Japan-Ease Keiko`s Delicious Recipes

My friends visited to N.Y from Japan

2010-09-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

I am so busy with my business and doing entertainment for my friend and their family who are visiting to N.Y. from Japan.
I have so many close friends in Japan and L.A.
Now, all my friends want to come to N.Y because I keep telling them "I love N.Y"
They know I loved L.A for 30years,then I changed my mind to N.Y.
They would like to know why I love N.Y so much.

In August, my friend and his family came to see me and we had wonderful time together.
I could show them Manhattan, N.J. Little Neck, Port Washington and Garden City.
We had delicious dishes in these cities. The best one was a Japanese restaurant in Port Washington. That sashime dish was great!

In these 4 months, I went to so many restaurants for checking the level of their dishes.

The web site of "Yelp" help me a lot when I go out for different country's restaurants. I can find out any kind of restaurants by 30 min driving in N.Y.

I really think about N.Y as " Melting pot with races"
People respect each cultures and enjoy it.
We can find the best one for every things in N.Y.

So, I don't forget my blog, but I am too busy to do so many exciting things.

In next month, another friends are coming to N.Y. from Tokyo.
I will report to you about restaurants which we go.
Sorry, I can't write about my recipes for a while.

Always Love

Keiko

Stuffed Bell pepper & Fluffy Tofu egg

2010-07-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

You know, I moved to NY in the end of April.
My new life, new challenge for myself with my middle age.
I think strongly " I made a right decision".

I lived in the same city of CAL for 25 years.
I loved the city and appreciated with my restaurant business for over 20 years in this community.
Beautiful surrounding and people, nice and safe neighborhood.
Most restaurants and shops are closed by 9~10 Pm.
After the time, whole city is keeping darkness and silence.

As a single Mother, the city was perfect to me for raising my son.
They had wonderful school district system.

I wanted to have some kind of romantic love experiences for these years.
But, never never happen to me in this conservative town.

Any way, I am in New York now!
I hope I can create a romantic love story in this exciting city.

Today, I would like to show two microwave dishes.
They are so delicious, quick and easy.
Because I am so busy with new circumstance, I am cooking my dishes with microwave.

* Stuffed bell pepper

Ingredient : 1 Red bell pepper ( large one)

A { 8oz ground beef, 1/3 cop minced onion, 2 Tbsp panko, 2 Tbsp milk,
SQ (small quantity) salt and pepper }----- Mix well

2 Tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese, 2 Tbsp olive oil, SQ flour, SQ grated cheese,
SQ parsley flakes

Sauce : Ketchup and worcester sauce

Direction : Cut the bell pepper into half lengthwise and clean up inside.
Dust inside the bell pepper with flour and stuff with well mixed A.
Coat all over the surface of meat and bell pepper with olive oil ~ softly wrap and
cook for 3~4 min in microwave. Take it out once and put the mozzarella cheese
on the beef ~ cook for 20 seconds and place it to your favorite plate.
Sprinkle the grated cheese and parsley~pour the sauce. Delicious !

* Fluffy Tofu egg

Ingredient : 1/2 silken tofu, 1 egg, 3 shiitake mushroom (thin slice), 2oz imitation crab,
1 leaf green onion (edge cut), 1 tsp water, 1tsp chicken bouillon powder,
1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar.

Direction : Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well ~ cover with wrap and cook in
microwave for 2 min and take it out ~mix again.
place on a plate~ Smile !

New York ! part 2

2010-06-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

I have to talk about New York again.
I lived in L.A for 30 years and I thought L.A is the best city in America.
No, No, No !
New York is more fun and exciting city.
This blog should talk about delicious Japanese dishes,
but I am too busy for finding food markets and good restaurants in my city.
I found beautiful "Manhasset Bay" in Port Washington.
They have a good sea food restaurant with this gorgeous view.

Since I moved to NY, I can't concentrate for my cooking,
so I am cooking easy easy noodle dishes.
I made "cold noodle salad" and Korean noodle "Chapuche" for my son.
I need more time for learning about New York.
I keep telling to my friends about how New york is wonderful.
My sister came here from Japan already.
We had wonderful time for shopping and eating delicious dishes at good restaurants.
My sister loved New York and she will come back again in a couple months.

So, my friends!
Please come to New York and enjoy these beautiful views.
Manhattan is not only one sightseeing place, we have many beautiful spots in NY.

See you soon.

Love

keiko

New York, New York, New York

2010-05-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

I moved to New York and enjoying so much with this new world.
I live in the town of 25 min driving from Manhattan and 5min from the beautiful Little Neck Bay.
Everything are different from L.A, Cal.
Best thing, I love the nature of N.Y.
Looks so strong with many many years of four seasons experiences.
I lived in L.A for 30 years with warm weather which I loved it.
Now, I have changed my mind, I am enjoying with every days different weather.
You never know how change the weather in next one hour.
Rain, lightning, wind and sunshine. Busy, busy busy for changing.
In winter time, I will see the snow which I never see for 30 years in L.A.

I think the people of N.Y are interesting to me.
When they are driving, they looks more roughly and passionate.
I heard so many horns from the back and side of my car which I don't know what wrong about it.
Now, I make a horn whenever I want to do, even with no reason.

I went to my son's best friends wedding party in Manhattan.
My son has many bankers and lawyers friends.
That was beautiful party with great dishes, dance and perfect illumination.
The people who came to the wedding party,
they looks so fashionable and keeping good body shapes.
In L.A, I saw so many overweight people who looks like a elephant.
In this wedding party, I never see these kind of persons.
They looks so intelligent and sophisticated people.
So anyway, I can't talk about delicious food today.
My kitchen and rooms are not in order yet.
I just want to talk about my new world of New York.
I never want to go back to C.A, I am so happy in N.Y.

I will talk about delicious foods soon.

Love Love

Keiko

My another 39 years old Birthday party

2010-04-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

I have to talk about my another 39 years old Birthday party on 03/12/2010.

I am going to move to New york for my new challenging exploration in this month.
So, I was so so busy for my moving preparation.

30 years ago, I came to L.A all by myself.
No friends, No family, No credit, No job, nothing, except my passion for my dream in America.

30 years later, I have too many things for myself.
As my treasure, my son, beautiful friends and my family's healthy body and minds, I appreciate so much and would love to keep them for long times.

But, my furniture, dresses, shoes, jewelry, art pictures and my favorite car "Jaguar",
I had to clean out most of them. I did it so hard for these 3 weeks ( except my car).I feel happy that I did it now, otherwise my son have to do these things after I die 45 years later.

I was so busy, but I made 3~4 parties with my family friends.
Big one was my another 39 years old Birthday party.
In last week, my favorite young friend's 37 years old Birthday party.
They are MBA students from Japan and another countries.

I cooked "Chanko Nabe"
"Chanko" mean "Japanese Sumo wrestler's meal"
They cooked chicken as main meat for "Chanko Nabe" because chicken stand up with two legs like our human.
They try to avoid beef and pork because they use four legs for standing and looks" bad luck" for Sumo wrestlers as "Lose figure"
I think, this is an old story.
Now they eat any kind of meats for "Chanko".

We had wonderful time together.
My young friends will create their great and successful life which I believe that.

If you don't run away from "yourself "when you have tough time in your life.( I am so sure, you will have tough time because that is our life)

Most scary thing is "yourself" in this world.
If you give up for "yourself", nobody can help you.

This is my strong principle for these 30 years as "A Single Mother" in America.

Next time, I will post my blog from New York.
I am so exciting with my new exploration!

Love Love

Keiko

Ome LACE (omelet ) with fried rice

2010-03-02T17:02:00.000-08:00

My appetite is getting better now.
Since I lost my Mom in last year, I could not eat too much food.
( I was drinking my favorite wine, so don't worry about my health)
Recently, I feel hungry so often.
I open my refrigerator and see what kind of ingredients I have for the day.
Then I decide which dish I will cook for my lunch and dinner.

I made Japanese favorite pasta "Neapolitan pasta"yesterday.
Japanese people named this dish from city of "Naples" at our discretion.
So even Italian people don't know about this pasta dish in Italy.
We don't use tomato ketchup for our Japanese dishes like American people.
Only for this dish, "tomato ketchup" play the lead to make "delicious pasta".

Today, I cooked an omelet with fried rice, Japanese people call "Omu rice".
When I cook the egg, I made it like " Lace" with my fingers.
This way looks so gorgeous and fun.
I think, I can use for sushi hand roll, rice ball and bento box as decoration.

When I am eating delicious dish, I always think about my son in New York.
I feel "guilty" for him because only I am eating great and delicious dishes every days.

I admire for my dish and my skill for cooking. " Oh my God, so Yummy~ !!"
This is "the truth" from my heart.
I am a so lucky person.

I will add another my favorite Korean dish " Chapuche"
Even my Korean friend who came from Korea admired " great taste! this is a Japanese style chapuche"

Enjoying delicious foods is the best in our life.

By the way, why I am still a single lady ?
Where is my boyfriend or husband ?
Something missing in my life.

Love

Keiko

Party and Quick beef and beansprouts

2010-02-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

Ishikari Nabe

I made three times home party in this month already.
I love to make home party and invite my great friends.
When I am cooking for them before they come,
I am thinking about their each characters.
Sometime, I remember our funny memories which we did together in our past.
I start to smile and laugh all by myself inside my kitchen.
I try to put lots of love (seasoning) inside my dishes for them.

Now party time!
We always have great time together.
I can enjoy my favorite wine with our wonderful conversation.
This is the best part of my home party, I don't have to drive back my car.

After the party is over, I just clean up lightly for the night.

Next morning, I love to see the mess on my table and kitchen.
I start to singing and try to remember anything amusing happening in last night.
When I am washing my dishes, I start to smile and laugh again.
Almost one hour of cleaning for my kitchen, I can enjoy with funny memories of the party.

I have special talent to find out some enjoyable things from anythings happen to my life.
When I own my Japanese restaurant, I had to clean up my customer's tables even I am the owner.
Because my customer were waiting for the table and my waiters were so busy with another customers. I smiled and start to clean the table with singing the word " Free exercise, free exercise, I am so lucky, I can lose my weight !"

