Updated Blogger Interface

This morning, I realized that there is a link to an updated Blogger interface. To tell the truth, I don't like this kind of change since it takes me a while to get used to it... so I was afraid to click on it... (like when they changed the design template, it was so complicated that I postponed to use it for a year).

Anyways, I didn't want to be left behind, so I tried it right away!

It was cool! The statistic stuff was really interesting :D I liked it!!!

BTW, the typhoon is moving really slow, so we expect the storm (delayed) on Saturday X( Too bad that I feel like I can't go to the Hello Kitty exhibition in Ginza...

I hope I can attend the hula class tonight.

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VIDEO RESPONSE runnyrunny999's Curry Flavored Chicken Wings

Did you watch runnyrunny999's Curry Flavored Chicken Wings already?!
Few weeks ago, I placed an order of "manly dish" at runnyrunny999's channel and he made me one that my darling can make :D

So, my darling made it ♥



---------------------------------
runnyrunny999's Curry Flavored Chicken Wings

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30min (including cooking time)
Number of servings: 4

Ingredients:
8 chicken wings
A
* 1 tbsp. sake
* 1 garlic clove, grated
* 1 tsp. curry powder
* 2 tbsp. soy sauce
* salt & pepper
honey

Directions:
1. If you prefer, make a cut along the bone of each chicken wing to make it easier to eat. Mix A in a bowl.
2. Put the chicken wings and the seasonings in a Ziploc bag, marinate, and let them marinate for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 250C (482F).
3. Place the chicken wings on the grill, spoon the sauce over the wings, and bake for about 15 minutes. (Depending on the heat of the oven, cooking time may differ, so please watch out.)
4. Brush honey over the wings and continue to bake for 5 minutes until crisp.
---------------------------------

Thank you runny-san!!! It was delicious :D

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Typhoon #12

Typhoon #12 is approaching Tokyo.

We have a nice weather this morning but we expect a bad weather from this afternoon till Friday (storm on Friday), since the typhoon is moving slow X(



I hope the storm won't last till Saturday. Our weekends were almost rain this month!

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Umi Budo

Do you know Umi Budo?

It's a type of seaweed from Okinawa also known as sea-grapes or green caviar.



It was very interesting to know that you can't keep this in the fridge but at the room tempreture. Also, you can't marinate it but dip in the sauce to eat.



My sister said she likes to eat it with soy sauce but I think it was salty enough to eat as is.

You can find nicer pics on the Net since I received this near the expiration date... LoL

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Vegetarian Kinpira - Video Recipe

I received many requests for Japanese vegetarian foods, so here is the one!
I made my popular recipe which I have already received 300 photo reports saying it was good, so I hope you like it ;)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BkKRmbtY2o

Kinpira is mostly seasoned with soy sauce, mirin (sweet sake), and sugar so it is pretty sweet, but instead of using sugar, I used ketchup, so my recipe is tasty ;) Also, I didn't use gobo (burdock root) but commonly available vegetables (such as potato, onion, and green pepper), so I hope you can try it out!!!



BTW, soy sauce is made by fermenting soya beans, so it is a vegetarian seasoning :D

---------------------------------
Vegetarian Kinpira

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

Ingredients:
150g (5.3oz.) potato
50g (1.8oz.) onion
50g (1.8oz.) carrot
35g (1.2oz.) green pepper
A
* 2 tbsp. ketchup
* 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
* 1/2 tbsp. sake
* a pinch of sugar
2 tsp. sesame oil

Directions:
1. Cut potato green pepper and carrot into short and thin strips. Slice the onion.
2. Heat sesame oil in a frying pan, and fry onion until fragrant. Add potato and carrot, and stir-fry until browned (2 minutes). Add green pepper and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
3. Add A in the pan and stir-fry until the seasonings blend.

↓レシピ（日本語）
http://cooklabo.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_29.html
---------------------------------

It goes great with white rice!!!

BTW, did any of you realized that I misspelled the title "Kimpira" in my video... I couldn't re-upload the video once it's published to everyone, so I need to be careful X(

Anyways, enjoy ;D

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Tom Yum Goong

I am finally posting something about last Saturday. It's already Friday! I can't believe it!!!

So on Saturday my darling and I've been to a Thai food restaurant called "Tom Yum Goong (トムヤムクン)" near home. I heard their Thai food is delicious, and it was TRUE!!! There were two Thai ladies in the kitchen and we were amazed by how fast they cook. hehe



Of course we ordered their popular menus♥

Paoh Peay Sod


Stir-Fried Shrimp and Broccoli (their special menu flavored with oyster sauce)


Pad Gapao Gai (Thai Basil Chicken)


Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (Green Curry with Chicken)


All foods were authentic and tasty! I think their Nampler (Fish Sauce) is different!

