Girl Just Want to have FUN!

Blueberry muffins with a caramelized pistachio topping

2008-08-17T21:15:00.003+08:00

I never had a store bought muffin in my whole life. Those overly-densed and heavy objects sits like a small rock on my palm, I do not want those in my gastric tracts.

But I love to fool around with muffin recipes. Do not be fooled by the simple appearance, they are the bane of my baker's ego! Getting them to turn out right becomes the one and only reason I keep baking them.

Today's batch came out light and airy, but maybe a tad sweet for non sweet-toothers. I may actually start to appreciate muffins, from my own oven, of course.

What's for lunch?

2008-08-17T21:09:00.003+08:00

It is amazing what instant ingredients can churn up.

A couple of tortilla wraps, a can of turkey and beans, a few kinds of cheese and voila! Lunch!

Accompanied with a tall glass of coca-cola...

This is what I call a leisurely lunch on a hot afternoon.

2008-08-08T13:28:00.000+08:00

Asahi, Kirin, Suntory, Sapporo, Orion, the 5 major players in the beer making market of Japan are lamenting over the same problem these days- drop in their sales figures.

Beer is deem as a traditional beverage and every adult coming of age will learn to consume it, perferences notwithstanding.

After a long, hard day at work, a draft of bitter for the men and a mug of frothy for the ladies is a common sight in izakayas all over the country. Foreign beers started to seep into the market along with open trade and these days for the young yuppies, beer meant belgian imports, beers infused with fruits and flowers.

The younger generations are hooked on the mildness and sweetness of these avant-grade beverages, traditional bitter brews are shunned as being cool and be seen sipping a beer merged together.

Thus, beer-makers tripped all over themselves to get studies done on the drinking habits of the average Japanese consumer. Asahi decided on the road of mimick and infused ginger into their new range of beer.

Kirin, meanwhile, found out that drinkers of age 35 and above finished a typical 350ml can of beer in under 10 minutes but for those younger than 35, the consumers took longer to finish their drink. The primary reason cited was that younger drinkers have their beer while being involved in other activities like surfing the Net, watching tv or playing console games. With the visual distractions, beer is merely an accompaniment.

Armed with the results from their studies, their new product was born with the name of Kirin Smooth. It touts a low alcholic level of 4% so drinkers do not get tipsy too fast, low carbonated so the bloaty feeling after comsumption can be avoided and low yeast removes the tart edge in the taste that comes from the fermenting process.

Unconventional Banana Cake

2008-03-09T15:05:00.004+08:00

Do you like your banana cake to be moist and soft and light, and as you take a bite the aroma of banana just overwhelm you? Conventional banana cake is heavy with a dense texture. Mine, however, is light as angelfood cake that is kinder on the tummy.

I cheated a little by using hotcake mix, stir in plenty of air, a good portion of bananas and into the oven it goes.

And guess what, this is the first cake I bake that I dare to taste...and I am going to finish it all too!

Curry Udon (kare udon) My Style

2008-02-23T22:05:00.002+08:00

This is a dish that will only appear on a school lunch menu. That is to say, for japanese, the memory of this dish fades with age.

I am not a udon person, I am a ramen worshipper. Being an edo-ite, I also lack total empathy for people who like fat squishy noodles in clear broth.

So I conclude, the only way you will ever find me eating udon noodles is when it is totally soak in curry sauce! That's how I got the urge to cook them for dinner today.

Onions, carrots, chicken, curry paste, water and green onions.

I still can't get over the texture of the udon noodles, but at least the curry was great!

Shoes - Another of a girl's best friend

2008-01-27T20:03:00.000+08:00

This isn't a real informative post. I just want to show off my new BLING BLING shoes.

It is said that a girl's shoe cabinet is always missing one pair of shoes. Although I do not quite agreed with that, I do agree that in order for a working girl to be able to convey to everyone around her that she has made it in the world, she ought to have enough accessories not to repeat her look every day. That should boost the illusion of her purchasing power.