I know how to enjoy and appreciate for my life.
Don't you think that we are so lucky because we can still keep enjoying our life until a phone call from our God "come back home"

Today, I will show my favorite beansprout dish.

"Quick beef with beansprout"

*7oz beef fillet or rump (thin slices), 7 oz beansprouts, 1 leaf green onion (diagonal thin cut),

2 pc red pepper (edge cut), 1 Tbsp olive oil

*Soak sauce---2 Tbsp sake, 2 Tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp olive oil

*Soak the beef in the sauce for 5 min.

Heat(high) with a frying pan and olive oil ~ add the beef with soaked sauce, red pepper and stir fry until the beef get good color ~ add the beansprout and green onion and stir fry briefly ~ OK, ready to eat.

Point: Stir fry for all the ingredients with high heat and quickly and never over cook for beansprouts.

Thank you.

Love

Keiko

Hectic Cancer story and Curry udon soup

2010-01-17T10:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New year 2010!

My new year's day started with a terrible and ultra misunderstanding story with my sister in Japan.

I called to my sister to say "Happy new year" on new year's day.
But she never answer the phone, even I called 4~5 times in the same day

All of sudden, I remembered that she was going to see her doctor for examination on 29th of December.
I thought she had some kind of wrong illness and may be, she stay in the hospital already.

This is my new year's day story.
Can you imagine my feeling?

I called to my brother and he said " Nobuko has uterus cancer with stage 5"
"Stage 5" mean " No help"

"Oh my God" I hung up the phone and started crying so hard.
I lost my Mother in last June and I am going to loose my sister again.

"Where is our happy new year"
"This is unhappy, sad and terrible new year."

I called to my son in N.Y and talked about this sad news.
He said " Calm down Mom, let's check about uterus cancer with my internet, I never hear about stage 5 with cancer before".

'Yes yes, yes !"
I realized that "no time for crying, we have to find out any hope and possibility against my sister's cancer"

This story will be novel if I keep writing about what happen for 4~5 days after our terrible beginning of the year.
Only I can say that I felt "Hell and Heaven" in these days.

As result, that was some kind of mistake and misunderstanding with my sister and her doctor.
She will not die and her cancer stage is just beginning.
Last year, she visited to L.A. two times and she looks so good to me.
She was eating so well and smoking a lot.
She learned from this hectic cancer happening, she should stop her smoking.
I hope she can do that even after her 40 years smoking experience.

I made " Curry udon soup" for my lunch today.
This dish make my stomach so warm and happy especially in winter time.
I am so lucky which I can cook any dish whatever I would love to eat of the day.

In the morning, I ask to myself " what do you want to eat today?"
I touch my stomach and check my refrigerator, said to myself " Curry udon soup"

Yesterday, I made " Hakata mizutaki" which mean " Clear Chicken and Nappa soup pot"
I enjoyed egg noodle with left over soup after I ate all ingredients with yuzu (citrus fruit) ponzu sauce.
" My stomach is so so happy with my dishes."
I am so sure that we can have a wonderful 2010 year !

Love

Keiko

Sukiyaki and Spicy tuna hand roll

2009-12-27T14:52:00.000-08:00

Time goes so fast!
2009 year will be over soon.

My college students who live in my house went back to their own family for winter vacation.
Before they go back, I made sukiyaki party for them.
They love sushi, so I made spicy tuna, salmon skin hand roll and broiled pine mackerel with grated white radish as appetizer.

You know, I charge only $6 for dinner to them,
and sushi quality fish are so expensive.
My ingredients fee cost more expensive to these kind of menu.
But I love them, and I love to see them eating with their word "Oisii, Oisii"
mean " Delicious" with Japanese.
They are all international students, and they love to speak Japanese for delicious dishes.

I got a bouquet at my friend's daughter's wedding party as a single lady who can get marry
next time.
I was one of the lady with another 25 young and beautiful single girls.
I screamed to the bride " Here, here I am here, please give to me"

All the guests (120 people) were laughing so much for my action.
I did not care, I really wanted to get the flowers.
The bride threw the bouquet and it was coming to me but,
the bouquet was divided to three small one in the air.
I got one of them and I was so happy to beat another young single girls.

"Life's experiences are different with you guys" I talked to myself.

I hope I can find the man who love to eat Japanese food, 6 feet tall, slender, smart, sweet, wild nice looking, good golf player, and make good money.

I never met my ideal man in America.
If you know somebody who close to my ideal man, please send e mail to me.
May be I can meet my ideal man in next year 2010 !

Have happy new year !

Love

Keiko

Sushi Party

2009-11-28T19:12:00.000-08:00

My son came home from new york, so I made my sushi party.
I like to make party anytime and all my friends are beautiful people.
I am keeping friendship with them over 20 years.
Beside with my son in this picture, Marc is 22 years old now,
and he is eating my sushi since he was 3 years old.
I went to Japan with this family in summer time of last year.
We had wonderful vacation together for two weeks in Japan.

Same time, my sister came from Japan.
My son love my sister so much because she always spoil on him.
I was a very strict mother for my son when he was a small boy.
I am a single mother, so I got to teach him with Father's side job too.
Anyway, my sister love to take "Jacuzzi" with my son in my back yard.

I had wonderful time with my friends and my family.
Oh, I made another character bento box with "Pikacyu"

Looks great and delicious!

Love

Keiko

My Sister from Japan

2009-10-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

I have a young sister in Japan.
My sister was born when I was 4 and half years old.
She stayed only 7 months inside my Mother's stomach,
and came out to this new world.
She was so hasty baby.

That time in Japan, people got their baby at their own home.
A midwife came to our home and when my sister was born, she told to our family,
"I am so sorry, please give up this baby". My sister was too small to stay in this new world.
She could not suck any milk. My Mom gave some kind of vegetable's root with gauze to her.
My sister was holding the root in side of her small mouth.
After 3 days later, she started to suck some milk.
That was miracle to our family.

My life have been changed 180 degree at age of 4 and half.
My parent's 100% attention went to my sister, I can say "they forgot about me"
I used to put a beautiful ribbon for my hair every morning by my Mom.
My Mom was a fashionable lady, so she enjoyed my hair's decoration like "doll's play".
After my sister's birth, my parent were keep telling to her " Non chan, eat, eat and eat"
"Non chan" is my sister's nick name.

Even 10 years later, my parent knew that my sister was getting too fat.
After15 years later of her birth, her weight was 140lb already.
I always lost for "sumo wrestling" to her.
My parent were so strict for school studying to me and my brother.
But, they never say anything to my sister whenever she got all C or F from her school.
They just said " Non chan, are you hungry?"

My sister has a beautiful heart.
My son learned Japanese language from her.
Because, my son went to Japan for his summer vacation since he was 5years old.
My sister could speak only Japanese to him for 2 months period of summer.
My son had to speak up any Japanese to get some kind of food or drink for himself.

I love my sister.
I could learn so seriously about " my independent life" after her birth.
That way I am still a single Mother even 50 years later.

Oh, my sister is a healthy and chubby lady now.

I hope you can understand about this picture, who is who.
My parent, my brother and my baby sister.
My best friend (she has big eyes) and me.

Love

Thank you.

Keiko

Character bento box

2009-09-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

Spider men

In Japan, most house wives make lunch boxes for their small children.
Some wives who have extra time for cooking, they make special
character bento box for their lovely children.

30 years ago, when I saw American children 's lunch box,
I almost fainted away with their menu such as one apple, poor sandwich and a couple cookies.

Even 30 years later, not so much difference with American children' s lunch.
I love to live in America, but one thing I am so happy as a Japanese because we have so much abundant in eating habit and food life.

I would like to do something "revolution" for American children 's eating habit.

I made some character bento boxes for my best friend's grandson.
He opened his eyes and he called " Spider man!"
Inside of rice ball, I put some broiled salmon, so these bento boxes are well balanced dishes.

I will make bento box for my grandchild every days. ( I don't know when my dream come true because my son is still single now)

I really think I am so lucky that I was born as a Japanese in Japan.
Look at these bento boxes. Would you like to try these bento box even you are 30 years old?

Very delicious, healthy (brawn rice) and fun. Super Mario
Please send a email to me, I will cook for you.

www.kagidiet@gmail.com

Love

Keiko

Japanese company's party

2009-08-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Last week, I served my dishes for Japanese company's party.
Vice president (this company have 40,000 employees in Japan)visited L.A for junket.
American president entertained him and all directors to his house.
So, I used his mansion's kitchen and cooked all these dishes.
Everybody were so nervous at beginning of the party, but they relaxed after enjoying cold sakes.
And they started to eat my delicious food, they looks more more happy.
Whenever I saw my customers got happiness with my dishes, I feel strongly "My pleasure of this business"

I love to cook and do my best hospitality to my customers.
I opened my first restaurant when I was 24 years old.
Now I have over 30 years experience.

I love to eat any kind of delicious foods for myself.
Also I need good wine and cold sake for my life.

Love

Keiko

I am all right now

2009-07-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

I lost my Mother in last month.
I could not get any spirit since then to my life.

Whenever I was doing something, like washing dishes, reading book, watching the trees of my back yard, unexpectedly my tear came out and start crying like a small child.
I could not control my emotion at all.

I think I am all right now.
So I will start my blog again.

I will show easy "Steamed spinach with sesame sauce" by using microwave.

*Ingredient: 1/2 bunch spinach (cut 1 inch length), 5 cherry tomato (cut into half)

*Sauce: 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp roasted sesame seeds, 2 tsp soy sauce ~ Mix well

*Condiment: Shaved dry bonito

* Direction: Place the spinach on a plate ( place the green leaves under stalks) and wrap it ~
cook for 1 min in microwave and transfer to running cold water ~ rinse with iced
water and squeeze out tightly ~ mix with the sauce mixture and arrange it with
cherry tomato and condiment ~ Enjoy!

Easy and delicious diet dish.

Love

Keiko

My mother went to Heaven

2009-06-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

My Mother died on June 17 Th 04:20 AM in Japan.

