?I know you’re not supposed to try to please everyone…But, I’m up for the challenge! So, I created The Ninja Baker’s Asian Style Potato Salad. Japanese sweet mayonnaise blends together ingredients with bite like Asian mustard and togarashi (Japanese chili peppers.) Sesame seeds, baby bok choy, snow peas, scallions and...
Happy Mother’s Day! I’m blessed with two. Both are inspirations. My birth mother is a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist (link). Despite the obstacles of limited finances, Mom’s mighty confidence and unwavering determination resulted in multiple tennis trophies and first place titles. My stepmother, Barbara’s artistic sensibilities continue to influence my appreciation of breathtaking compositions of poetry, flowers, food and furniture!
Formidable as my mothers may be, cooking and baking never ranked as a favorite pastime. As Barbara was a popular actress and voiceover talent in Tokyo...
Soft-skinned and seedless, easy to peel and a pleasure to eat, Japanese Mandarin oranges are generally referred to as mikan. Like wines the differences in seasons and subtleties are honored. Natsu (summer) mikan, fuyu (winter) mikan and haru (spring) mikan are some of the names for Mandarin oranges. The Satsuma mikan was the first Mandarin exported to the U.S. The Chinese characters / Japanese kanji for mikan (??) mean honey citrus.
American peanut butter symbolizes comfort for me. I always spied a jar in my grandmother, Nona’s pantry on summer visits to Colorado. At age five I learned English from my cousin Sarah in Colorado. I remember Nona hovering with a plate of peanut butter topped graham crackers.
Once upon a sunshiny Easter day in Tokyo this fledgling Ninja Baker was invited to an Easter egg hunt for the first (and last) time. The party was held at the home of a rich American man whose garden luxuriously stretched in all directions. (On an island such as Japan, property is a premium.)
Have you tasted Korean bee-bim bop? As Korean food (and TV dramas) are popular in Japan, I’d heard the term but wasn’t quite sure of the ingredients. After flipping through the pages of Linda Sue Park's picture book Bee-bim Bop!, I learned the traditional Korean dish is basically rice with mix-ins. (Instead of sweet mix-ins for ice cream, savory items are combined with rice.)
My husband’s assistant (on the TV show Bones) requested that I make a flourless chocolate cake. I obliged. And covered the cake with Girl Scout Thin Mint based green frosting for today’s "Eat Your Greens!" post.
What foods and/or drinks does the color green evoke for you? When I first saw this week’s #SundaySupper Eat Your Greens theme, my mind flew to the following...
Lurking in the shadows of many a backstreet are shady business deals. However, in the alleyway known as Ganso Ramen Yokocho in Sapporo, Japan, priceless ramen noodle experiences await you. (Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido - Japan’s northernmost island.) Taunting you will be a row of ramen noodle houses. Each one decidedly delicious with a long history (many since 1951) of serving up unforgettable slurps of skinny ramen noodles.
Two courageous grape-growing dreamers, Ernest and Julio Gallo, followed the call of their hearts. With a five thousand dollar loan from a family member, the Gallo brothers ventured into the winery business. More than 80 years later, Gallo Family Vineyard wines are sold nationwide and overseas.
For the Valentine’s #SundaySupper, I’ve prepared 3 Japanese-style treats: Mandarin Orange Jam Crescents, Yuzu (Japanese citrus) Scones and Mini Dorayakis (pancakes with red bean paste.) Happy to say the husband has already been noshing on his Valentine’s Day treats. And very happy to be married.
After many single years of fretting my lovability via a box of chocolates...
