We can carry the vegetarian challenge one more day, especially since the hot weather makes me unlikely to want to cook anything. But meat returns, and the husband is relieved. Here's what's cooking this week. MondayIt was about 90 degrees in the Bay Area today and I really didn't feel like cooking. So I've made a variation on C's Orzo Salad that requires even less cooking. I'm calling it On-the-fly Orzo Salad, and it's at the bottom of C's Orzo Salad page. Fresh berries and maple yogurt for dessert. Instead of cooking onions and corn, I'm using fresh mozzarella balls, red peppers, cucumbers, a jar of marinated artichoke hearts, the last of the roasted tomatoes, fresh basil and a little bit of balsamic vinegar.  Kai choy in the garden TuesdayBanish the Bottle Teriyaki Chicken, musubi, Ponzu parmesan yaki corn, and kai choy sauteed in the teriyaki sauce. Kai choy is in season and the hot weather will either wilt it or turn it to seed, so we'll be eating a lot of it this week. WednesdayNakayoshi Gakko Somen Salad. Both my kids have after-school sports on Wednesdays now, so it has to be something that can be made well in advance. Another great hot weather meal salad. ThursdayAmped Up Macaroni and Cheese and the other half of double batch of From Scratch Pork Loin that I made a couple of weeks ago and froze. FridayFish and rice. Omi's Shoyu Fish, rice and more kai choy. Snacks and lunch foodDecidedly vegetable based for my voracious teenagers. Fresh black-, blue- and straw-berries. Fluffy Wheat Bread, Steve's Hummus, roasted cauliflower with curry (as suggested from Facebook), Baba Ghanouj and more Roasted Tomatoes. Fresh vegetables, in-season berries and warmer weather. Finally on our way to summer. Eat Well. Be Well.
 Omi's Shoyu Fish |  Nakayoshi Gakko Somen Salad |
90 degrees one day and 55 degrees the next. Try cooking, let alone dressing for days like this.
shorts, pool and grill today
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Sweaters, umbrellas and the oven tomorrow
| But we are lucky to live in such a beautiful place. Transition seasons mean taking advantage of spring vegetables; think greens and asparagus, as well as the occasional kabocha when the weather gets cold. Monday Sunny and pleasant. One of those trademark Bay Area days. Misoyaki Butterfish, My Mom's Japanese Coleslaw and rice. Butterfish was fresh and on sale yesterday. Even better, we had it grilled instead of the usual bake. Great when grilled, and is updated as such on the recipe.  Homegrown arugula TuesdayStill pretty nice, but clouds are a-coming. Having Macadamia Arugula Pasta because the arugula in the garden is happy and waiting to be eaten. Wednesday is Rain DayOven cooking. Mayonnaise Chicken, Roasted Asparagus and TBD cooked potatoes--likely also roasted somehow. Thursday is Grill DayGrilled Pork Loin panini with mushrooms and Jarlsberg cheese, or sriacha mayonnaise and leftover coleslaw. The husband made a great and very easy pork loin rub/marinade over the weekend. This means we bid adieu to the pre-seasoned pork tenderloins. The new method is just that easy, and no preservatives. As a bonus, we can make a lot and keep the rest for sandwiches during the week. Recipe posting later this week.Friday Daikon was also on sale and looking very fine. It's still too cold for Na-omi-take tofu, so I'm trying a modified agedashi tofu. Pan saute or grill tofu slices brushed with a little sesame oil. Grate the daikon, mix with ponzu and green onions. Slather over the tofu and eat. Braised kabocha to balance out the high-strung flavor of daikon/ponzu. Rice and kim chee. I do like the sound of this meal already. Adventures from Vancouver start this week too. Eat Well. Be Well.
A good week of leftovers means no wasted food. While my children don't hear the "starving babies in third-world countries" saga that my mother always told me, they know better than to argue when leftovers are the meal du jour or in this case, de la semaine.