She was 80 years old.
In my life, I never have this kind of sad experience before.
She was a sweet and beautiful mother for us.

I went back to Japan last summer with my American friend's family.
We had delicious seafood dishes with my Mother in Fukuoka.
She looked so beautiful and healthy for me.
She gave Japanese Yukata kimono, obi, geta (shoes) to my American friend's family.
Whole her life, she always saved her money and spend for somebody else.

Even after 10 days since my Mom died, my tear comes out every days.
I feel like I never laugh again.

I feel emptiness with my heart.
I could not drive my car for 10 days with my body's shaking.
How long do I need to get back to my normal life.

Mothers are special for everybody and we know, we have to say "good- by" to our Mom in someday.

This experience is too painful for me these days.
Please try to do your best to your Mother whenever she is still fine.

I think I did pretty good things to her, but I still feel some kind of "guilty" for her strong love to me.

Love

Keiko

Japanese Miso Soup

2009-06-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

Japanese people love miso soup.
When I was small child, my Mom used make miso soup every morning.
We ate hot steamed rice, miso soup and some pickles for breakfast.
For me "miso soup" mean my Mom's warm smile to our family.

Tofu and green onion are popular combination as ingredients for miso soup.
Let me think about another good combination.

*Potato and asparagus/ potato and onion/ cabbage and wakame(soft seaweed)/

*pork and bean sprout/salmon and white radish(thin sliced with quarter round cut)/

*somen noodle and green onion/eggplant and tofu/sliced pork and white radish(bar rectangles cut)

*ham and shitake mushrooms/chicken and shimeji mushroom/turnip and wakame/

And more more combination, I can think about ingredients for miso soup.
I feel so lucky as a Japanese whenever I enjoy delicious miso soup.

Let me show you how to make basic soup stock (dashi soup) for Japanese dishes like miso soup, noodle soup, clear soup and all in one pot soup.
I will show you two ways. "Grand Mom's way" and "Busy Mom's way"

*Grand Mom's way (all natural)

Ingredient--4 inch dried kelp, 1oz Shaved dry bonito, 4 cup Water

Direction--Wipe the kelp with a towel to clean and soak with water for 30 min in a pan ~Heat (low below 160F) and simmer for 30 min to 1 hour until small babbles appear around surface ~ turn off the heat and add the bonito ~ leave it for 30 seconds and strain the soup through a paper towl on a strainer slowly to make clear soup in a bowl.

* Busy Mom's way

Ingredient--1 Tbsp Hondashi (bonito fish flaver granulateed soup stock), 4 cup Water

Direction--Heat a pan with water and boil up~ add the hondashi ~ done! That all.

If you want to make miso soup, just add 4 Tbsp miso paste to the soup with useing a small strainer.

I love only one company's hondashi "Yamasa Tairyo Dashi"
This is a big secret for my recipe.
Yamasa's hondashi is the best natural flaver of bonito.

I hope you enjoy miso soup with "Grand Mom's way or Busy Mom's way"

Love

Keiko

Looking for my son's house

2009-05-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

I am so busy because looking for my son's house.
Whenever I have time, I went out to see the houses for sale.
I did "Feng shui" for my house and business over 30 years.
Do you know "Feng shui"?
This is the way of making decision to buy your house with lucky direction and condition of the nature.
Lucky direction, color, entrance door and condition of the land, these things are very important for Feng shui.
I believe it because my family (my son and me) were so healthy and happy all the time.

I know that buying a house is not easy for everybody.
Especially for us, very difficult with idea of Feng shui.

So, I did not have time to write any blog for these days.
May be it take 2~3 months to make decision for the house.

I would love to talk about delicious dish.
But, I don't have time, so I just put a picture of my students dinner tonight.

Menu : Chicken cutlet with cheese, Fresh water eel sushi, Shitake mushroom tempura, Tofu miso soup,Green salad and potato salad.

Looks good? Yes,taste was great.
I hope I could cook for you too!

Love

Keiko

Mother's day card

2009-05-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Mother's day is coming soon.
I got a Mother's day card from my son today.
He lives in N.Y.
I do not have any husband or boy friend for many many years.
I have one marvelous son.
May be, I should humble myself about my son, but I can't do that.
Because I think he is a wonderful human being.

I have vibrant personality, so I created "my style of life"without husband in America.(Just I could not find a right man for me).
My son gave me a lot of love, energy, passion and instruction for my life.
By raising my son, I learned so many splendid lessons as a human in this life.
I appreciate to my son so much.

My son said inside of his card, "you always singed a lullaby for me when I was a small boy"
I composed the lullaby by myself.
My son's name is Ryuma in Japanese, so I call him"Ryumakun"means "Dear my son Ryuma"

My lullaby was "Ryumakun is Mom's treasure, Ryumakun is Mom's treasure"

I just repeated and repeated my lullaby to him every night.
I wanted to read some story book for him, but when I came home after my restaurant closed for dinner, I was so exhausted.
With my lullaby, my son smiled a little be and went to sleep with his happy face.

My son's sleeping face was talking to me sweetly,
" Mom, I trust you, I picked you as my Mom, you can raise me so sure.
I know you don't lose for yourself and for any kind of your tough time"

Truly, I could not keep my restaurant business for over 20 years without my son.
My vow was "I never complain for anythings until my son is graduated from his college.
I just appreciate for anythings whatever our God give to us"

I am so so happy with my God's best gift "My son Ryuma "

I am a lucky Mother.

I hope every Mom can have "Happy Mother's day"

Love

Keiko

Juicy Steamed Chicken in 5 min

2009-04-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

April and May are my favorite season, so I am enjoying this weather with mountain hiking. Our city have a beautiful mountain hiking course in 5 min from my house.
It take 2 hours with my pace and from top of the mountain, I can see incredible panorama view. I always call to my son in NY from the place for sharing pleasant breeze.

Today, I will show how to make "Juicy steamed chicken in 5 min"

6oz chicken breast.. Remove excess fat and pierce it with a fork to make several holes.
1 knob ginger (thin slices), 1 leaf green onion (cut into half), 2 Tbsp sake.

Condiment.. 1 leaf green onion (edge cut)
Sauce.... 1 Tbsp Mayonnaise + 1 Tbsp Ponzu sauce (mix well)

Direction..Place the green onion, ginger and chicken in this order on a plate
~ Apply the sake all over the chicken and softly wrap it ~cook for 2 min in
microwave oven ~ take it out once ~ Turn the chicken over and cover again
~ cook for 2 min ~ done! move the chicken to your favorite plate and enjoy with the sauce and condiment.

Quick and easy dish, also you can make a salad or sandwich with this chicken.

See you soon.

Love

Keiko

Birthday party

2009-04-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have graduate school students as my friends. They wanted to make a birthday party for their English professor in my home.

So I cooked brown rice sushi and all in one pot dish for 20 young students.
I love young people and I know they are always hungry.
We had pleasant time together, even their professor and me met at first time.

I will show you her "Thank you card" to me here.

Dear Keiko

After meeting you, and tasting your delicious food, I understand my students decision.
You are,without a doubt, one of the kindest, most generous and most spontaneous people I have ever met.
Thank you for sharing your home, your food, and your immediate love with me.

Your overwhelming generosity will last in my memory as one of the best birthday gifts I have ever received.
I am so glad to have met you and I look forward to our next opportunity to meet.

Fondly.

I love people, delicious food and wine.
These are my life with appreciation.

See you soon.

Love

Keiko

A beautiful day and Baked green mussel

2009-04-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Today is a beautiful day in L.A
I love spring because everything looks like a new life for all the nature.
I can feel some kind of "Hope" for this beautiful world.
So, I took a picture of the blue sky , just I wanted to appreciate to our god who create this peaceful and artistic nature.
I can see, feel and enjoy it as one of human being in this earth with a lot of my pleasure.
How I am a lucky person.

Today, I will show my favorite baked green mussel, this is a very simple and satisfying dish.
*Baked green mussel

Ingredient: 6 green mussels (clean up inside), 3~4 Tbsp mayonnaise

Sauce: 2 Tbsp Eel sauce ( You can find this sauce at any Asian market )

Direction: Place the green mussels on a oven plate~ Apply the mayonnaise onto the mussels
~Cook the mussels for 8~10 min in oven with 480。F ~Transfer the mussels to your favorite plate ~ apply the eel sauce on the green mussels ~ Enjoy the tasty juice also which come from inside of green mussels.

This dish will stimulate your appetite.

See you soon.

Love

Keiko

First time for raw fish sushi & Onigiri bento box

2009-03-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

I told you, I have a student from Saudi Arabia at my house.
He can not eat pork by the reason of his religion.
So I am cooking beef and chicken dishes for him.

But, last week, he ate fresh and raw salmon sushi at first time in his 24 years life.
I said to him, "don't ask any question about this ingredient and just bite it"
He say " yes Mom, I trust you".
I show him how to mix with soy sauce and wasabi, and dip the sushi just little be.
He ate it and said "delicious!"

Yes, fresh sushi are delicious even for the first time experience persons in their life.
He could not stop eating sushi, he keep asking me more and more.
So I started to make hand roll for him because easy to hold and bite it.

Just he does not know about sushi fishes are so expensive.
But, I was so happy to see his smile with my sushi.

Japanese people love "onigiri" (rice ball )with stuffing of pickled plum, grilled salmon and shaved dry bonito.

Japanese Mom make different shapes of rice balls such as flat triangle, flat round and cylinder.
And wrap the onigiri with a nori (roasted seaweed sheet).
Simple and delicious homely dish.

We love "onigiri"as our Mom's taste, so I made onigiri bento box for my business.

See you soon.

Love

Keiko

My birthday and Bento box

2009-03-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Today (March 12th) is my birthday. I am ?years old now.
I don't know about this age is young or old,
I always feel same feeling when I was 36 years old. Just number is getting big and big.
I am going to die at age of 104 years old, so I think I am still young for my life.
I got a beautiful arrangement flower from my son. Also he sent a birthday card to me from N.Y.
When I read the card, I cried a little be with his gentle words from his soul.
Dinner time, my friends came and we had a wonderful time with champagne, wine and delicious dishes.