Coming back to me; I always have extremely quiet tastes, a complete opposite of my mother whom I crowned "The Magpie". Lately, as I caught up in age, I can't help but wonder if I am really a baby magpie about the bloom, for I am reluctant to go against the current BLING BLING trend *G*

Easy as pie

2008-01-27T18:59:00.000+08:00

A dear friend gave me an inspiration to make lazy cook's pie. That simply means I use all the shortcuts I could squeeze into one baking session.

Voila ~

A concoction of puff pastry, campbell soup, ham, frozen mixed vegetables, and yellow pepper.

However, I scrapped my original plan to make pie pockets

after I labored through 2. Having gotten considerably lazy, I lined a loaf tin and make a rectangular pie *G*

Hot Soba!

2008-01-24T23:31:00.000+08:00

Being sick wasn't any fun, especially when I lost my appetite with it.

After a week of plain porridge with a dash of shoyuu, which did nothing to boost my feeling of general well-being, I decided to try this.

I needed something to warm me up and give me essential vitamins and this dish is packed with everything necessary and taste great! But, I have to admit, I strayed from the original recipe so I can make it into my comfort food.

The basics of this dish remains the same; soba tsuyuu, mirin, dashi, shio, negi and goma. I used cha soba instead of the normal kind to get some oxidants if any.

Soba is chock full of Vit B and is said to lift depression. Perfect for my downwards sliding state of mind. Minced pork provided the sustanence and lastly, instead of cracking in an onsen tamago, I added raw tobiko.

Clear soup, chewy noodles, puri-puri no tobiko....I was in heaven! Needless to say, I felt better and stronger after the lavish dinner and a good night's sleep.

Green Pea Cookies

2008-01-13T20:08:00.000+08:00

I finally got myself a new tabletop oven and I couldn't wait to get down to baking!

First on the list would be these lovely melt-in-you-mouth green pea cookies.

They are quite crumbly like shortbread, less dense a texture, and with the intense green pea flavour that fills all your senses as it melts all too quickly.

Why EQ?

2007-10-10T14:21:00.000+08:00

Consider these points.

1. There's not much point to either wealth or relationships if you aren't happy.
2. It is hard to be happy with others if you aren't happy with yourself.
3. It is hard to be happy with yourself if you don't feel good about yourself, i.e. have high self-esteem.
4. It is hard to feel happy and satisfied if you don't have good emotional management skills.

Do you agree with them?

Bright people connect dots so much faster. They are good at forming conclusions from collecting, organizing, and interpreting data and in mere seconds, they can easily comprehend the connection between their slightest imperfection and how the world evolve. It doesn't even matter whether their conclusion is true or false, whatever they want to prove, they can.

If we're not busy beating ourselves up, we are trying hard to ignore our true feelings. Many of us become masters at detaching our physical selves from our feelings. We ride through our rough patches by "being strong," a.k.a denying or repressing. We intellectualize, rationalize, justify, deny, and defend. In other words, we use our upper, thinking brain to quell the feelings in our lower, feeling brain.

When we fight our feelings, we fight reality. Instead of finding out who we really are, we try to be who we are expected to be, who we are told we should be. We seek the approval of those important to us, such as our parents, our partners, our teachers and religious leaders. But to be happy, we can only be who we are.

We can grow and change, but when we try to grow in a direction which is against our individual genetic natures, we are fighting nature and millions of years of evolution.

A simple definition of emotional intelligence, then, is knowing what feels good, what feels bad, and how to get from bad to good.

Let's talk about EQ

2007-10-10T14:06:00.001+08:00

Recently I have the opportunity to hone my EQ skills. Without any know-hows, I bulldozed my way in with just my instincts. When I do have the chance to get some facts about EQ, I realised that there is so much more to it than just instinctive reactions.

EQ is about being in touch with how good or bad you feel and how to be in control of those feelings so you would not be swayed by the many emotions running berserk around you.

Many a times, humans tend to get irrated because they are bound by the social norms to behave in a way they are not genetically geared to. Other times, humans deny their real emotions to avoid being frown at for being different. That simply results in bitterness and anger at the world for forcing them into alien moulds.