 Quiche is long gone, Costco chicken picked to the bone, hard-boiled eggs made into sandwiches and after-schools snacks, and the last of the ham and Greek salad are getting eaten today. Plus, a long-forgotten recipe for salmon cakes was revived. Here was the highlight leftovers meal. Salmon cakes. New recipe in the Greenhouse, working out measurements. Leftover Greek SaladThe lemon juice makes this salad keep well. Just keep the feta cheese on the side and add it at the time of serving. Purple rice from last week's purchase at Hankook. The rice doesn't taste that much different, but it looks pretty.
 Easy roasted asparagus is a new addition that is pretty well based on the Barefoot Contessa, who I adore. We've made it twice, and it was a hit at Easter brunch. Click here for the recipe. Good food makes good leftovers. Eat Well. Be Well.
 There were no leftover cookies. Or Robin's eggs. Easter was a great time with the ohana. It is duly noted that cold hard cash ($3), Avengers squinkies and robins' eggs made for a very entertaining yet moderately priced Easter egg hunt for the teenagers. While there were no leftover Easter cookies, there are leftovers that are nearly complete meals. I love a good game of Leftovers Roulette. I'm aiming to go the whole week on our leftovers. Especially since the huge batch of Greek Salad I made for Easter did not make it to the serving area...there's always one that gets forgotten.
Here's what's being "re-purposed" this week. Leftovers include a Costco chicken, Honey Baked Ham, grilled salmon and LOTS of Greek Salad.MondayChicken Divan, using part of a Costco Chicken and the leftover broccoli from late last week.  My Daddy's Killer Fried Rice
 One of the side bonuses of Easter And of course, egg-salad sandwiches on toasted wheat bread every day this week. Perfectly Hard Boiled Eggs works well in batches, as long as the eggs have a little space around them. No changes to the sitting or boiling time. Lastly, I apologize for the temporary downtime on the site today, and thank the hardworking people at Weebly for getting everything back and running so quickly. Eat Well. Be Well.
We are not roaming the streets in search of the uber-trendy food trucks. I like to have dinner Ozzie and Harriet-style, but this week the kids' schedules do not work out that way. So meals are carry-and-go. They can still have a good dinner and get where they need to go.  MondayTeriyaki chicken sandwiches. Instead of rice, I'm using toasted green onion bread, shredded lettuce and mayo. Trying a new citrus salad. Shredded lettuce, and sliced nashi, oranges, green peppers and cukes with a lime/cumin dressing. TuesdayBreakfast for dinner. Fluffy wheat bread toast, ham and egg cups, adapted from Gale Gand's Brunch! And the rest of the citrus salad. WednesdayJapanese Chicken Curry. We have a good shot at a sit-down dinner, so this meal is definitely not mobile.
 ThursdayPuff pastry tarts with turkey, brie and TBD add-ins. I saw a turkey/brie turnover on an episode of "Diners, Drive-Inns and Dives" Thinking of adding apple slices and cranberries to the mixture. Or I may try pear, brie and pecans or pork sausage. Fish on FridayFurikake crusted fish with yaki musubi. Lots of ideas brewing from the cookbook research and Pinterest. Should be fun. Eat Well. Be Well.
The weeklong cow-fest was a rare indulgence that will not be repeated. When Friday rolled along, even the steak-loving husband no desire for another beefy meal. On top of that, my son informed me that during his weeklong school camping trip, he ate "heaps" of bacon, hashed browns and pancakes for breakfast. Every day.
Thus, this week, we're taking a break from 4 legs. I admit that I'm attempting to make a maple/pork sausage from scratch sometime this week, but will save eating it for a later date. Well, I may have to taste a little bit.
