Category: Noodles

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8/31/2014

Perfect for hot weather dinners

Found a great summer non-cooking dinner salad. Just in time for hot Bay Area weather this weekend. With tomatoes and lettuce from our garden.

The first time we made this, we used grilled chicken and somen rather than rice noodles, so we did cook. However, on no-cook weekend, the all-purpose Costco chicken and rice noodles will the the way to work it.

Shred pre-cooked chicken and hydrate the rice noodles in non-boiled water. The rest of it is chopping or tossing.

Eat outside and be happy. Click here for assembly instructions.

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What's Cooking--I say Char Siu, You Say Chashu

5/8/2013

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This week's menu is thanks to my cousin's wife. On her recommendation, I bought a chunk of Marukai char siu, which is really chashu, and it has yielded several meals this week.

At-home ramen bar. Using chashu.

Huh?! A point of clarification with a dose of confusion. Char siu and chashu are both pork, but not quite the same. Char siu is usually the red-colored pork that hangs in Chinese markets. I have a recipe for this, but I don't make it red. Chashu is the Japanese version made from the fatty, marbled pork. It is never red-colored, typically much richer than char siu, and I have no idea how to make this.

At saimin places in Hawaii, you are more likely to find the red char siu with your noodles. However, at ramen places, it will likely be chashu. To make it even more confusing, Marukai labels both kinds of pork as char siu.

Got it now? Here's what was and is cooking this week. Thanks for hanging with me on the late menu.

Lamb Stir Fry

Meatless Monday
Greek Pasta Salad. The household has adjusted nicely to veg-out Mondays.

Sweep Canucks Tuesday
Love Vancouver. Canucks, not so much. Homemade Chashu Banh Mi Sandwiches. Thinly sliced chashu, Vietnamese-style pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, on a crusty French bread with Sriracha mayonnaise. I can't even begin to figure out what "kind" of food this is, other than ono. Posting instructions later this week.

Chashu Wednesday
Make Your Own Ramen. In addition to chashu, I bought tonkotsu and spicy pork flavors of fresh ramen. Eating with kamaboko, kim chee and blanched pea shoots. The photo at the top shows exactly what I had for dinner.

Thursday
Mediterranean Lamb Stir Fry. Using the rest of the shredded carrots and daikon for the lemon rice.

Meatless & De-tox Friday
Co-worker Kale Salad. Chashu is a luxurious indulgence even when very thinly sliced, so we will need a break by Friday. Kale salad is filling and sturdy enough to work as a dinner salad.

Have a great week. Hockey and basketball playoffs!

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What's Cooking from Mom and the Husband

2/28/2013

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Where has Feeding My Ohana been?! I spent last week back home in good ole' Leeward O'ahu. Offline.

Although my friends gave me grief for not having a smart phone, and I did have to seek out a Starbuck's for WiFi to my iPad for directions to get together with the above-noted friends, it was very relaxing not to be online-all-the-time. Everyone should do this once in awhile.

Here is a quick summary on what we've been eating--here and at Mom's house. While we had plenty of vegetables, there was no meatless any day. We were on vacation, after all.

Bay Area Monday
Yakisoba. I cam home with yet another head cold, so this was made by the husband. This is my son's favorite meal, and soon we'll have to start making three packages.

Crispy wonton and roast pork.

Great Aloha Run Day
Crispy wonton, roast pork, and pork with sweet and sour cabbage. I also introduced the family to Co-worker Kale Salad. Mom approves.

Bay Area Tuesday
Carbonara Hironaka. We've not eaten this in a really long time and it was nice to come home to this.

Day at the Beach
Sanny's Hamburgers and Gravy. Homemade plate lunch.

Back in the Bay Area Takeout Wednesday
Yiassoo Greek Food, Tapioca Express and Whole Foods Chocolate Cake. Procured by my fabulous husband.

Thursday
Unfried Baked Chicken from People Magazine. It was very peppery and a little too salty. This is a good idea that needs some re-tooling. Stay tuned.

Weird Rainy and Windy Hawaii Day
For the last two days of our vacation, it poured. Buckets. So it was Mom's Watercress Soup, but made with kale, and just as good. Watercress can be tricky to get in the Bay Area, so this was good advice from Mom.

Leeward Drive Inn, very retouched

Glorious Hawaii Beach Day
Leeward Drive Inn Fried Noodles. Just a satisfying lunch after a morning at the beach. Please note they don't make mandoo anymore, but the Pork Cutlet and Gravy is still fab. And remember, it has and will always be cash only.

Back to the Mainland, but definitely keeping the Hawaii vibe going as long as we can.

Aloha Friday All!

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What's Cooking This Week--Leftovers & Favorites

11/26/2012

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It's Monday and none of this is left

I thought I would not be cooking much this week when I looked over the fully stocked fridge on Black Friday.