FritoLay - Aki no Kinoko Bataa Aji

2007-10-09T16:29:00.000+08:00

Kinoko (a variety of mushroom) is the best mascot for Autumn. So what better way to cash in on the Autumn snack scene then a product like this?

Mushrooms are tasteless and odorless in their natural state and cooking them in butter creates an aromatic dish that's quite hard to beat.

When you bite down on these puffs, the subtle taste of kinoko, butter and corn burst within your mouth. The aftertaste is that of lingering kinoko.

I had no problem finishing the whole packet of puffs in one sitting, it wasn't greasy or heavy on the stomach.

This is a season-limited product and will disappear from the any shelves the moment winter comes to Japan. It is a standard practice for japanese manufacturers to stop production of season limited products once the season is over and rarely would you see the same product again in a near future.

The carrot, the egg and the coffee bean

2007-10-08T23:16:00.000+08:00

Put three pots of water over the fire.
In the first pot, put in carrots, the eggs go into the second pot and coffee powder grinded from the coffee beans into the third.
Boil for 15 minutes, then take out what you had put in.

The carrots went in hard but are now soft within;
The eggs went in soft but came out hard inside;
The coffee powder had dissolved, leaving the water colored and aromatic.

Pause a moment to ponder upon life.
Life is not always easy or comfortable, sometimes it gets very difficult.
Things don't turn out the way we want; people don't treat us the way we want.
We worked hard but are only rewarded with very little.

Remember the three pots of boiling water?
They are like the problems we faced in our lives.

We can go in tough and strong but come out soft and weak like the carrots;
We get tired, we lose hope and we give up.
Or we can be like the eggs;
We start with a soft and sensitive heart but we end up tough and unfeeling inside;
We hate others, we dislike ourselves, we become hard-hearted.
But really, we should be like the coffee powder;
The water does not change it; it changes the water.

We should influence the directions situations in our lives are taking, and not let it take us for a ride. The hotter the water, the better the taste.

Problems and difficulties make us stronger, tougher and better. Make good lessons out of the difficulties we face, learn new things; grow in experience. Believe in yourself, keep pushing for personal success.

Avid tomatoes eaters have healthy pink glowing skin – Myth or Fact?

2007-09-03T15:40:00.000+08:00

Never liked tomatoes? Consider this; it contains an antioxidant which strength lies in repairing skin cells. Stress, depression, malnutrition, lack of rest can cause your skin to have a dark, dry and scaly surface and lycopene is the solution to regaining healthy skin again.

Lycopene is what makes the flesh of a tomato red in color, the redder it is, the higher the level of lycopene it contains. That is pretty easy to tell. Tomato skin is actually yellow in color and so, a green tomato is definitely not going to contain a good amount of lycopene as compared to its red counterpart.

But how do you ensure that you obtained the maximum level of the antioxidant?

Strangely, the level of lycopene released increased when heated. That is to say, cooked tomatoes allows absorption rate as much as 2.5 higher than raw tomatoes. Couple that with oil and you topped lycopene absorption level by another 2.5 times.

Lycopene is present in watermelons, guava, rosehip and pink grapefruit too but none as generous a level as in tomatoes.

Like all antioxidants, it is not internally produced by the human body so start on a tomato-rich diet and enjoy the benefits of lycopene!

Orange Crumble Cake

2007-09-01T22:03:00.000+08:00

I wouldn't call this a failed experiment.

It has an orange frangrance, it crumbles and it can be technically called a cake.

Although, it taste rather a lot like butter shortbread too!

This is definitely a keeper, it will need more adjustments and some tweaking.