By the way, do you know Japanese bento box?
Japanese people love bento box for lunch.
Bento box have 1200 years history in Japan.
With small amount of each ingredients, you can enjoy 7~8difference delicious dishes with rice.
I started to add "bento box catering" to my business.
I think this will be very popular among American people who have come to enjoy sushi the past 20 years.
Please take a look the bento box.
Looks so delicious and really taste is great!

See you soon.

Love

Keiko

A friend who never see each other for 30 years

2009-03-02T14:25:00.000-08:00

I could not do anything for my blog for so many days.
My friend (her name is Emiko) who lost contact each other for 30 years came to see me from San Francisco last week.

My recipe was on the food magazine called "Culinary Trends" for executive chefs in 2~3 weeks ago.
Emiko's husband is a chef, so he was reading this magazine all the time.
She found my picture and recipe inside of the magazine and screamed "Keiko"

We met in the airplane when we were coming to L.A from Japan in May 1979.
We were so excited for visiting to L.A. We made our friendship by 13 hours flight.
She was 20 years old and I was ?years old.

Only one thing difference was "she was going back to Japan and I was not."
Of course, we had sightseeing visa only,I should go back to Japan.
But I had a dream which love to live and have own restaurant in L.A

I had two restaurants already in Japan.
But I was so uncomfortable with Japanese business society which was dominated by Japanese men.

In summer time of 1978, I visited to L.A as a tourist.
I fell in love to L.A.
I thought "this is my city which should stay forever"

After we arrived to L.A, Emiko stayed in Orange county and I lived in North Hollywood.
Sometime I missed to speak Japanese language so much, I took a bus and went to see her.
She came to see me too.
After couple month later, I had to disappear from her because of "illegal resident"

A few years later,I got my son, permanent resident card.
6years later, I got own house and opened own restaurant.
Step by step, I made my dream come true.

I did not have my husband, so that was tough time but I was so happy all the time with my son.
Sometime, I remembered about my friend Emiko, but I thought she must be happy in Japan.

I think, this thing which she found me in the food magazine is "fate and miracle".
After 30 years later, last week, Emiko and her husband came to see me.
Can you imagine how much we were happy to see each other again.
She had five children from 24 years old to 6 years old.
Her husband is a wonderful Japanese man and also great executive chef.

I wanted put our picture on this page, but my face was terrible with too much wine.
So I will put "Tuna tataki sashimi on tofu" which Emiko's husband cooked for us.
This is a very delicious and simple dish.

3oz Fresh tuna filet for sashimi, 1 silken tofu, 1 Tbsp grated ginger, 3 Tbsp edge cut green onion.

direction: Seal the tuna's surface only with frying pan ~ cut to thin slices ~ place the tuna on the top of tofu ~ sprinkle the green onion and arrange the ginger ~ done!

Please make sure eat with soy sauce, not ponzu sauce.

Thank you.

Love

keiko

46 people party on last Friday

2009-02-23T19:46:00.000-08:00

I had 46 people party on last Friday.
I cooked sushi and another 6 dishes for 46 people all by myself.
I was going to take the pictures of dishes and people, I was so busy and 100% forgot about it.
It took me for 7 hours for preparation and cooking.
Every body enjoyed my foods and we had wonderful time together.

Honestly, I could not wake up in the morning of next day.
I felt like a very old lady even my appearance looks like 40 years old.

So, I will show you one of my party dish "Marinated beef"

7 oz Fillet beef, 1/2 onion (thin slice), 1 Tbsp olive oil.

Soak sauce: 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup white wine, 1/2 soy sauce, 1/4 tsp salt

Direction: Heat (high heat) + a frying pan and oil ~ add the beef and fry ~make sure both side of the surface are browned ~ put the beef into a easy zipper plastic bag with the sauce and onion ~ leave the bag in refrigerator for 4~5 hours ~ cut the beef into thin pieces and arrange on a plate with onion ~ done!

Please make sure only the surface of beef are browned.
Inside should be rare and you will love the taste.

Easy for cooking and looks gorgeous dish for your party.

See you next time.

Love

Keiko

My recipe is on Culinary Trends food magazine for executive chefs

2009-02-18T18:54:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness!

My favorite recipe "Magic ramen noodle with pork soup" is on " Culinary Trends" food magazine for executive chefs.
I saw another chef''s recipes in same section with mine, they are the executive chef of Hyatt and Belamar hotel
I am not a executive chef, they introduce me as a chef/author.

I sent this recipe to 15 food magazines company almost 8 month ago.
Two food magazines responded to me.
A editor sent a email to me and asked to take the picture of this dish and me by professional photographer.
So, I did i t and mail to her. After that, I did not hear anything from her for long time.
I thought she did not like my picture and almost gave up about this magazine.

Last week, a Japanese friend who never see each other for 30 years sent a e mail to me and asked "Do you remember me ?" Of course I remember her, "but how do you find out me"
She said "I saw your recipe and you on Culinary trends magazine".
She just opened some page and she screamed "Keiko !"
I thought she went back to Japan for long time ago.
She married with a Japanese chef and have 5 children with him in San Fransisco.

This magazine say " New magazine for executive chefs", so her husband was reading this magazine all the time.
I was so surprised with my recipe is on the magazine after 7 month later.

So we are so excited with "this miracle meeting again" by this magazine.
They are coming to see me in next week, she said " I can not wait to see you, I was always thinking about you for this 30 years". She had a picture with me which took when I was 28 years old and she was 20 years old. Life is interesting.

One thing I have to emphasize, she saw my 57 years old face picture, and she screamed " Keiko".
She said " You have same face when you were 28 years old" I want you read this word at least 3 times.

Any way, I can't wait to see her again after 30 years later.

I think " Our life are wonderful"

Love

Keiko

Stir fried chicken udon (Yaki udon)

2009-02-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

I love this udon dish, Japanese people call " Yaki udon"
A very simple and delicious dish, so please try to cook for yourself.

Yaki udon : 2 frozen udon, 2oz chicken breast (thin sliced), 2 leaves cabbage (coarsely) 1/2 pk bean sprout, 2 Tbp olive oil, 1 Tbsp sake,
Sauce: 1 and 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 and 1/2 Tbsp mirin, SQ sugar.
Condiment: Shaved dry bonito, dried seaweed powder (aonori)

Direction: Cook the frozen udon in microwave for 2 min.
Medium heat + a frying pan + oil + chicken ~ stir fry ~ add the cabbage ~ stir fry until the cabbage looks tender ~ take the chicken and cabbage out once ~Clean up the same frying pan and add oil ~ add the udon ~ stir fry ~ add the chicken and cabbage back and add the bean sprout also ~ stir fry ~ add the sauce and mix well ~ done ! ~arrange it on a plate and garnish with a lot of condiment.

you will love it.
I add some tonkatsu sauce or worcester sauce (1tsp) to get more delightful home dish taste.

See you next time.

Love

Keiko

Big birthday party

2009-02-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

* My son was 1 year old
Last night, I went to my friend's birthday party as a guest chef.
I made 36 brown rice sushi rolls.
About 288 pc rolls for 20 people.
They ate first time brown rice sushi, they enjoyed so much.

I should take a picture of 288 pc sushi, but I was so busy to cook and I forgot about it.
I think I like to see the people's smile with my cooking dishes.

8years in Japan and 20 years in L.A, I worked so hard for my restaurant business.
I don't have two little toe's nails because with running inside my kitchen and dining room.
They disappear to somewhere and I don't remember when I lost them.

Keeping good restaurant business for over 20 years is very very tough.
But, one word from my customers " Keiko, dinner was wonderful and I will be back, thank you"
This is my customer's magic word for my tiredness.
This word make me so happy and get my energy back.
The reason which I could open 7 days a week for over 20 years is my customer's appreciation and smiles for me.

I am a single mother and raised my son.
I was so lucky because I had a wonderful baby sitter for my son until 13 years old.
When I open my restaurant, my son was 3 years old.
After we put close sign for dinner, I love to go back home with flying and hold my son strongly every night.
But, I had so much things to do even after close the sign.

When I came home, most night, my son was sleeping already.
His sleeping face was so peaceful and looks like a angel.
And his face was talking to me " Mom, I trust you and I know you can raise me with your strong will, that why I pick you as my special Mom"

I was so tired and my foots were sullen, but my son's peaceful face gave so much happy feeling to me. I learned many things about family and life with raising my son.
I appreciate to my God.

Now, my son is 26 years old and live in N.Y.
He is a tall and handsome man and I am so proud of him.
I will say to my God, "I think I did pretty good job for my son"
I could do my best for raising my son, because his baby sitter, my restaurant customers and my employee supported us.

Thank you every body!

Love

Keiko

A student from Saudi Arabia

2009-02-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

My favorite Chinese boy moved to N.Y as intern ship student.
I got a new student from Saudi Arabia.

He is a very handsome boy and has difference look's face for me in every days with his mustache design.
He is a very stylish young man and after he dress up, he come to me and ask " how do I look ?"
I always say " you look great", because I think he knows well about his own fashion style.

My first students were a Korean and a Chinese, then a Japanese, now I have a Turkey and a Saudi Arabian students.
I think we are moving forward to European area.

Most students loved my Japanese dishes.
I think my new student has a very conservative idea for his food as muslim.
I am studying about Saudi Arabian food now.
"Kapsa"is like a pilaf with chicken or lamb and rice. They eat young camel also.

When I lived with my Korean student, I learned so many Korean dishes for him.
He always said to me " this is not really Korean style dish, this is Keiko's style Korean dish"
I have changed the recipe to my tongue's way and the dish turn to much better taste for me.

Any way, I love my new boy and he call me "Mom" as American Mom already.
I am a very lucky person who can live with these smart and nice looking boys.
All boys call me " American Mom" and they said " whenever I start making my money, I will take you to the best restaurant in my city"

So, I can go to the best restaurant in Shanghai, Seoul and Istanbul so sure in my future.
I am so happy to hear that kind of words from my boys.