Silly me. The teenagers were in the house all weekend. It's more like Mother Hubbard Monday in the fridge now. A half-bowl of cranberry sauce, a bit of turkey and mostly skin, roasted vegetables, three mouthfuls of stuffing and a bit of CoolWhip and apple pie are all that's left.

Monday and Tuesday should finish off the rest of the leftovers, and off to the grocery store I go tomorrow. Here's what's cooking this week.

Meatless Monday
Japanese Curry with leftover vegetables. I used the last shallots and half-onion, plus all the leftover parsnips, carrots and even Brussels sprouts for this curry. With the last of the Okinawan sweet potatoes and kabocha on the side. Curry makes everything taste good.

Chinese "Turkey" Salad

Tuesday
Chinese Chicken (Turkey) Salad. This is the perfect use for the "kuzu" (i.e., leftover small bits) of turkey are always at the end of turkey leftovers.

Wednesday
Spaghetti and Meatballs, with Simple Spaghetti Sauce, as requested by the husband. And a simple salad with romaine hearts. A good break from all the heaviness of Thanksgiving food.

Thursday
My Mom's Chicken Katsu, Co-Worker Kale Salad and rice. November is now too cold for my Mom to make the trip for Thanksgiving, so we'll make Mom-food this week instead.

Possibly-Meatless-Friday
Yakisoba. Meatless, or perhaps with just a little bit of pork. This is one of my son's favorite meals.

Eat Well. Be Well.

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What's Cooking This Week--Cooking for Rain

10/22/2012

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Monday Night Tacos!

Today was the first rain of the season. Time to transition to soup/oven weather. Three of this week's meals are good 'stock-up' meals. Eat 1. Freeze 1. Here's what's cooking for the shorter days.

Monday
Tacos with no seasoning packets. Here is what is in one of those spice packets: yellow corn flour, salt, maltodextrin, paprika, spices, modified cornstarch, sugar, garlic powder, citric acid, autolyzed yeast extract, natural flavor, Caramel Color (sulfites).

JUST SAY NO to those sodium-saturated (430mg) spice packets. Go with fresh onion, cumin, chili powder, bay leaves, cayenne peper and fresh garlic.

おいしい！好きな　食べ物

Tuesday
Number 1 Udon. Char siu was on sale at Marukai, and bok choy is coming into season now that it's cooler.

Wednesday
Japanese Chicken Curry. A double-batch for dinner and freezer.

Thursday
Double down on Chili and a fresh Quinoa Salad, the go-to option for the choir potluck.

Friday
Corn Chowder. This was major comfort food when the weather got 'cold' In Hawaii, meaning the low 70s. Trying a new version based on Tyler Florence and the Barefoot Contessa, two of my favorite cooking references. Trying to say no to canned cream corn.

Saturday
Quiche. Make two save one for later!

Reminder
Feeding My Ohana's Virtual Food Drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank will start November 1st, and we will again be matching donations.

Eat Well. Be Well.

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A Virtual Care Package for a College Kid

9/24/2012

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Brown University, Providence, RI

This post is dedicated to all college kids (and a few in particular) who are now living the dream of off-campus apartment living.

Ah, yes. The freedom of selecting exactly what you want to eat. No more mass-produced, pre-selected dorm food to be eaten at specified times.

The reality of which quickly becomes, "Oh (appropriate college-level profanity here)!? I have to cook! And wash dishes!? And buy food?! Hello, Mom!?"

A friend of mine has a child is in just such a predicament, with two vegetarian roomies thrown in, just for some added fun.

Do not despair, or worse yet, whine. Armed with a salad spinner, rice cooker, a non stick pan, a non-stick spatula and a baking sheet, you will neither starve nor burn through your parents' money eating out.

Feeding Your Ohana 101: Staples you should always try to have in-house

Spices & Seasoners
Garlic. This makes everything better
Coarse sea salt. Say no to refined salt
Black pepper. The kind you can grind on your own
Olive oil. For general-purpose cooking
Canola oil. For when you decide to fry something, and you will
Shoyu (soy sauce). Low-sodium, green label Kikkoman is my favorite
Roasted sesame seed oil. Dynasty or Kadoya brand
Oyster sauce
Sriracha sauce. Look for the rooster on the label. He is your friend.
White vinegar. Buy a gallon and you can also use it to clean your floors. When you clean them.
Balsamic vinegar. Impress your friends
Brown sugar. For homemade teriyaki sauce
White sugar. If you bake. A mom can dream!

Optional
Cooking sherry and ginger

Generally non-perishable items
Onions. Technically perishable, but they last a long time and you will use them a lot
Rice. White or brown short grain, Koda Farms if you can
Quinoa.That you can cook in your rice cooker
"Noodley" type pasta like linguine
"Shaped" pasta like penne, farfalle, or elbows
Nuts. Pine nuts, walnuts and cashews
Dried cranberries. Good to toss into salads
Bread. Add cheese and it's a sandwich

Perishable Items--stored in the fridge
Eggs
Real butter
Cheese. Parmesan and your favorite for sandwiches
Yogurt
Firm tofu. If you and your roomies can make peace with it
A bottle each of lime and lemon juice. Fresh are always preferable, but these are good to have on standby

What you can make with the above supplies plus a trip to the grocery store for fresh produce.