11 Self-Help Ways To Stay Upbeat and Positive about Life

2007-08-30T11:46:00.000+08:00

Humor. If you can laugh at yourself, you can see things in a new perspective as soon as the grumbling is over.
Be grateful. Sure, many things in life bog us down constantly. But it isn’t rocket science that for every existence, there are always 2 sides to everything. If you see something as negative in that one moment, try looking around it and see the positive side of it too. Grumbling that you need to exercise? Aren’t you also feeling grateful that you are able to wrestle with the idea of moving your limbs?
What’s the hurry? The bane of modern day living, our pace unwittingly sped up whether we like it or not. Slow down, enjoy the moment for the next one will not be the same as this one.
Keep it simple. Science tells us that it takes a million years to change one single gene in our body. Studies shows that we make more decisions in one day than people would make in a year 300 years ago. Have we pushed ourselves beyond what we are biologically programmed for?
Self-awareness. It is important to be aware of our own emotions. That way, we can control it rather than let it control you. Recognize what are the causes will also help us fend off negativity as gray skies approaches.
Turn off the goggle-box. Information overload causes stress in an already busy mind. These days, all the tv are blaring are bad news anyway, who needs bad news anyway?
Join a group. Get out of the house and meet people! Interacting with like-minded people and indulging in a favorite activity relaxes the mind and alleviate the spirit.
Get a hug. A human’s touch can increase the feel good hormones in our brains. It gives us the sense of comfort and improves the mood instantly.
Breathe. Many a times, we do not realize that we are holding our breath. Learn how to take deep rhythmic breathing that will clear the mind and boost the energy level.
Smell this. Smells have an impact on our memory and moods. Naturally, smelling something that is your favorite scent or associated with a happy memory will boost your happy hormones.
Flowers. Unless you are allergic to pollen, flowers are sure to brighten anyone’s day. Our eyes are treated to the brilliant colors and our noses are treated to a medley of sweet scents. That is definitely a good way to chase away the blues.

Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls - 3rd time lucky

2007-08-29T19:52:00.000+08:00

Yes, I did say I was abandoning any more attempts to get this dish right. Trying to get the rice paper wrapping right was tougher than rocket science.

But, macho girl here hate losing the battle so onwards march for the third attempt.

And voila! I got it right this time!

This, however, is totally my own concoction. Beef, sprouts, chinese parsely and sweet black sauce. Chilli on the side for the spicy lovers and ... my secret sauce within that makes all the difference!

Muffin Baby

2007-08-25T23:18:00.000+08:00

I was so darn proud for succeeding in making muffins that came out looking near perfect muffin-shaped.

But then my digi-cam's batteries went kaput... I had to take the picture with my keitai.

This certainly did not do these muffin babies any justice.

Cheap & Delicious in 5 minutes

2007-08-20T13:26:00.000+08:00

Basic components:- Glutinous rice flour + water
Cooking time:- 5 minutes

It's muah chee to Singaporeans & Malaysian
It's mochi to the Japanese

It's not New Year, this girl ain't going to start from scratch and pound freshly cooked glutinous rice till it becomes mochi.

This girl, however, is quite willing to cook up flour and water, and roll it in a chopped peanut and sugar mixture.

Here's a secret tip for you....don't forget the toasted sesame seeds for that X-factor.

Healthy Chocolate mousse

2007-08-13T18:49:00.000+08:00

No, this is not raw liver.

I made this chocolate mousse this afternoon at the request of someone special.

It has to be the most simple, hassle-free mousse I ever seen or try to make. No trans fats, low sugar, throw 4 ingredients into the blender and blend till smooth. Wa~La, you are done!

And it gets even better.

Cleaning up was a breeze...just run everything under water and you are done! Well, make sure you licked all the chocolate clean first!

Tonight's dinner

2007-08-13T18:42:00.000+08:00

I love tonkatsu...it's western food washoku-style!

The secret lies in getting the outer layer as crispy as possible without burning it.

If you are like me, you don't want to end up with a kitchen with an oily sheen on every surface, keep the fire low and shallow fry a piece at a time.

Remember to dribble on the tonkatsu sauce, that is what makes the dish tingles!

Enjoy!

The Art of Gift-Giving

2007-08-06T08:01:00.000+08:00

Someone once commented that Japanese love to exchange gifts. Perhaps that is an understatement. There are 2 major gift-giving occasions specially carved out in the Japanese calendar; it is customary for visitors to bring a gift when visiting a Japanese home; it is also an unspoken rule that one must bring back souvenirs from one’s travels for colleagues, friends and neighbors; and there are tons of other calendar holidays that would render a small gift or other. It is an obligatory social ritual that hinges on obsession.