"I always love you guys even we don't live together anymore"

I will cook anytime my delicious Japanese food for you, because "my God sent you guys to me as special gifts"

Oh, I forgot about my son, " I love you so much and I know we are soul mate forever"

Love Love

Keiko

Louisiana chicken

2009-01-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

I have a Japanese cooking book which published in 1973 by Ms.Miyuki Iida
The book title is "Delicious western style dishes".
I am keeping this recipe book for 35 years.
In this book, most her dishes are delicious. Please don't trust all recipe books, some dishes do not fit to your tongue.
In this recipe book, I don't know why she named "Louisiana chicken"in 1973.
I am so sure she never go to Louisiana in her life, but she show me how to make this delicious chicken dish.
Tonight, I made this dish for my boys and they loved it. Especially, sauce is so delicious.

It takes a little longer cooking time which against my blog policy, please try to cook whenever you have time.

Louisiana chicken (serve for 2) : 12oz chicken thigh, 1/2 onion (fine), 1Tbsp garlic (fine),
4 shiitake mushroom, 2 Tbsp corn starch, 2 Tbsp butter, 2 Tbsp olive oil

Sauce: 1cup tomato juice, 2 Tbsp white wine, 1Tbsp chicken powder, 1Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp paprika, salt & pepper.

Direction: heat (medium) + a pan + butter + onion ~ stir fry ~ nicely browned ~ add all the sauce seasonings and ingredients ~ boil ~ heat ( low) ~remove the form ~ simmer for 30 min.

Put the chicken and corn starch into a plastic bag and shake well ~ coat the chicken well with starch ~ heat (medium) + a frying pan + oil ~ Cook well for both side of the chicken and take it out once on a plate.

Strain the sauce and transfer to a new pan ~ add the mushrooms and fried chicken and sprinkle the salt and pepper ~ simmer for 10 min with low heat ~ done!

Enjoy with steamed rice or garlic bread.

I think the chicken and tomato sauce are good combination as ingredients.
May be, Louisiana have a famous chicken dish with tomato sauce which Ms. Iida knew it almost 35 years ago.

Love

Keiko

Japan-Ease 90 days quick & delicious diet recipes

2009-01-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

Book order : www.amazon.com

www.kagidiet.com

Steamed Sole with soy sauce flavor

2009-01-24T17:32:00.000-08:00

I cooked chicken cutlet, pasta salad and white cream soup with nappa for three young people last night.
They are my boy's friends and they go to the same graduate school. One person came from India.
He can speak Japanese because he worked at Yamaha company in Shizuoka Japan for three years.
He married with a Japanese lady in Japan, so he love Japanese food. I don't know why I cooked western dish for them, just chicken cutlet was Japanese style. And then I forgot to take my cooking dishes pictures for my blog, because I was so excited with speaking Japanese with a Indian young man.
Since International students start to live my house, I could meet very interesting young students. In this two years, Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Turkish boys stay my house.
They introduced so many difference country students for me. Cooking Japanese dishes for them was wonderful experience for me. They made me so so happy with their appreciations for my foods. So , I will show some easy and delicious fish dish for you tonight.
You can use this recipe for salmon, white fish and mackerel also.

1 Sole (no head)---Make a cross-shaped incision at the center of brown side.
1 Tbsp grated ginger, lemon slice

Sauce: 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp cooking sake ~ Mix well

Direction: Place the sole on a plate and apply the sauce mixture ~ wrap it and put 4 pieces disposable wooden chopsticks under the plate ~ cook for 3,4 min in microwave oven ~ transfer the fish to a nice plate and pure the all sauce from the cooked plate ~ garnish with the ginger and lemon ~ done !

As long as you buy fresh ingredients, you can enjoy quick, simple and delicious dinner.

See you next time.

Love

Keiko

Keiko

Four seasons of your life

2009-01-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

I spent 57 years with my soul and body in this life.
28 years in Japan and 29 years in America.
Each year had four seasons.
I don't like cold weather, so since I move to L.A, I am so appreciate for this warm winter.
I was reading some Japanese history book and somebody said " Your life have four seasons with one cycle of 12 years".
I tried to remember what happened to me since I left my parent's house.
I will explain about the meaning of each seasons.

Autumn is a shifting season for this cycle.

Something happen to you beyond your expectation.
May be get sickness, sales come down on your business or your strength get lower.
But you don't have to think like "Is my luck going to get worse?".
No,this is just moving to step up to your new cycle.
This is a season of " learning and investment to yourself for your future"
Even you have to stay in bed for long time, you have to think like " this is a special gift from my God for my future"
Never try to start your new business or buying new house.
Every things will backfire on you.

Winter is the beginning of new cycle.

You have to seed some new ideas on your ground and get several experiences of "trial and error".
Then you can see clearly "your desire and purpose for next step."
You will have several wonderful meeting with new people for you.

Spring is starting point of "succeed with your desire"

You have to start to send your new ideas and information to your supporters.
You have to start to work for mass media and advertisement.
You have to get strong strength for yourself.
Your new cycle is moving to "better condition"

Summer is the season of "drastic action"

Every things go well.
You are always busy with high income and high energy.
You can't stop laughing to yourself with your fortune.

In this season, make sure about two things such as, "you are not a haughty person" and " this is fit for your real ability"

Nobody can't stop you in this summer season because you are driving at high speed.
But the end of this summer, you have to get a big final examination from your God.

This is one cycle of 12 years.
I talked about only business things tonight, but this is same things for your personal life.

When you are under your parent's protection, you can't understand this story.
Please keep this story in your mind and some day you will recognize that this is very true story in your future.

I will show you my last summer season's picture, I had too much confidence for myself in 2002 year. I can say to you " I learned so much things in my fall and winter seasons for this 6 years"

Good night !

Love

Keiko

Soymilk miso soup

2009-01-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

I have a business for "diet supporting".
I made my "Japan-Ease" recipe book for this business.

I love to use soy milk, tofu, mushrooms, shell fish, fish, sea weeds and vegetables as ingredients.

I will show you easy soy milk soup tonight.

Soy milk miso soup: 1 cup plain soy milk, 1/4 cup dashi soup, 1 tsp white miso paste,
1/4 pack shimegi mushroom, 1/2 pack enoki mushroom, green onion (edge)

Direction: Place the miso and mushrooms in a bowl ~ pour the soy milk and dashi soup ~ wrap and cook for 2 min in microwave oven ~ mix well and sprinkle on the green onion ~ done!

Enjoy delicious soup.

* Dashi soup: 4 cup water, 1 Tbsp hondashi (bonita fish granulated soup stock)

Direction : Heat a pan + water ~ boil ~ add the hondashi ~ OK.
Ready to use for cooking.

Love

Keiko

Steamed cod and tofu

2009-01-12T11:52:00.000-08:00

Recently I am so busy, I can't concentrate for cooking.

I always thinking about "blog, blog, what should I cook for my blog"

On this blog, most important things are simple and easy to cook, also delicious.

I started this blog for my son who live in NY. I would like to show my simple recipes for him.

All mothers in this world, one thing which most important thing " what should I cook for my children" " what kind of food my children are eating tonight" Eating is most important in this world for human being and animals. And most people are spoiled with delicious foods.

Now people are moving to healthy, natural, organic delicious foods.

In my recipe book "Japan-Ease" (amazon.com), I introduce many kind of soy milk, tofu, mushroom dishes. You can cook these dishes so quickly.

Let's me show one of dish tonight.

Steamed cod: 1 fillet Cod, 1/2 silken tofu, 1pk enoki mushroom, 1/2 shimeji mushroom. 1leaf green onion (edge)

Sauce: 2 Tbsp dashi soup, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp sake, 1 tsp soy sauce.

Direction: Arrange all the ingredients on a plate ~ pour the sauce mixture all over it ~ wrap ~ cook for 3 min in microwave oven ~ place on a nice plate and sprinkle the green onion ~ done!

This dish, you can eat as much you want to eat, never gain weight.

See you next time.

Love.

Keiko

.

Juicy steamed chicken 01/07/09

2009-01-08T20:32:00.000-08:00

I will show you easy and delicious chicken in 5 min.This chicken, you can use for salad, sandwich and noodle soup.

Tonight, I add tomato sauce on the chicken for my boys.

For sauce and chicken, I spend almost 10 min for cooking.

Just make sure you have tender chicken breast as ingredient.

Juicy steamed chicken: 7oz Chicken breast, 1 knob ginger (thin slices), 1 leaf green onion ( cut into half), 2 Tbsp cooking sake(white wine)

Direction: Place the green onion, ginger and chicken in this order on a plate ~ apply the sake all over the chicken~ softly wrap ~cook for 3 min in microwave oven ~take the plate out once ~ turn the chicken over and wrap again ~ cook for 2 min in microwave again ~ done!

Don't waste the juice from chicken, add 1Tbsp mayonnaise and 1tsp soy sauce mixture.

Also ponzu sauce will be fine.So delicious!

Please try, you will be surprised.

Love

Keiko

"Buta jiru"---Pork miso soup 01/04/09

2009-01-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

"Buta jiru" Pork miso soup is so popular soup dish for Japanese boy and men.

Each Mom have own recipe for "buta jiru" for their boys.

I like to make "butajiru" for myself in these cold days.

I sprinkle a lot of spicy red chili powder for the soup, that make my body so warm.

If You can cook this "butajiru" for your boy friend, you will get a special A point from him.

I don't know why, but most "Men" love this soup.

"Butajiru" 5oz pork (thin slice), 2 inch White radish (half moon) 1/2 carrot (round), 4 shiitake mushroom (cut in quarters) 1/4 tofu, 2 leaves green onion (edge) 1 potato (bite size) 2 Tbsp sesame oil, 3 cup water, 1 Tbsp dashi powder, 2oz miso paste, soy sauce.

Direction: Heat( medium) + A pan + oil ~ stir fry the pork ~ turn to good color ~ add all vegetables except green onion ~ stir fry ~ add the water ~ boil ~ remove the foam ~ simmer (make sure potato is cooked ) ~ add the tofu ~ low heat ~ add the miso paste into the soup with a small strainer ~ add the dashi powder and small quantity of soy sauce ~ sprinkle the green onion ~ done! Please don't forget spicy red chili pepper.