Since they are located too close, we postponed to visit there but we should have gone there sooner!!! We will definitely go back again!!!

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Tōrō Nagashi (灯篭流し)

We have uncertain weather these days. I think it rained all days last week like rainy season.

On Saturday (8/20), we had Tōrō Nagashi (灯篭流し) event near home. It was postponed to that day since it rained hard on Friday.

Tōrō nagashi (灯籠流し) means to flow lantern. It is a Japanese ceremony in which participants float paper lanterns (chōchin) down a river. This is primarily done on the last evening of the Bon Festival: festival based on the belief that this guides the spirits of the departed back to the other world.

The boat in the river carried all the lanterns. Sorry for the bad quality...





My darling and I don't have a tradition of doing this, so we watched the lanterns floating along the river. They were beautiful but the flow of the river was so slow that they were still.



Do you have any traditional event in summer in your country?!

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Prune And Banana Yogurt Cake - Video Recipe

This is my favorite healthy high-fiber cake using prune and banana ;) Prune prevents an iron deficiency. Yogurt is good for your intestines.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzlvRBQcYl4

When I say healthy, it doesn't mean fat-free or sugar-free because moderate amount of fat and/or sugar is not at all bad for your health, and makes the cake tasty delicious :D



You can substitute the prune with apple! Yummy, too!!!

Happy beauty cake for women!!!

---------------------------------
Prune And Banana Yogurt Cake

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 45min
Number of servings: 20cm (8inch) pie dish

Ingredients:
100g (3.5oz.) prunes
1 banana
50g (1.7oz.) butter
5 tbsp. sugar
2 eggs
150g (5.2oz.) plain yogurt (unsweetened)
100g (3.5oz.) flour
1 tsp. baking powder
butter
flour
powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees C (392 degrees F). Butter and flour a 20cm (8inch) pie dish.
2. Thinly slice banana. Tear prunes into small bits. Keep butter in room temperature.
3. In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar. Then add eggs and plain yogurt and mix until smooth.
4. Sift in flour and baking powder a small amount at a time, and mix well.
5. Pour half of the mixture in the dish, arrange prune bits and banana slices on the mixture, pour the remaining mixture over them.
6. Bake at 200 degrees C (392 degrees F) for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned. (Depending on the heat of the oven, cooking time may differ, so please watch out.)
7. You can either eat at room temperature or chilled! Lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve with a scoop or vanilla ice cream if you want ;)

↓レシピ（日本語）
http://cooklabo.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_12.html
---------------------------------

It was really interesting that people liked my talking oven. hehe

Talking oven is kind of standard in Japan. Especially when you get a Microwave Oven it talks. LoL

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Katsu Curry - Video Recipe

Katsu Curry (we call it Katsu Kare) is Japanese curry and rice with Tonkatsu. I received many requests for this recipe, so I finally cooked it :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtQ58knNt2U

Instead making regular Tonkatsu, I made it with cheese in between. Yummy :)



I hope you all like it!!!

---------------------------------
Katsu Curry

Difficulty: Medium
Time: 45min
Number of servings: 6

Ingredients:
((Cheese Tonkatsu))
12 thinly sliced pork for Shogayaki (ginger pork)
2 slices of cheese
salt and cracked black pepper
* flour
* beaten egg
* Panko (bread crumbs)
vegetable oil for frying
((Katsu Curry and Rice))
6 Tonkatsu
150g (5.3oz.) thinly sliced pork
300g (10.5oz.) onion
250g (8.8oz.) potato
120g (4.2oz.) carrot
850cc water
115g (4.4oz.) House Vermont Curry (medium hot) *Japanese curry roux
1 tbsp. cooking oil
6 servings steamed Japanese white rice
Fukujinzuke (relish for Japanese curry) if preferred
parsley flakes

Directions:
((Cheese Tonkatsu))
1. Cut each sliced cheese into three. Sandwich the cheese with 2 slices of pork for each Tonkatsu and season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Flour the pork lightly, dip in beaten egg, then coat with Panko. Use one hand for coating flour and Panko, and use the other to dip in egg to keep one of your hands dry.
3. Fry them in oil at 170C (340F) until cooked golden brown. (Turn the pork over to cook evenly.) Remove the Tonkatsu from the oil and drain.
((Katsu Curry and Rice))
1. Use House Vermont Curry (medium hot) or you can substitute it with any other Japanese curry roux!
2. Cut thinly sliced pork into bite size pieces. Slice onion. Cut potato and carrot into bite-size pieces.
3. Heat cooking oil in a large stew pot, saute the sliced onion over medium heat until it softens. Then add the pork.
4. When pork is cooked, add potato and carrot, add 850cc water, bring to a boil, skim the scum, cover, and turn the heat down to low and cook for about 15 minutes. (You can add a consomme cube and/or laurel leave if you prefer.)
5. Turn off the heat, add House Vermont Curry (medium hot) curry roux, and mix well until completely melted. Then put on the heat and simmer for about 7 minutes until thickened.
6. Cut Tonkatsu into bite size pieces.
7. Serve curry on a hot bed of rice and Tonkatsu pieces, sprinkle parsley flakes, and garnish with Fukujinzuke if desired.