The budget for each gift will be decided according to the rank of importance the receiver holds in the life of the giver or the depth of gratitude owed but it is almost always natural that the boss will receive a more expensive gift than the friend.

Many a time, it is not the content of the gift that gets the attention. Rather, the luxurious –looking boxes that contain the gift are already a sight to behold. The subtlety of this practice brings a new twist to the saying, “It is the thought that counts.”

Ochugen in July is a gift-giving season that carries the subtle enquiring of the receiver’s health in the harsh summer months. It also coincides with the Obon season which is the welcoming back of spirits of departed family members and relatives. Ochugen originated from the customary distributing of ancestral offerings to friends and family and has since evolved to become an important gift-giving occasion that is observed by all.

Oseibo in December can be likened to the financial closings of businesses. Just as businesses need to summarize their earnings and deficits for the whole year, Oseibo is the practice of acknowledging all the kindness that was shown to oneself throughout the year. It adds to the festivity of the approaching New Year celebrations.

Buying the right kinds of gifts is an important aspect of gift exchanging for any culture. In Japan, to help shoppers tackle the massive amount of gifts one need to purchase during the gift-giving seasons, retailers set up a special corner with a well-planned and extensive catalogue. All one would need to do is to walk into this haven with a long list of obligatory names, choose and mark the items down, sign and pay for them and delivery will be made on behalf by the staff.

Popular gift items are specialty food and confectionary, kitchen or home décor pieces and gift certificates ranked in that order.

Summer Equals Yukata?

2007-08-03T08:40:00.000+08:00

It is definitely summer now. Rainy weather is over 12 days too later than usual this year, the sun is burning a hole in your skin and matsuri (festival) posters are up at every street corner.

The significance of natsu matsuri(summer festival) for the japanese people is great, for it is the largest celebration of the year for the whole nation. Every town have their own little matsuri but some managed to make it so big, it became a national event. Like the hanabi (fireworks) matsuri in Niigata, unfortunately due to the devastation caused by the earthquake a couple of weeks ago, this year they will not be having a hanabi matsuri. Believe me when I say the citizens of Niigata and everywhere else are really disappointed.

OK, back to natsu matsuri official costume! That has to be the yukata! It is a lightweight cotton version of the kimono. Less formal and tons lighter, it was originally a housecoat or pajamas to be worn indoors. Then it became glorified when the rich popularized public baths, yukata is the bathrobe to be worn after a relaxing bath, for both men and women.

Eventually, it became a norm to wear a yukata to your local natsu matsuri because it is cooler to stroll through heavy crowds. And that is definitely an argument men came up with. You see, men's yukata consists of a pair of short underpants and a yukata with a casual sash to hold it up. If he chooses to wander out wearing it, he can replace the sash with a more formal obi.

But for us ladies, it is at least 2 layers of clothings for us, the full undergarment under the yukata and an obi. That itself defeats the theory of keeping cool in hot weather.

Men's yukata are always in subdued colors, but the way they waddle around in one do remind you of the brave samurai of the past. It is no wonder the trend of men wearing yukata is picking up again.

For the ladies, a yukata get up consists of matching purse, clog slippers, obi and hair accessories. The main aim is to make the wearer as colorful, as bright as possible. Summer yukata are always bright in colors, accessories are candy-colored, all to portray the gaiety of the season. So what is the trend this year? The obi has been replaced by the even less formal children obi sash. Not only are these sashes screaming bright colors, they are easy to tie with just a knot at the back and made of bubble cloth so the ends jaunts ever so lightly as the wearer walks.

It had been said that when one puts on the yukata, one wears the heart of Japan proudly on one's body. Every japanese wear these restraints with heartfelt pride, but when it is removed the moment we reach home after all that partying? Imagine that!

How do you look at an egg now?

2007-07-31T13:37:00.000+08:00

Japanese love their eggs.

Every farm region has their own special chicken breed and eggs, each farmer has a special feed. For us consumers, it is the thickness of the yolk that gets us terribly excited. You see, Japanese hardly eat their eggs without the yolk. It is the orange central that symbolises an egg.

