Add another tbsp. olive oil, stir well. Add diced tomato can, crushed garlic, and salt, stir to combine. Then cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Uncover and cook until the liquid evaporates, season with salt if needed.




5. Spread 4. on the pizza dough.





6. Cover 5. with sliced cheese. Place in the oven at 400F (200C) and cook until cheese softens and crust is golden on bottom.



7. Draw Remy's face with black olive slices, red bell pepper rings, and thin strips of green bell pepper.




My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Enjoy!!!

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Kiyose Carrot Recipe Contest

Hi! The high today is 68F (20C)! It was nice and warm this weekend, too. But the forecast said we will experience a drop in temperature later in the week.

On Saturday, I attended the cook-off final of the Carrot Recipe Contest in Kiyose-city, Tokyo. Kiyose-city is No.1 carrot producer in Tokyo. Kiyose Chamber of Commerce asked for carrot recipes and there were 26 finalists on this day!!! The contest was something like a block association event and most finalists were Kiyose residents! Ha-ha. I am glad that the lady I met last week (at ANDERSEN Bread Contest) came on this day!
My boyfriend came with me, but unfortunately he couldn't enter the kitchen (so he couldn't take pictures of me). He had to wait for an hour at the waiting room, which was too bad.
The lady from Gifu prefecture who made "Carrot Bomb Clear Soup" won the grand prize! Unfortunately, mine (Stir-Fried Pork with Salty Sweet Grated Carrot) didn't win any prize, but I enjoyed a lot. We tasted all 26 dishes after the awarding ceremony (bottom-right image). While tasting, I found some kids saying "yummy" eating mine, which was more than the prize ;)

After the contest, my boyfriend was bored stiff, so we decided to stop off at Ikebukuro station and have an early dinner. At the food mall of TOBU department store, there was a Challenge Menu Fair. Each restaurants and the students of 8 Universities have collaborated and created amazing "rice" dishes! We had Kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) at Ooedo. There I found Italian sushi (bottom-left image), which was the Challenge Menu of that restaurant! Also, I had anago (conger eel, bottom-right image), which is my favorite ;) We had a good time.

My boyfriend finally got back into a good mood, so we shopped around the department store. But I guess he was still tired... While I was shopping at Sanrio store I found him sitting and watching Elmo toy... Oh no... Of course, we went home right away!

Changing my story. Today, I won a grand prize at a contest but I lost the others which prizes were more attractive!!! It's just my luck!

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My Accomplishments

Hi! The weather forecast says it gonna be much colder from next week :( I need to put away my summer clothes! I still have them out!!!

Today, I will list my recent accomplishments.

On 10/31, I won the Bull-Dog Sauce Award at a contest held by bellemaison (online shop). They asked us to create some magical recipes using either of these sauce products: Ebara's Yakiniku Sauce, Heinz's White or Demi Glace Sauce, or Bull-Dog Sauce products. Luckily, my "Hamburger-Like Stir-Fried Colorful Vegetables and Minced Meat" won the prize :)

On the same day, I won the second prize at PoleStar's recipe contest. They asked for Japanese-style confectionery recipes using their sauce products!!! This was tough, but my "Misauce (Miso Sauce) Goheimochi" was chosen! Goheimochi is a mochi made by crushed rice, grilled over coals with miso based salty sweet sauce. To tell the truth, I once made it with the other sauce product but the recipe didn't receive a prize, so I retried it with PoleStar's sauce! Sometimes, I need to renovate my idea, I guess!!!

On 11/10, my Halloween recipe was elected to receive MONTEUR's character goods. MONTEUR is a store that sells cakes and sweet treats easy-on-the-pockets. I used their pumpkin waffle (limited time offer) to make ghosts.

Today I need to attend another cook-off!
I will write about it later ;)
I hope I can do well this time...

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Domaine des Bois Lucas

Hi! We have cloudless blue sky today! My runny & sore nose healed but seems like pills causing a blocked nose! My god...

Anyway, some of you might know but I rarely read books. (Maybe that's why I can't think things logically...) Well, one of my co-workers forced me to read a book one day. Since he didn't give up, I said okay, and read 10 minutes a day on the train. Took about a month to finish reading! Ha-ha.

The book was about Junko Arai, who bought a field in Loire (France) to make a biodynamic wine. She has a side job as a wine importer in Japan. I'm not interested in wine, but what amazed me is her vitality! She got the black belt for Karate when she was a college student. Then worked for a company in her 20's, using money for collecting cars and designer goods. But she quit the job and started to take some lessons, such as flower arrangement, tea ceremony, etc... Then one day, she got trapped in wine making. She entered University of Bordeaux to study zymurgy in her 30's. Then she ran a French restaurant in Japan, and held a workshop for wine lovers. However, one day, she was offered to purchase a field in France.

In 2001, she closed her restaurant and flew to France to start winemaking. Sorry in Japanese, but here is her winery info. I didn't know anything about winemaking, but her book explains about that, too. I never knew that the winemaking is such a hard work. I am impressed by her patience! She gives us hope to try something new and never give up!!!

Anyway, in her diary (on her HP), she wrote that she won the lottery to run Tokyo Marathon! She has good luck!!! Hope I can win at the second drawing in December...

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Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

It is getting cold! The high is around 57F (15C) but chilly with dry air. Time to use heavy hand cream, I guess...

This summer, I bought Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve (5.0 fl.oz.) in NY and now it's doing a great job ;) Last winter, I wrote about my hand care items. I still use them but never enough, you know!!! I use hand cream every time after my hand-wash, so I need to keep a stock!