Enjoy.

Keiko

Shabu shabu and Happy new year

2009-01-02T18:44:00.001-08:00

2009 year.
Happy new year.

Time pass by so fast.
When I got 50 years old, I couldn't believe it for myself.
I always feel 38 years old and I think, I looks like 38 years old.
Don't laugh on me, I am so serious about my looks.

This year, I will be 58 years old.
I am going to die at my age of 104 years old.
So, I have to prepare and keep good condition for my health, mind and looks until 104 years old.

I love my life, my mind and my looks because my god gave to me as a special gift.
I take care about these things very well in every day.

If somebody said " I don't like myself and my life", This is so sad things.
You have to love yourself and you should respect for your life.
Then, as a next step, you can love somebody from the bottom of your heart.

You have to keep studying about your life, then you can keep good shape for your mind.
You have to watch out for what are you eating, then you can keep good shape for your body.
If, you don't take care about these things, you will get some kind of revenge from your mind and body. you will get some kind of sickness from them.

Keeping same size of healthy body which make me so happy and enjoyable for each days.
Thinking about my life "why I am here for what" " where I am going to" " what I am learning about with this tough time", these things make so sharp of my mind.

I am a only special human in this world, as "Keiko Tanaka".

This is the same thing for all the people in this world.
So please love yourself and enjoy your life.

No time for "shabu shabu recipe" tonight.

Love

Keiko

Clear vegetable soup in oven 12/29/08

2008-12-30T11:53:00.000-08:00

Busy, busy, busy.

Why the end of year is so busy.

I love cooking, but I can't concentrate on cooking in these days.

So I will show you easy cooking dish tonight.

This dish is same way as simmer with low heat.

But, after you set up the timer of your oven, you can do whatever you want to do.

You don't have to warry about fire.

Eapecially when you cook with oven, you can make clear, clear beautiful soup.

Clear vegetable soup: 1 onion (cut into 4 portions), 8pc cherry tomato, 3 stick celery, 4 mushroom, 1/4 cabbage, 3 cups chicken bouillon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 laurel leaf.

Direction: Put all the ingredients into a heat resistant oven pan ~ heat (high) and simmer ~

boil ~turn off the heat ~ covered and place the pan inside of the oven for 50 min

with 280F ~ done and enjoy!

See you next new year.

Keiko

Sushi party 12/26/08

2008-12-27T18:45:00.000-08:00

I made sushi roll for my friend's party tonight.

Some people can not eat any raw fish, so every rolls have to be made with cooked fish.

So, I didn't go Japanese market, I went to "sprout market"in my neighbor.

I got a beautiful salmon, cream cheese, cucumbers, avocado, and imitation crab.

With my brown rice, I can make crunchy roll, california roll, philadelphia roll and salmon skin roll.

I used soy bean wrapper for philadelphia roll instead of nori (roasted seaweed).

They have sesame, green, orange, pink and yellow colors.

They looks so beautiful with combination of fish, vegetables and rice.

Tonight, I will show you how to make brown sushi rice. (crunchy roll)

You know how to make my brown rice (please check my blog)

Brown rice for sushi : For steamed brown rice made with total 4 cups of brown rice and sweet brown rice.

Sushi vinegar sauce : 6 Tbsp rice vinegar, 3 Tbsp sugar and pinch salt...........Mix well

Direction: pour the mixture sauce to the hot steamed brown rice from the edge in circular motion ~ mix with side ways cutting motion to prevent the rice from becoming mushy

~ let's cool it down for a while and "body temperature" is the best for sushi rice.

My favorite philadelphia roll : Of course, fresh raw salmon, 2 Tbsp cream cheese, cucumber (thin cut), 2 Tbsp salmon egg ( for decoration on the top of rolls), little avocado (thin cut), 1 pc soy bean wrapper.

Delicious brown rice sushi rolls.

Enjoy!

Keiko

JAPAN-EASE 90days of quick & delicious diet recipes

2008-12-25T19:30:00.001-08:00

Book order

www.kagidiet.com

www.amazon.com

My family 12/24/08

2008-12-25T16:32:00.000-08:00

I would like talk about my family today.

Almost 60 years ago in Japan,most father were majestic and they had power of determination for anythings in family.

Especially my father was a typical "samurai" style person to our family.

His words to my mother are "Tea, beer, lunch, dinner, bath",5 words only,that all.

That mean "bring the tea or beer for me now" " I want to eat lunch or dinner now"

" I want to take bath now, so check the temperature and bring my towel"

My mother answered "yes", then she have to move right away.

Even she was doing something for her children,

she have to stop it and do whatever my father want to do.

Yes! just like his maid.

So, when my father was not home, we were wheedling children to our mother,

or I could fight with my brother and sister with enjoyment.

My mother and our children had pleasant time together without my father.

But, since we hear the sound of entrance door open, all children run away to the rooms and pretend like studying. We could hear the voice of my father "bath" to my mother.

I don't understand how they could make three children together.

Anyway, we couldn't talk back to my father in any case.

His answer was last decision for our family.

And sometimes my mother and our children got acts of his violence.

I was a different Japanese girl.

I start to talk back to my father when I start to understand about our human relationship.

Only my father is working for our family, so we can eat and live in our house.

My mother never divorce with my father because she can not go back her parent's home.

Her eldest brother kept their family name, house and business.

No place to live for my mother and his brother got huge family.

When I waked up for restroom in midnight, I saw my mother was crying at the corner of the kitchen so many times.

I talked to my mom "why don't you get divorce and get marry with another man."

She said to me " I can bear anything for my children, at least until my girls can get marry with nice family"

That time, marriage mean matching of one family and another family.

My father had pretty good name as a famous CPA.

Whenever I talk back to my father, he hit my face and he said"if you don't change your disobedient behavior to the men, your future husband will hit you."

My father want to say " he try to change my disobedient behavior with his violence now, otherwise my future husband will give same violence to me."

What kind of world is this!

I learned from my father so strongly, " even women should make money and express their ideas to anybody and anytime."

"Freedom mean responsibility"

Now I understand my father loved me so much with his age's way.

He didn't know how to express his love to our family, he grow up also with his age's way.

I am so appreciate for my father because he made me so independent woman.

May be too independent.

I am still a single mother.

But I had a wonderful family with my son.

We can talk, give a hug and laugh each other.

And I can say to him " I love you so much and I can die for you anytime"

I think, may be my father felt something different feeling for my future.

I know I couldn't come to L.A all by myself without my father's nurture.

My father live in the heaven now.

I talk to my father and read the sutra of buddhist every days.

" I love you dad"

Have happy holidays everybody!

Keiko

Sauted beef tongue 12/21/08

2008-12-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

I love seafood.

I owned sushi bar for 20 years in CA.

So, I could eat very fresh fish like tuna, yellow tail, albacore, salmon, halibut, mackerel,

and shell fish, squid,octopus, scallop.

I could eat them with raw for every days.

Only that part, I miss my restaurant business.

Beef tongue is my favorite part in beef.

Whenever I cook tongue dish with my teppan grill plate, my boys become to be my rival,

because they eat so fast, so much for my favorite beef tongue.

So, I made sauted tongue with onion and bell pepper tonight, and served with separate dishes.

I could enjoy my tongue dish complacently.

With this amount of beef tongue, I could eat 2 bowl of brown rice.

Oh, my stomach is too much happy.

Please don't gain weight tomorrow.

Sauted beef tongue: 5oz thin sliced tongue, 1/2 onion, 1/2 bell pepper 2 Tbsp oil.

Sauce: 3 Tbsp oyster sauce, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp sugar,

1knob ginger (grated) 1 clove garlic (thin slices), 2tsp sesame oil.......Mix well

Direction: A frying pan + oil (medium heat)~just saute the vegetables and pour the sauce ~ coat the vegetables with the sauce ~transfer to the plate ~ same frying pan (after wipe off) ~ add oil + the tongue ~ saute the one side well and turn it over ~ saute the other side lightly ~ apply the sauce and coat the tongue well ~ done!

This dish is so delicious with rice, so be careful for your over eating.

See you next time.

Keiko

3 pages article for my book and my story

2008-12-20T16:44:00.000-08:00

I can't talk about food tonight, because I am so happy with 3 pages article with color pictures for my recipe book. This week, I got a phone call from a traditional news paper company.

They are interesting about my recipe book and they want have a interview with me.
Sure, I said "oh, this is wonderful". On Thursday, a intelligence lady and a photographer came to my house and I talked about my book and my dream almost for two hours. They enjoyed with my food which I cooked "brown rice sushi rolls" and "steamed salmon and mushrooms".

Oh, someday I will show my recipe of "steamed salmon with vegetable" at this blog.
So easy, quick and delicious dish for you. Sometime,my son cook this dish in NY.

Anyway, the article came out today and that was a wonderful surprise for me.
Almost 3 pages, They talk about my life, career, dream and recipe book with color pictures.

How I am a lucky person!

I am looks "nice" on the picture of newspaper.
I hope more people can buy my recipe book for their healthy eating habit.
I have confidence for the taste and quickness of my recipes.

You know, somebody talk about you with beautiful words, that make you so proud of yourself.

So, I am so happy tonight and I have to toast for myself with my favorite wine.

Good night!

Keiko

Tempura soba noodle soup 12/17/08

2008-12-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

I made soba noodle soup with vegetable tempura for lunch today.

I love mushroom tempura with a lot of grated daikon (white radish) and tempura sauce.

I went to Japan in this summer with my vacation.

I went to a very famous tempura restaurant, called "Tenichi" in Ginza Tokyo.

I saw the pictures which Henry Kissinger, President Clinton and another famous politicians were eating a huge shrimp tempura at this restaurant.

In here, they served a lot of grated daikon with the tempura sauce.

I was surprised with the amount of grated daikon, not only like 1Tbsp, they serve like 1 cup of grated daikon for each customer's tempura sauce.