Japanese love their egg yolks creamy and runny. There are so many ways eggs make their appearance at the dinner table but all of them have one common characteristics; yolks are never dry and hard.

So what does a fresh egg look like? Raw yolks with a elastic feel, and whites which seems more congeal than runny.

Can one measure the nutrition level by looking at the deepness of the color of the yolk? No, that would be a biased measure as the deepness of the color of the yolk really depends on what is included in the chicken feed.

Brown eggs and white eggs taste different? Brown eggs comes from brown chickens and white eggs from white chickens. Again, nutrition values should not be judged upon color of the shell.

The first egg dish every japanese would have experienced as a child would be o-ta-meshi (raw egg on rice). It calls for a bowl of steaming hot white rice, a fresh (preferably just laid) egg and some lite soya sauce. Crack the egg over the rice, splash in your desired amount of soya sauce, mix it all up and you have a highly nutritious dish that will satisfy any growing child's needs.

But over the years, the japanese diet changed drastically. Children ate hamburgers, fries, cheese, many would not touch anything else that do not resembles a McDonald burger meal. A study has shown that o-tameshi is virtually unknown to the younger generation.

What a touching sight for me to see a bunch of teenagers getting together to share how they ate o-tameshi as toddlers. One broke the yolk without stirring much, one stirred with gusto, another used salt instead of soya sauce, yet another dispensed of the white totally. Pot after pot of cooked rice disappears as they compared one egg from another.

It was a party like any in the neighborhood, only with a specific theme that may never surfaced easily again.

Walking: For fun and fitness?

2007-07-30T09:41:00.000+08:00

For japanese people, walking is a way of life.

Japan may be touted as a country with a quite comprehensive transport system, yet walking still takes up 2/3 of a japanese's means of getting from Point A to Point B.

Consider this:-

Japanese residences are built on the curbs of roads so bus stops are never located right outside someone's door
The immediate buildings outside train stations are shops and business establishments
Most japanese people live an hour away from train stations
Many huge structures are seemingly built with no boundaries in mind
Major train station encumbers a large shopping mall or huge exhibition spaces, which in turn will have a maze of underground shopping streets
Traffic jams are 24/7 so walking is almost always faster than driving short distance
Parking lots are expensive and located a distance from anywhere
No one can really arrive at their destination on only one train ride, and changing trains could mean walking between tracks located several hundred metres from one another in the same station or even from one station to another located independant of each other
With streets lined with buildings and shops windows, it really isn't difficult to find yourself walking for several blocks before realization hits you
Land of shopping malls and shops; need I say more?

Cacao Style

2007-07-29T14:07:00.000+08:00

If you ever have the chance to attend a lesson on chocolate appreciation, you would learn to appreciate the percentage of real cocoa in the chocolates available in the market.

In recent years, Meiji had been coming out with a series of candy with a high percentage of cocoa content. It certainly moves me to know that they are serious in their candy-making.

How do you tell if the product you bought has real cocoa? Look at the cocoa percentage stated on the pack. Anything that states 70% and above is lethally real cocoa.

CACAO STYLE is a new Meiji product. It has a coating of 82% cocoa around a fruity center. This one I'd got is orange. I was expecting a runny middle, much like fruit juice candy, the chewy orange flavored center was certainly a surprise!

Bitter cocoa followed by tangy orange chewy, that is the sensation you will get when you bite into one of these.

This is clearly a product for the adult tastebuds, the level of bitterness may even won itself more male fans than females. Overall, it makes a very nice snack for people who do not like overly sweetness.

Time to clean up that refridgerator!

2007-07-25T14:11:00.000+08:00

Have you ever noticed that times you yank open your fridge door increase during summer? That leads to increase of temperature within. To do your bit for global warming, try cleaning it out so it doesn't have to work doubly hard to maintain the same temperature.

Rule of thumb, fridge contents should be kept at 60% full so air circulation stays healthy.