Vegetarian
Bri's Butternut Squash
Easy Roasted Asparagus
Greek Salad
Onzo Salad
Quick Pasta Salad
Quinoa Salad
Roasted Tomatoes, so that you can make Panini
Spaghetti Sauce II--Jars
Spaghetti Sauce Pizza
Simple Spaghetti
Tofu Steaks

Not Vegetarian
Banish the Bottle Teriyaki Chicken
From Scratch Pork Loin
Get a Costco Chicken (or two!)
Laurie's Chicken Salad Sandwiches

These can be vegetarian by leaving out the animals:
Leftover Mauna Lani Chicken Pasta Salad
My Daddy's Killer Fried Rice
Any Kine Quiche

So whether you are Lions, Tigers or any-type-except-Golden-Bears,

Cardinal, Crimson or Big Red--enjoy college.

Remember that if you have aluminum foil and an iron, you can make grilled cheese, and that snow banks are excellent temporary coolers.

Eat Well. Be Well.

Study Hard. Play hard, but not too hard. After all, I'm still a mom!

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What's Cooking This Week--Quick Summer Faves

7/10/2012

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The weekly menu is a little late due to a cross-country flights from New England. It takes nearly 10 hours of total time to get from Providence, RI to the SF Bay Area. If you were to continue back to Hawaii, it would take another 5 1/2 hour flight. I can't believe this is what I did to go to school.

With that, here is what's cooking this hot summer week. Taking advantage of homegrown cukes and lemons.

Dimsum & Diet Coke. First Course.

Monday
Takeout Chinese. Although I did manage to get my son to soccer practice, I spent most of the day trying not to fall asleep at inopportune times. Hence, the Diet Coke/Dimsum appetizer. Thankfully, my totally awesome husband brought back my favorite Chinese food for dinner.

Tuesday
Zaru soba topped with green onions and perhaps kamaboko. Plus the rest of the Chinese food.

Wednesday
Romescu Chicken. Thinking this will be made as a salad or open-face sandwich with lettuce and cukes.

Thursday
Whole wheat pasta and tofu with coconut curry sauce, a riff on Cooking Light's Beef Soba Noodles. The original recipe got only bell curve reviews, but has a lot of potential with the ingredients--coconut milk, lime, honey, curry powder...in other words, the perfect baseline to tinker with.

Friday
Yaki Musubi, My Own Namasu and Furikake Salmon. My sister made furikake salmon for my Hawaii ohana last week, and now I'm craving it.

Extras
To use the lemons and cukes and to keep the teenagers in check
Summer Water, gobs of it as a thirst-quencher.
Lovely Lemon Curd, because it plays well with so summer berries and stone fruit
Fresh cut watermelon
Spinach dip for crackers, carrots and cukes
Another batch of Kale Chips, trying a sesame oil/furikake version.

Eat Well. Be Well.

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What's Cooking this Week--Happy Bowls of Warm

11/7/2011

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Standard Time brought cold weather and a hankering for some of my Mom's Portuguese Bean Soup. Bringing out the one-bowl meals this week.

Portuguese Bean Soup is total Hawaii comfort food. Like macaroni salad, every family has its own spin. If there is any 'secret ingredient' to soup, it's time. Making it is definitely a process that needs to start on the weekend. But it will make enough for a weekday meal plus a frozen one.

Pictures from Day 1

The first day is all about creating the stock and removing fat (See picture at right). Skim it and send it into the trash than through your arteries.

Sunday
Furikake salmon, two flavors, salad, roasted sweet potatoes and rice. Just crust salmon with furikake, cook in a bit of oil and eat over hot rice for a fast simple dinner.

Monday
Mom's Portuguese Bean Soup. My house is feeling warm and cozy and smelling very good.

Tuesday
Oyako Donburi. More comfort food for cold weather. Another warm bowl of goodness for dinner.

Wednesday
Pan-fried noodles. This is overdue as we haven't had it in quite awhile. Will use a bit of chicken, or perhaps go vegetarian altogether.

Thursday
It's hockey night. Spam musubi, li-hing apples and string beans with a goma shio-sauce. Go Sharks!

Friday
Chicken Tortilla Soup. With more rain forecast, tortilla soup sounds like a good way to end the weekend.

Eat Well. Be Well.

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No Electricity Required

What's Cooking--I say Char Siu, You Say Chashu

What's Cooking from Mom and the Husband

What's Cooking This Week--Leftovers & Favorites

What's Cooking This Week--Cooking for Rain

A Virtual Care Package for a College Kid

What's Cooking This Week--Quick Summer Faves

What's Cooking this Week--Happy Bowls of Warm

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