↓レシピ（日本語）
http://cooklabo.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_23.html
---------------------------------

Thank you for watching!!!
I am really happy to hear when people say they like it :)

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Aoyama 2nd Love Couple Running

Yesterday, my darling and I joined Aoyama 2nd Love Couple Running event at Tokyo National Stadium (国立競技場).



We ran 8km (5miles) including 3 Love Zones: piggyback zone, three-legged zone, and holding hands zone♥♥♥

It was nice and cool at high 21C (69F) yesterday, so we had a good run. We all received the Love award :D



How was your weekend?!

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Something GROSS! Ew!!!

Last night, my darling and I had a dinner at an izakaya and ordered spareribs. (This image was on their menu...)



What we got was this X( Ew...



There was no meat but fat!!!

It was a Japanese izakaya, so we kept on thinking for a while if this is for real or not. But we finally thought who the heck eats this and said we can't eat or pay for this...

Later, the store manager came to us and apologized but he was really skinny that we couldn't believe he likes this...

The other foods were fine, but this dish was pretty weird X(

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I Just Texted to Say I Love You

Hey girls! Is this you?! haha

My darling showed me this vid and said it's like me but I am not this addicted.

Anyways, this is really funny! You gotta watch it!!! LoL



We have really bad weather today and on the weekend, too. We are going to attend the marathon event on Sunday... I hope it won't rain X(

Have a good weekend!!!

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My Accomplishments

Oops. My June and July accomplishments were missing… why?! because I didn't win that many prizes. haha

On 6/10, my Dashi Omelette Rice was published in a food magazine called Lettuce Club (6/25 issue). I used dashi powder and soy sauce. It's juicy and easy to eat even if you are full ;D

On 6/30, my Yummy Stir-Fried Cabbage won the award for excellence at TAKARA's Shochu (Japanese distilled sake) recipe contest. Sprinkled ground pork gives rich and nice flavor :D

On 7/8, I won the award for excellence at Yakitori Ryuho's (やきとり竜鳳）Yakitori recipe contest. My winning recipe was Yakitori Avocado Egg Sandwich :D They have 3 more contests coming, so I wish to win the grand prize one day!!! I'll try my best.

There were only few contests from April to June after 311 since there has been a mood of voluntary restraint nationwide for such an event. However, July and August are different. I had a lot to apply in July and the same for August!!! Busy in the kitchen creating for contests and also for my YouTube videos. I think I am spending most of the time for YouTube as you know… I try to create 2 videos a week. haha

Anyways, I hope I receive good news someday… since I don't recently. sigh...

Good luck to me X(

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Katsu Sando (BEST Tonkatsu Sandwich Recipe) - Video Recipe

Katsu Sando is Cutlet Sandwich. It is perfect for Bento (lunchbox item) and potluck parties, too!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmkdRm85kGU

Instead of using boneless pork chops, I used thinly sliced pork! In this way, you don't have to pound the meat to tenderize ;D



---------------------------------
Katsu Sando

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 25min
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
((Tonkatsu))
8 thinly sliced pork
salt and ground black pepper
* flour
* beaten egg
* Panko (bread crumbs)
vegetable oil for deep frying
((Katsu Sando))
2 Tonkatsu
4 slices of bread
butter
whole-grain mustard
shredded cabbage
Tonkatsu sauce

Directions:
((Tonkatsu))
1. Layer 4 slices of pork to make 1 Tonkatsu and season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Flour the pork lightly, dip in beaten egg, then coat with Panko. Use one hand for coating flour and Panko, and use the other to dip in egg to keep one of your hands dry.
3. Deep fry them in oil at 170C (340F) until thoroughly cooked golden brown. (Turn the pork over to cook evenly.) Remove the Tonkatsu from the oil and drain.
((Katsu Sando))
1. Brush one side of 4 slices of bread with butter. Brush one side of 2 slices of bread with whole-grain mustard. (You can toast the bread if you like.)
2. Sandwich the Tonkatsu with shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce.
3. Cut into 2-3 pieces. You can cut off the crusts if you prefer. Mostly the crusts are off when sold at stores in Japan.

↓レシピ（日本語）
http://cooklabo.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_17.html
---------------------------------

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