Here's what cooking this week.  Family-sized quiche MondayQuiche with onions, mushrooms, chard, red pepper and jalapeno jack cheese. Normally I would use zucchini, but winter zukes are expensive and just plain sad. Also scored some fresh eggs from a work friend. Maximizing oven use by toasting sage leaves for pork sausage and roasting tomatoes for panini on Wednesday. TuesdayCurry yakisoba with chicken, green beans and carrots. There is really no recipe for this. Maruchan's fresh yakisoba and add vegetables. WednesdayPanini with turkey, the last of a gift of homemade sundried tomato pesto, basil leaves, roasted tomatoes from Monday and mozzarella cheese. I shall have to snag the recipe for that pesto. Will start another loaf of fluffy wheat bread before work in the am. ThursdaySweet Potato Curry. When it's warmer in Toronto, Ottawa and Providence than it is in California, it's time for a spicy, hearty and completely vegetarian curry. Fish on FridayMahi Mahi with Tomato Cilantro Butter sauce. This is a great dish that has been sitting in the Greenhouse for far too long. And the cilantro in the garden is calling out for it. Last week's menu definitely reinforced the idea of eating everything in moderation. Lesson learned. Eat Well. Be Well.
Cows will not be sacred this week. My son, who doesn't eat cow as a lifestyle choice, has educated us. We rarely eat beef. However, he is on a school trip. While I miss him dearly, much more than say, his older sister does, we will console ourselves with beef. Here's what's cooking this week.
 Korean Egg Meat Jun MondayKorean Egg Meat Jun, My Mom's Japanese Coleslaw and hot rice. I don't have enough time to make Macaroni Salad, otherwise, this would be a pretty fair plate lunch dinner. TuesdaySalt and Pepper Shrimp, green beans, Okinawan sweet potatoes and rice. Day 1 prep for Beef Barley Soup/Stew. You didn't really think we would eat beef every day did you?! Even the steak-loving husband has limits. WednesdayBeef Barley Soup and Fluffy Wheat Bread because it's supposed to rain, rain, rain. Perfect soup weather. ThursdayChicken Piccata, mashed potatoes and broccoli. Fresh lemons from my neighbor work well. This may turn into Fixed Lemon Chicken, depending on how I feel. I may even feel like a cheeseburger from In-n-Out. FridayChristine's Clam Chowder and the rest of the bread. Fish on Friday, more or less. Please note that this is a one-week cow-feasting anomaly. I do not advocate eating this way as a normal routine. I'm grateful and proud that my son has steadfastly stuck to his no-cow commitment. Eat Well. Be Well.
 Mom's table I owe my parents big time for making 'any kine' food, and not just what my sisters and I preferred. Whether I liked something or not was irrelevant. Dad liked it, it was good for you, and starving children in the far reaches of the world would gratefully consume your creamed tuna or daikon greens, thank you very much. You ate what was made.
I came to appreciate this when my babies started having food opinions. This newby parent was convinced that her piteously hungry children would starve or worse yet, be emotionally scarred for being forced to eat something that didn't appeal to their largely untested and extremely limited toddler palates. At that point, my pediatrician said, "Look at that child's thighs. If he misses a meal he will most definitely not starve. Do not short-order cook for your children. Think of how you ate as a child." Did I mention I love my pediatrician? Epiphany. Meals at my parents house were as much about trying new foods as nourishment. Their neighbors and friends were Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Haole, Hapa, Hawaiian...and we were always getting something new to add to the dinner table. So this week is inspired by spending a week back at Mom's table. Picky eaters are welcome and most certainly will not starve. MondayNot the Colonel's KFC. The kids had doctor's appointments and Bon Chon Korean Fried Chicken is next to the doctor's office. This is a happy coincidence, and not how I chose my children's doctor. Rounded out with plain rice, nori, green beans and a green salad.
 TuesdayMy Daddy's Killer Fried Rice, using Portuguese sausage and a little kim chee. Plus Choy Sum with Shoyu Mirin Sauce. Mom usually makes this with ung choy, but choy sum was fresh and on sale. WednesdayWatercress soup. Mom made this last week on a 'chilly' O'ahu day when we were all still feeling icky from colds and jet lag. Everyone was happy and slept well that day. Will post the recipe later this week.
 ThursdayHuli Huli chicken, broccoli and musubi. Just because we can't go to the beach doesn't mean we can't have beach food. FridayTofu-tuna burgers. I know, "tofu," "tuna" and "burger" in the same breath makes your head want to explode. If that's not enough, I have to throw in "carrots" and "shiitake." It sounds odd, but tastes really great. Think of it as a kind of hash.
