Seaweed Salad

When I was cleaning out my pantry the other day, I found a package of nori sheets (the black/dark green seaweed wrappers that are used for making sushi) hiding in the back. I decided to see what type of other recipes used nori sheets besides sushi. I came across this recipe for a quick and easy Seaweed Salad that looked interesting, so off to the kitchen I went. I'm happy to report that the dish was a success, I just loved it! I used my kitchen scissors to make quick work of cutting the nori sheets into thin ribbons and after just a few minutes of soaking them in warm water, a bit of easy shredding/combining of other ingredients, I was ready to assemble my lunch. I've seen seaweed salads for sale in some of the upscale markets, but they're always expensive, so I'd never tried them before. Didn't know what I was missing. So happy that I can now make it at home. Cheap and cheerful makes this cook smile. :)

S & B Golden Curry Mix ~ a quick & easy meal, ready in minutes

S&B Golden Curry Mix ~ This is the BEST Curry Mix there is!!  I've been a huge fan of this Japanese brand since the 1980's. It's so versatile, just add your favorite meat/veg, simmer for a few minutes, serve over cooked rice & just like that ~ you've got dinner.  This curry mix base is also perfect for using up any leftovers you have in the fridge, cheap & cheerful at it's best.  It comes in mild, medium-hot & hot ~ I usually use medium-hot or a 50/50 mix or mild & medium-hot.  It has a similar flavor to Indian curry, but different at the same time, it's addicting.  :)

When I worked in downtown L.A., I would go to some little restaurants in J-Town, many of them used it & I got hooked.  If your regular market doesn't carry it, you can order it on Amazon or try looking for it in an Asian Market, that's were I found it here.

Cooking with Mochi ~ Waffles, Pan-Fried & Baked ~ The Kind Diet, Superhero Recipes

Mochi Waffle with Lemon-Walnut-Rice Syrup

This weekend I decided to cook some more recipes from The Kind Diet Cookbook, by Alicia Silverstone.

A few months ago I did a post about what I thought about her cookbook & what I had made from it so far.  Last time I was reading through it, I was intrigued by the notion of cooking with mochi.  Alicia had a few Superhero mochi recipes that sounded good, so I decided to try them this time around.

Pan-Fried Mochi

Baked Mochi

I'm glad I tried the recipes, but I don't think I will ever cook with mochi again, it's just too chewy for my taste. I was never able to get the pan-fried or baked mochi to look like the pictures in the recipes.  The pan-fried mochi looked like breakfast sausages to me, although I did enjoy the sweet/savory taste of the rice syrup/shoyu glaze.  The baked mochi looked like, well, you be the judge... The waffle mochi did morph into a true waffle shape, but again, it was just too chewy for me.  I suppose if you must eat gluten-free, mochi would allow you to make some interesting dishes.

Simple Chinese Meals ~ So easy to cook Asian food at home...

Sometimes, I feel like having some Chinese food.  Sometimes, I want to go out to the local Chinese restaurant & enjoy their vast lunch buffet.  Sometimes, I just want to stay home & have some quick & easy Chinese food that I make myself.  On those days, this is what you might find cooking in my kitchen.  Not having a certain ingredient will ever stop me from making a dish, I just improvise with what I have on hand.  It's the only way to cook when you have a craving.  :)

Hot and Sour Soup ~ When Roy is sick, I like to made him some homemade soup.  He really enjoys Hot & Sour Soup at the Chinese restaurant ~ whether he has a cold, or not.  Last time he was ill, I found a recipe for the soup in The Joy of Cooking cookbook & improvised with what I had on hand. It turned out really good!

Double Mushroom Miso Soup & Sesame Broccoli ~ I saw this post (for these two recipes, making one meal) on Facebook, ~ from the blog,  Fat Free Vegan.  I had all the ingredients, so I made it for my lunch that same day. Very tasty.  I wonder sometimes if I have too many items/ingredients in my pantry/fridge...Nah. :) ~ 

  Udon Noodles ~ I know these are Japanese noodles, but they have similar noodles in China, so I'm taking the liberty to include them in this post.  (I hope no one minds :)  I love cooking with these noodles, they are so quick & easy. They make a fantastic presentation & are a great way to use up any leftovers you might have in the fridge.  I make both  hot & cold dishes with these tasty noodles. So versatile!

Sweet & Sour Pork ~ Roy & I had the munchies late one night & he decided to cook.  I had some leftover pork chops/rice & he made this REALLY good meal in no time flat. Bottled Sweet & Sour Sauce is such a quick way to make this meal.  He threw in some canned tropical fruit & frozen bell pepper strips.  Literally, 15 minutes from start to finish.  I love it when we have just the right ingredients all ready to go in the fridge.

Chinese Chicken Salad with Almonds, Ramen Noodles & Oranges ~ I love making this dish with shredded cabbage or even using coleslaw mix (to make it faster to create).  It travels well, keeps a perfect crunch & is great for potlucks & family get togethers.  I have been making it for years!

Just change up the presentation a little bit & the Chinese Chicken Salad can look elegant.  Who knew ramen noodles could look so sophisticated? 

Asian food