That was so delicious!

So, since then I make a lot of grated daikon for my tempura. I love the"Tast"

I will show noodle soup recipe for you today.

This recipe is good for soba, somenn, udon noodle soup.

Especially in winter time, we love this noodle soup for lunch.

Noodle soup: 4 cup water, 1Tbsp dashi powder, 3 Tbsp cooking sake, 3 Tbsp mirin, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tsp sugar, 1/4 tsp salt.

Direction: a pan + water ~ boil ~ add all the seasoning ~ add the steamed noodle ~ done!

* I put all my vegetable tempura on the soba soup for my blog picture,

but you should enjoy with putting the tempura on the side dish and take it to the soup one by one, otherwise the tast of tempura will become soggy.

Enjoy !

Keiko

Kimuchi Pot 12/15/08

2008-12-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

We had a very, very cold day today, heavy rain for all day.

We are so spoiled with beautiful weather for all seasons of the year in L.A.

I love to see the rain, but I am not so good with the cold weather.

So I cooked "kimuchi Pot" tonight.

This is a Korean dish which Japanese people love to eat in winter time in Japan.

This pot make our body and stomach so warm and happy.

My boys who came from China and Turkey got enjoyment with this "spicy hot pot", even they ate this pot for the first time.

Kimuthi Pot: 7oz pork loin (thin slices), 5oz kimuchi, 1/4 nappa (cut coarsely), 1/5 daikon(half moon), 1 tofu (cut in 8 pieces), 4 pc mushrooms, 1bunch green onion (cut into 2 inch), 2Tbsp sesame oil, 4 cup water, 2 Tbsp dashi powder, 1 Tbsp chicken powder, 2 Tbsp kotyujyan (hot pepper paste), 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp cooking sake, 1~2 Tbsp sugar (mirin), 1 Tbsp grated ginger, 2 Tbsp garlic (fine chopping), 1 Tbsp sesame seeds.

Direction: Earthnware pot (medium) + sesame oil + pork ~ stir fry ~ add the kimuchi ~ stir fry ~ add the water ~ boil ~ add all the vegetables (except green onion) and tofu ~ add the kotyujan and all the seasonings ~ simmer ~ add the green onion and sesame seeds ~ done!

* You can find kotyujan at Asian market.

This pot is the best dish for cold, windy day in winter.

Enjoy !

Keiko

Brown rice 12/14/08

2008-12-15T12:29:00.000-08:00

I would like to talk about brown rice today.
When I was young, I didn't like brown rice because texture was unpleasant for me.
Since I found out "sweet brown rice", I am enjoying delicious brown rice.
Even for sushi, I use this brown rice. One thing you have to soak it for 2~3 hours at least.
I prepare the day before night time and cook in the next morning.
This brown rice is so delicious, please try to cook for yourself.
You will appreciate to me!

Brown rice: 2, 1/2 cup sweet brown rice, 1, 1/2 cup brown rice, 4, 1/3 water

Direction: Wash the rice in cold water and stir it and pour off the water ~ repeat this action 3, 4 times until the water become clear ~ soaked the brown rice with 4 and 1/3 cup water for 2,3 hours ~ just cook it with your rice cooker ~ after you cooked the brown rice, leave it to settle with the cover for 20 min.

Enjoy!

See you tomorrow.

Keiko

Teppan yaki and Tough times of your life

2008-12-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

I made "Teppan yaki" tonight.

This dish is so easy to prepare, you just cut all ingredients.

I got this portable electric teppan grill at Macy's for only $40.

You can enjoy "Teppan yaki" with your family without your long cooking time.

Dipping sauce: 2 Tbsp oyster sauce, 1 Tbsp Soy sauce, 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp vinegar, 2 Tbsp sugar, 1Tbsp grated garlic, 2Tbsp grated onion. Mix well.

Life is tough.

I always tried to challenge for my new world in my life.

I had 2 restaurants and 2 houses already by 28 years old in Japan.

I was very comfortable there, but I decided to come to L.A all by myself, just because I couldn't forget this beautiful blue sky and endless free way to reach the sky. I came to L.A before the year of summer by my vacation, I just fall in love to L.A in seconds.

I went back to Japan, but after that, I could not stop thinking about L.A for all my 24 hours.

Yes, even I was sleeping, I was watching the dream of this blue sky.

After I die, if my god ask me about my " most memorial day in this life", I will pick the day of "my son was born" as my best day and as second, the day " I came back to L.A with my strong decision of never going back to Japan again until my dream come true"

I really feel so happy and lucky with this strong decision now after almost 30 years later.

But my first 5 years were very tough for me.

My story will never end if I keep talking about my 30 years, so I stop this story now tonight.

One thing I would like to say, you will learn so much, so deeply, so seriously about your life from your tough times.

When I saw some people were laughing loudly from their heart, I thought to myself,

"could I have the kind of day which I can laugh from my stomach and heart in my future?

May be never happen to me again."

But don't worry, you will have the kind day which you are laughing and smiling so hard with dancing yourself after your tough time is over.

If you don't run away from your tough things and try to fight with your best at the time.

See you tomorrow.

Keiko

Japanese curry 12/12/08

2008-12-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

I made Japanese curry tonight.

When I was a small girl, curry was a special dish for me and my sister.

Even, we go out for a family restaurant, I always ordered "curry".

In Japan, around 1950~60 years, we couldn't have luxurious life or foods like right now.

So, "curry" was special dish for us. Also I remember "beef" was so expensive, my family could make "sukiyaki "only 2~3 times in a year. How wonderful good old days, we could be so happy and start singing with small, small things.

My favorite curry, Thai green curry, red curry are delicious. I love Thai foods.

I can't find magnificent delicious Indian curry in L.A.

So, I cook my way's curry with chicken, pork, beef and sea food.

Tonight, I made chicken curry.

I always put "secret ingredients" for my curry.

Dark chocolate, grated apple, butter, instant coffee, yoghurt, oyster sauce, worcester sauce, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, red pepper, tomato, soy milk, sugar, honey.

These are my "secret weapon" for my curry.

I don't put all things to my curry, you have to choose which one is good for each ingredients curry.

I don't want to show you which one I put for this chicken curry, this is my "business secret".

No, no, just kidding, I will show some of my secret weapon for tonight's chicken curry.

Chicken curry: 10 oz chicken thigh (cut coarsely) 1 onion (thin slices), 2 potato (rolling wedge), 2 eringi mushroom (round), 8 cherry tomato, 1knob ginger (grated), 3 clove garlic (grated),1Tbsp crushed dark chocolate, 1tsp sugar, 1Tbsp oyster sauce, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 4 cup water, 2 Tbsp butter, 1 Tbsp oil, 3 pc curry mix, 2 Tbsp curry powder, black pepper.

Direction: Put the onion with butter and soy sauce in a plastic bag and cook for 8 min in microwave oven. Heat (medium) + a frying pan + oil + chicken ~ fry ~ nicely browned ~ transfer to a pan ~ a same frying pan ~ add all the vegetables ~ stir fry ~ transfer to a pan ~

add the water ~ add all seasonings and condiment ~ simmer for 30 min~ 1 hour ~ done!

Enjoy with brown rice.

See you tomorrow.

Keiko

Somen miso soup 12/11/08

2008-12-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

My boys are so busy for final examination now. So I will show my memorial miso soup tonight.

April 1986, I opened my Japanese restaurant in CA. That time, sushi and another Japanese dishes were not so popular, only in Hollywood or downtown L.A area, we could find a few Japanese restaurants and some girls were wearing Japanese kimono as uniform.

We have venerable 6 colleges, and very conservative people live in our town. I decided " no kimono" they are not active uiform, "no tofu and seaweed for miso soup". Most Japanese restaurant put same things for miso soup, so American people think that is only miso soup. I wanted put something unique ingredeint for my miso soup. Somen is delicious thin noodle and we eat somen in the summer as cold dish.

I think, even now you don't see somen miso soup at any Japanese restaurant in America. We served special " somen miso soup" to 200 customers every days for over 20 years.

All my customer loved, especially children come to my restaurant and talk to me " I was thinking about Keiko's miso soup whole day today". I was so happy to hear that kind of words from children because they are very honest for the taste. Don't you think, this soup looks "nostalgia for Mom's chest". I loved to eat this miso soup with the memory of my lovely small customers.

Somen miso soup: 1/2 pk dried somen ~ boiled it with package' s direction.

4 cup water, 1 Tbsp dashi powder, 2 Tbsp white miso paste, green onion.

Direction: Heat + a pan + water ~ boil ~ add the miso with a small strainer (low heat) ~ add the dashi powder and boiled somen ~ simmer for 2, 3 min ~sprinkle on the green onion ~ done!

* Dashi powder: We call " hondashi" (bonita fish granulated soup stock). You can get any Asian market. They have so many brands for hondashi and miso paste. You find out which one is your favorite for your Japanese foods.

See you tomorrow.

Keiko

Sukiyaki 12/10/08

2008-12-11T10:11:00.001-08:00

Tonight I made sukiyaki, I have 3 kind of recipes for sukiyaki.
For my restaurant business, for my family, and for my diet recipe book.
My friend, Won joined to our dinner tonight, he is a graduate school student of phd, and learning about political science philosophy. He used live at my home for one year last year, so he missed my dishes so much tonight. Sukiyaki is Won's favorite.
Tonight, I will show a simple sukiyaki recipe with seasoning of only soy sauce and sugar.

Sukiyaki: 12oz beef rump (thin cut), 1/4 nappa (cut coarsely), 1 onion (cut into half and cut to 6 against fiber), 1/5 daikon (half moons), green onion, any kind of mush room, udon noodle 2 Tbsp oil.

Condiment: Raw egg

Direction: Heat (medium) +a sukiyaki pan + oil ~ add the onion and hard part of nappa ~stir fry ~ add 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp sugar ~simmer and wait for water come out from the vegetable ~ add the tofu and daikon ~ add 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp sugar ~ simmer, add the soft part of nappa, mush room and beef ~ add 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp sugar ~ simmer ~ add the green onion ~ move the sukiyaki pan to the portable gas stove on the table.

