Okonomiyaki

okonomiyaki
Japanese pancake - fry as you like it(meaning of this dish in japanese)
prep:10min | total:30min

1/2 roughly chopped cabbage
2 Tbs katsuobushi
2 scallions chopped
1 tbs benishoga 1/2 cup Raw shrimpbatter
1 cup flour
2 eggs
2/3 Cup water
1/4 tsp salt

okonomiyaki or tonkatsu sauce
aonori
Japanese mayonnaise
katsuobushi

MIX okonomiyaki flour and water in a large bowl
ADD eggs, cabbage, ginger, shrimp, and roughly mix –don’t mix too much , it make the glutenchewy
HEAT the pan with 1 tbsp oil and pour 1/2 okonomiyaki mixture,
FLIP over pancake and cook another 5min
FLIP again an cook few more minutes until the pancake is well browned ARRANGE in a plate, decorate katsuobushi, mayonnaise, aonori on top

Zanzai

Zenzai is the best dessert to cool off

Prep:overnight | Total:4h(over night+4h)

shiratama ball:
1/2 box(16 ounce)shiratamako(rice flour)
2/3-3/4 cup water

For topping azuki paste
8-ounce package azuki beans
2 cups sugar
1/2 tspn salt
++ if you are having a busy night, buy azuki(red bean)paste

Prep:before you go to bed
WASH azuki beans
COVER with water, let stand overnight


DRAIN water, replacing with five times water compares with the amount of beans, bring to boil
COVER and simmer about 2 hours until beans become tender. Adjust the water if there is still too much---in the end, we need to make it as paste
ADD sugar and cook about 1 hour, stirring occasionally
ADD salt and cook 10 additional minutes

meanwhile
PUT shiratamako in a bowl
ADD water gradually and KNEAD well, make a stiff dough
MAKE small balls
BOIL enough water in a large pan and add balls
SEE balls float, keep boiling few more minutes
REMOVE the balls and cool in cold water
DRAIN and serve balls in individual bowls and top with azuki bean paste

Red bean sweets

I can talk about Red bean sweets all day! I can't think of living my life without it.
Boiled red beans are mashed and used in a variety of sweets in Japan. As for the historical origin of these amazingly delicious sweets, they are from China. You will encounter different styles of exciting delicious red bean sweets in many places in Asia such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.
Well, I still enjoy holding a package of ice cream while watching TV, trying regular chocolates compared to chocolates that are made of amazing patissiers like jewelries, and dainty cupcakes... I love those as well! Who doesn't?

But as I grew up in a family with the smells, I was always able to try homemade red bean desserts my mom made at home, it didn't take long to get to know these amazing desserts' existence.

Let me share some of the desserts that red bean paste are used in. You will love them. And definitely those desserts will make you smil!

Here we go.

This is called 'Anmitsu'.

Anmitsu which normally comes in a bowl consists of lots of ingredients, great red bean paste, small cubes of jelly. boiled peas, different fruits, and always comes with original special syrup and is poured before we eat it.

Okay, what is your favorite food to eat when you are very tired? The food you want to choose sitting on the couch, enjoy it with your favorite movie. Hot red bean soup... this always gives you a sense of comfort. You will realize the stress, fatigue feelings... all fade away!

This is called 'Oshiruko', red bean paste soup, normally served with rice cakes!

Sometimes we enjoy this as cold, or we enjoy just rice cakes with paste!(without soup)

Daifuku, this round dessert consists of round rice cakes stuffed with red bean paste.

Here's 'dango' which is a rice cake on a stick. It is normally served on a skewer. These dangos are made of rice-flour, small balls of dango(3-5 balls) are served with different tasts. Covered with a sweet soy sauce glaze, red bean paste, green tea paste etc.

'Taiyaki', fish-shape cake stuffed with sweetenedred bean paste.

This Sea bream fish is called 'Tai' in Japanese and we traditionally eat this for celebrations. When you walk around in an off-central area, you will find these taiyaki stores. I enjoy buying it while I shop and walk around. Common stuffing includes red bean paste, custard and chocolates.

Well, let me tell you about one more dessert. 'Yokan' is a very thick jellied dessert cooked with red bean, agar and sugar. Simple Yokan consists of only these ingredients. However, with other desserts, we have varieties of this type of dessert as well. Some stuffed with chestnuts, some are chilled, some are added with more water when cooked so it is very moist. We eat by slicing it.

Try to stop by the dessert section at the supermarket and separtment store!

I have to tell you, don't forget to prepare hot green tea. These sweets and green tea are the best combo! Enjoy these delicious desserts and blow your winter emotions away!