Changing my story, this afternoon, I went to see ENT doctor while at work because I had a runny nose (it hurt) and couldn't concentrate on my work!!! The doctor said my nose is not that swollen but prescribed me some pills. Should I need to see him?! Hope so... I know it is always cheaper and better to see a doctor than taking pills bought at a drug store! I hope I can go to the GYM tomorrow!!!
I always wash my hands and gargle when I got home, by the way...

I'm gonna go to bed now.
See you again...

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ANDERSEN Bread Contest

Yesterday, I went to Hiroshima to attend the cook-off final of the ANDERSEN's bread contest! ANDERSEN is a bakery. They try to make the most of our “Hygge” (means cozy) time with friends, family or on our own eating bread. They asked us for anniversary recipes using their bread. There were 5 finalists. (amazingly, 4 of us including me were from Tokyo area!) I woke up at 3 in the morning, took shinkansen at 6, and arrived at Hiroshima at 10. But the other 3 said they came a day before and stayed a night in Hiroshima. That might have been a good idea!

The grand prix was awarded to the lady who made croissant fruit cake. She said she makes it for her kids when they do a great job! Mine and others' were the outstanding performance award. My recipe was "inside-out beef cutlet sandwich". Of course I made it for my boyfriend (for his birthday) ;)

After the contest, we had a open sandwich party with judges (the CEO joined us as well). Their open sandwiches were like sushi (with fresh vegetables, meat, fish etc...) and was really great!!! There were more than 10 kinds. I think we (participants) had no sense of shame... we divided all into small pieces and shared each other.

I came back to Tokyo at 10PM. I didn't even have time to sightsee in the city or go window-shopping but I had a good time.

It's a small world!!! Next week, I am going to see the grand prix winner at a different contest!

Okay. I gotta go now.
Good night!

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Beef Beer Curry and Rice

As it gets colder, I prefer to cook stew, curry, nabe, etc... to warm up. Today, I will translate one of my curry and rice recipes that my blog friend has requested ;)

I wrote this before, but in Japan, we use "curry roux" to make curry and rice. There are many different kinds of curry roux in Japan. For this recipe, I used Vermont Curry! It's a curry roux with a touch of apple and honey. I'm sure it is available in the U.S.! I found that House Foods America Corporation (HFAC) provides it!!! (Their Java Curry is good, too!)

Oh, remember! The "beer" I added softens the beef and makes the curry mild. It is more like stew and easy to eat. Please try it out!

Video Recipe Available :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nusdJYSErw



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Beef Beer Curry and Rice

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 45min
Number of servings: 5

Ingredients:
200g (0.45lb.) thinly sliced beef
200g (0.45lb.) onion
200g (0.45lb.) shimeji mushrooms
200g (0.45lb.) frozen edamame beans in pods
500cc water
200cc beer
125g (0.27lb.) Vermont Curry (Med-Hot) *Japanese curry roux
1 tbsp. cooking oil
salt
pepper
5 servings steamed Japanese white rice
grape tomatoes if desired

Directions:
1. Use Vermont Curry or you can substitute it with any other Japanese curry roux! Doesn't make a big change!



2. Cut thinly sliced beef into bite size pieces, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Slice onion. Remove tough base of shimeji mushroom and break into bite-sized chunks. Thaw and remove the edamame beans from the pods.

3. Heat cooking oil in a large stew pot, saute the sliced onion over medium heat until it softens. Then add the beef and shimeji mushrooms and saute together.



4. When mushrooms get soft, add 500cc water, bring to a boil, skim the scum, add 200cc beer, and turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for about 15 minutes.



5. Turn off the heat, add Vermont Curry curry roux, and mix well until completely melted. Then put on the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until thickened.



6. Add edamame beans, stir, and cook 3 more minutes.





7. Serve on a hot bed of rice, garnish with grape tomatoes if desired.




My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Is thinly sliced beef available in your country?
If not, I recommend to use bite size cut chicken! Any kind of meat is basically okay, though ;)

Oh no... too bad. I just received a message and knew that I lost the lottery to run Tokyo Marathon... Okay, I'll run at gym!!!

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Content Reduced Product...

The high is 68F (20C) but the air is dry, so it is really chilly in the morning and in the afternoon. I need to keep my hands moist with cream!!!

This cold weather makes me really sleepy. I thought I would doze off last night, so I went to bed immediately!

Anyway, I love granola bars. I sometimes buy Asahi's boxed granola bars (image on the left) when it's on sale. It's original price is about $3.15 (incl. tax) and used to sell at $1.65 (on sale) at drug stores, but after the rapid increase in crude oil prices, they kept the price at $1.99. Yet, I still think the price is attractive, so I bought some when they are at $1.99.
Last Sunday, I again found it at $1.99, so I bought 2 boxes... HOWEVER!!! When I opened the box, there were only 5 bars in the box! There should be 6!!! I thought I lost one or whatever, and looked around but still couldn't find it :( Then after a while, I checked the nutrition label and found that it states "5 bars per box"... sucks! They should reduce the size of the box as well!!! I don't think I'm gonna buy it anymore, at least I find it at $1.65...

My blog friend jo just had the similar experience!!!
Food Product Packaging Getting Chintzy! Tips For Saving A Buck!

Isn't it too bad!? I think now manufacturers make no bones about doing that by tacit agreement...

Changing my story. Do you know Tetsuya Komuro? I am very shocked to hear the news that he was arrested... I love his music and he was in my time.
Japanese music legend Komuro arrested for fraud

Few days ago, Hotmail changed it's inbox layout again :(
I know I will get used to it soon, but I hate this kind of change...

I hope something good may come soon!

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