Each person take the food from the pan and enjoy with beaten egg, and as finishing, add the udon. Any time, the taste get weak, please add 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp sugar.

Today, I don't have too much time to talk about life, I think every body have good days and bad days.
For bad days, I try to count my thankful things with my loud voice, "I can see this beautiful sky, I can hear the bird' singing, I can feel this lively wind, I can cook something delicious food,
I can try to smile even I don't want to, my family and friends are fine, we are not under the war, so nobody try to kill me today, that wonderful! " Then I said to my god " Thank you so much, I appreciate it and I try to pretend like so so happy only today. Smile, smile. I know, you will give a good day for me tomorrow." Then my heart start to get peaceful again. I don't have too much wrinkle for my face because I think this trick is working for me.

See you tomorrow.

Keiko

Pork cutlet and Philosophy 12/09/08

2008-12-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

I made pork cutlet which Japanese call " Tonkatsu", cabbage salad, tofu and egg soup and brown rice tonight.

I started this blog as " Food diary" for my son who live in NY. So he can see the picture and my recipe, and then I hoped that he can cook for himself. But he sent a e mail to me in this morning and he say " Mom, you have to write your philosophy and encourage the young people."

I came to America all by myself about 30 years ago from Fukuoka Japan, I started everything below zero, no house, no credit, no friends, no family, nothing. I didn't get marry with American man which was easy way to live in America at the time. I am still a single woman and mother. So my 57 years life time was not so easy life. I learned so much things about life in America. I always fight with my best power for many, many problems and struggles about my business and myself. I didn't run away from my difficulty. Because that was my problem at that time of my life. I got stronger and stronger after each problems and struggles were over. The books of Marcus Aurelius, Dale Carnegie and Joseph Murphy are my best friends and bible for me all the time.

Now,my son is 26 years old, handsome, sweet, and he is a well balanced person with his mind, soul and body. Because I think, since he was 3 years old, he was watching his mother was working and running so hard inside of his mom's restaurant with her certain smile. I was a very strict mother.

I think all children should see how their parents are working so hard for their family.

The money which come from your parent are so valuable with the patience and sweat of your "Dad and Mom".

The story of tonight will be over, I have to talk about my recipe now.

I will talk about my philosophy again sometime.

Pork cutlet: 15 oz Pork loin (cut into 8 pieces), 2 Tbsp olive oil, flour, panko (bread crumb), 1 egg, pinch salt and pepper, 2oz camembert cheese (cut into 4 pieces).

Direction: Sprinkle salt and pepper for the pork ~ dust with flour and put the cheese into 2 pieces of porks ~ soak it in the beaten egg ~ coat with the panko well ~ heat ( medium) + a frying pan + oil ~ add the pork and fry for both sides until nicely browned ~ transfer to a heat resistant plate ~ cook for 3 min in microwave oven with no wrap ~ make sure inside is cooked ~ done! ~ garnish with fine chopped cabbage and apply the "tonkatsu"sauce. If you don't want to use microwave, cook inside your oven (broil) for 8~ 10 min.

See you tomorrow.

Keiko

Grilled pine mackerel & Miso cream cheese soup

2008-12-08T21:42:00.001-08:00

Japanese people love salt-grilled pine mackerel with grated daikon (white radish).
We eat with soy sauce or ponzu sauce. when you cook grilled fish, important point is "high heat yet distance heat". So when I cook it by my oven, I move the rack to one lower position and broil it from the top heat.
I cooked mushroom sauce with olive oil, garlic and rosemary for young boys tonight.

I would like to show a special soup for you tonight. I can not stop my smiling whenever I cook this soup.
Looks is not so great, but taste is "smile". I have a delicious pot recipe with this similar soup.
Sometime, I will show you the pot recipe.

Miso cream cheese soup: 2 potato (cut coarsely), 1 onion ( cut coarsely), 3oz ground pork, 1/5 daikon (half moons), green onion, 6 cup water, 2 Tbsp chicken powder 1 tsp dashi powder, 2 Tbsp white miso paste, 1 Tbsp sugar (mirin), pinch salt,1 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp cream cheese.

Direction: a pan + oil + pork ~ stir fry ~ add potato, onion, and daikon ~ stir fry ~ add the water ~ boil ~ add the sesoning except cream cheese ~ simmer until the potato get soften ~ add the cream cheese and green onion ~ done! Taste it and make smile.
* Always remove the form.

You can use chicken (thigh or breast part) and pork (ham or belly part) instead of ground pork.

Please try to make this soup in cold day, this soup make you so happy for your stomach.

See you tomorrow.

Chicken with herbs 12/07/08

2008-12-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

I love to cook, but like tonight, I didn't want to use any pan, frying pan, then I cook something at oven.

Nice and easy oven dish and a seaweed salad, also left over soup from lunch and brown rice.

5 min for preparation and put the chicken into the oven, I just sit down and read a book.

I love oven dishes because looks good without cooking hard. Just I went to back yard and picked some herbs.

Chicken with herbs: 8oz chicken thigh, 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper, thyme, rosemary, basil.

Direction: place the chicken on a oven plate~ sprinkle the salt and pepper~ apply the oil all over and rub it~ put all herbs on it ~ cook for 15 min with 440F ~ done!

If you have some tomato, potato, apply the oil and just put it beside the chicken. You can enjoy delicious vegetables also. When I serve, I drop just a little be soy sauce on the chicken. Easy cooking but looks good! Oh, and of course delicious, you love it.

Try with pork (shoulder butt, loin part) also. When you make a party, this pork dish will be popular.

See you tomorrow.

Whole squid pot and mushroom 12/06/08

2008-12-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

I made a whole squid pot tonight. Squid is wonderful ingredient for diet.
Low fat, low calorie, high protein. Also I love inner part of squid, Japanese call "wata"

Sometime, I make pasta dish and marinated fresh sqid with wata "shiokara", I made oven dish with "squid's legs and wata" tonight.

About mushroom, I love any kind of mushroom, enoki, shimeji, shitake, eringe.

Mushroom are low calorie, rich for fiber and vitamin b2, also helps prevent cancer.

I always freeze eringe and shitake and use them without defrosting for cooking.

Squid pot: 1 Squid, 1/2 pack Seafood mix, 1/4 Nappa (coarsely), 1/4 Daikon(half moon), 3 Eringe mushroom, 1/2 Tofu,

Harusame (yam noodle), Green onion, 6 cup water, 2 Tbsp chicken powder, 1 dashi powder, 1 Tbsp sugar (mirin), 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp cooking sake.

Sauce: Ponzu sauce with grated daikon.

Direction: A pot+ water ~ boil ~ add all vegetables and tofu ~ add all seasoning ~simmer for 10, 15 min ~ add the squid, seafood mix and harusame ~simmer for 5 min ~ done!

* Always remove the foam.

Enjoy with ponzu sauce with grated daikon.

How to decide the dishes for tonight's dinner 12/05/08

2008-12-05T12:02:00.000-08:00

I told you, I have two international graduate school students at my home.
Do you know how much they pay for me for each meal.

Dinner $6, Lunch $3, that all which I am asking for them. You know most college students don't have money.

And think about their parent, I can't charge too much. So I can't buy too expensive ingredients for meals.

Every day, I check inside my fridge, then I decide which dish I should cook for lunch and dinner.

So this blog's recipe will be very reasonable cost for ingredients.

Sometime I make big party for them, then you will see a lot of sushi menu.

Today I saw beautiful nappa and daikon in my fridge, I have to finish these ingrdients soon.

Tonight, I made "spicy ground beef with sunny lettuce hand roll", "Nappa miso soup", "Stir fried daikon skin with kelp".

When you cook turnip, daikon, carrot, don't throw away the skin part. you save it because the skin have nutritious. I always save about 7lb (thin cut) and cook by stir fry~ Add sesame oil + Daikon +1 Tbsp soy sauce+ 1 Tbsp sugar (mirin)+1 tsp dashi powder~ As finishing, add some seasoned kelp "Tsukudani" ( if you have).

this dish is so good with brown rice.

"Spicy ground beef with sunny lettuce hand roll"

Ingredients: 12oz Ground beef, 1knob Ginger(grated), 1clove Garlic (fine), Mix well before cook--{1Tbsp white miso paste, 1~2 Tbsp Tobanjyan (hot pepper paste), 1 Tbsp Soy sauce, 1~2 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp cooking Sake}, 1 Tbsp oil

Direction: a frying pan+ oil+ ginger, garlic~ aroma~ Add beef~ stir fry~ briefly browned~ add all mixed seasoning~ stir fry~ OK, done.

Please taste it, my recipe is approximate which come from my sense and experience, so you can adjust your favorite way. Put some rice and spicy beef on a leaf of lettuce and wrap it and bite!

See you tomorrow.

Publish Post

12/04/08 Japanese pot-au-feu

2008-12-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

I made Japanese style pot-au- feu tonight.

I have two international graduate school students. One man from China and another one from Turkey. They are around 25 years old.

Could you imagine how much they eat. I will show you what I am cooking every day for them and show simple and approximate recipe.
Because, I cook any dishes with my sense for seasoning unless I decide to put the dish to my recipe book. So please make your own recipe from my basic recipe.

Ingredients: 4 chicken drumstick, 4 Eringe mushroom,1 Onion, 1/4 Cabbage, 3 stick Celery, 1/5 Daikon, 4 mini Carrot, 1 Potato, 2 Shitake mushroom. 6 Cup Water, 2Tbsp chicken powder, 1 Tbsp Dashi powder, 1 tsp Salt, 2 tsp sugar (Mirin), 1 Tbsp Sushi vinegar, 3 Tbsp Cooking sake (white wine),4 clove Garlic.

Direction: Water + Chicken powder + Dashi powder + Garlic~ Boil ~ Add all ingredients (keep medium heat) ~ Add all the seasonings~ Simmer for almost 20, 25 min.
* Always remove the foam.

Condiment: Mustard.

Soooo... delicious!
Especially soup and mustard combination.
My boys were so Happy!

See you tomorrow. KEIKO