Here's to parents and pediatricians--who tirelessly foster un-picky eaters. Eat Well. Be Well.
 If there ever were a perfect place to convalesce from a very bad respiratory virus, Lagoon #4 at Ko'Olina on O'ahu is it. Three days at the lagoons--mind and body are feeling much better. My Mom's cooking definitely helped too. Back in the land of 50-degree weather, here's to extending that happy relaxed sigh of "aah" in aloha for as long as possible. Happy to be healthy and cooking again. Food shopping for the week is done, and here's what we're eating this week. Monday (Gills) Teriyaki salmon, rice, salad and Grandma Nancy's Ranch Dip. Didn't have teriyaki when I was back, and am craving it now. Have a bag of carrots, a bunch of broccoli and some haricot vertes for snacking and dinner veggies.
 Tuesday (Four Legs) What Started Out as Tyler Florence's Pork Chops, green beans and rice. We haven't had this in a long time and Granny Smith apples are still in season. Wednesday (Plants) Techie Gnocchi. This was one of those meals that didn't happen during the cloud of sickness. Making the most of squash season, and this desperately needs a better picture. Thursday (Feathers) Chicken Marsala with Trader Joe's Lemon Pepper Pappardalle. It also needs a photo and I haven't made this in a long time. Plus, I got a good deal on chicken.
 FridayTacos using the rest of the chicken, which I'll toss in the food processor in the hopes of getting some kind of ground chicken. I think it should work, but I'll let you know. One of those easy meals we've not had in quite awhile. After School Snacks These are things I have been routinely stocking to avoid the arsenic hours of the late afternoon when parents and teenagers tend to get food-cranky. Applewood organic (pork) salami, tortillas, cheddar cheese, tangerines, apples, grapes, grapefruit juice, pita chips, Steve's hummus, salsa, the aforementioned veggies and dip, yogurt, Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal, granola, Girl Scout cookies, and one can of Diet Cherry Coke for maternal caffeine emergencies.
Hope you are all staying healthy. Eat Well. Be Well.
I'm purposely going without Four Legs this week. With the 49ers cruelly eliminated, our Superbowl potluck focuses squarely on eating and deconstructing the half-time show and the commercials. During that time, I'm quite sure we'll enjoy several of varieties of our four-legged friends. And in the interest of full disclosure, I didn't make avocado poke stacks last week--we went to Kikusushi instead. I'm hoping to fit it in somewhere, perhaps at our Superbowl party. With that, here's what's cooking this week. MondayCrock-Pot Miso Chicken Wraps. (Lefotvers Roulette + feathers) This recipe is in the Greenhouse because it is has potential, but needs some serious help. It turned out way too sweet. I'm hoping the Spicy Asian Coleslaw will balance it out and make a good leftovers meal. It could also cause a dinner riot, a 1-day hunger strike, or we could all have apple pie for dinner.  Chicken Adobo TuesdayChicken Adobo (Also feathers) and Japanese Potato Salad. The adobo is by request of my mother-in-law, who will be 'minding' the teenagers. What she says goes. Japanese Potato Salad at the request of the teenagers. WednesdayLasagne (plants) A friend of ours made lasagne with Barilla no-boil with no-bake noodles, and it was awesome. Great taste and texture, in half the time. I'm using Spaghetti Sauce II as a base, but omitting Italian sausage. And since it is not zucchini season, I'm adding spinach and an eggplant. ThursdayGarlic Cilantro Mahi (gills) and Tropical Rice Pilaf. I've not made this rice pilaf in quite awhile and I miss it. I'll have to see if I can scrounge up a mango this week at Marukai. FridayTechie Gnocchi (plants). Light meals leading up to the weekend. As noted above, last week's Crock Pot Miso Chicken is now in the Greenhouse. Lemon Pasta with Macadamia Nuts will probably go directly to Plants as it has given the husband new-found, but grudging respect for arugula. Go New Yor-ngland Patri-ants. I shall look forward to the commercials and lively company. Maybe we'll watch a little football. Eat Well. Be Well.
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