First task on hand, find a place for everything! Have you ever bought an item and found more sitting in your fridge unopened? If every item is allocated space, you can stop wondering if you have that ingredient at home or avoid getting nasty surprises like discovering that you ran out of something just 2 seconds before you are suppose to add it to the dish coming along quite nicely on the stove.

Next, keep an eye on expiry dates! This is not an activity limited to retail shops. How many times have you found a can of something that has a used by date going back 3 years? Take this chance to discover empty containers that are still sitting pretty on the shelves.

It is important to choose suitable containers for your stuff in the fridge. Leaving stuff sitting in their original torn containers is a sure potential for food poisoning. Make sure containers are sealed tight so different kinds of food items don't contaminate each other.

Tidy up the vegetable drawer! Stack everything up neatly, use containers if necessary. Strong smelling herbs and roots should be sealed seperately to prevent aroma contamination. This activity will ensure that the fruits and vegetables stay fresher longer.

And finally, gather the family to finish the perishables (Ice cream, bottled tea, canned coffee, soft drinks etc...) that had been sitting in there for a year or longer but had not hit their expiry dates.

Failure experiment

2007-07-24T22:03:00.000+08:00

This is the second time I attempt to make rice paper rolls. First time, my fault, second time, my mother's.

Anyway, we agree that we are never ever going to attempt this anymore.

On the flip side, I think I like the salad I made with leftovers.

Pucca Black

2007-07-23T08:17:00.000+08:00

First of all, Pucca is this series of fish-shaped confectionary. It is a thin biscuit crust filled with chocolate. It even has a web page made specially for Pucca fans to interact.

This particular one in the series is filled with bitter chocolate. The biscuit crust has always been tasteless so do not expect it to soothe the bitterness within.

In all of my recollection, Meiji has never gone back on its words when they tag a product with the word "bitter". Likewise, this one is really bitter with just a hint of tart sweetness. Fans of bitter chocolate will not be disappointed!

As children are not expected to like anything that isn't sweet, hence this is tagged "Pucca for adults ~".

coffeebeat

2007-07-20T11:44:00.000+08:00

Reminds me of those coffee candy beans sold in Australia as local souvenirs. But unlike those real coffee beans coated in chocolate, these are really chocolate candy shells containing cocoa and a spurt of mocha in them.

The tiny pellets within are the exact size of coffee beans. Bite down on it and you will be rewarded with a shot of mocha flavor that gives you an instantaneous, momentary rush of caffeine high then followed by the soothing chocolatey aftertaste.

Best appreciated one at a time, well-paced to allow the flavors in the mouth to fade and tastebuds to start afresh.

Handy Cheesy Info to let you sound like a pro

2007-07-19T08:53:00.000+08:00

Fresh (Unripened)
Texture: Soft, creamy, white in color
Main Characteristics: Very spread-able
Common uses: dips, cheese cakes, lasagna, and slather over bagels or crackers
Examples: Cottage Cheese, Cream Cheese, Ricotta

Semi-Soft
Texture: Soft and pliable
Main Characteristics: Elastic when heated
Common uses: pasta dishes, sandwiches, soups, fondues
Examples: Mozzarella

Soft (Ripened)
Texture: Soft, smooth and creamy with a tangy aftertaste
Main Characteristics: A soft, velvety growth (bloomy rind) develops on the surface during the aging process
Common uses: appetizer or as a snack
Examples: Brie, Camembert

Cooked Pressed (Hard)
Texture: Hard with a strong flavor
Main Characteristics: Ripened over a long time, it is hard and smooth with holes
Common uses: in sauces, toppings (i.e. on pizza or pasta), and in soupsE
xamples: Parmesan, Romano, Swiss

Uncooked Pressed (Firm)
Texture: Elastic
Main Characteristics: Aging to determine flavor differences, young cheese are mild whilst it grows nuttier and spicier with age.
Common uses: toppings, sauces, salads, sandwiches, and as a snack
Examples: Brick, Cheddar, Colby, Gouda, Marble

Processed
Texture: Varies from spread-able to elastic
Main Characteristics: Made by blending one or more cheeses together; other ingredients may be added for flavor, such as herbs, spices, nuts, fruits, or vegetables.
Common uses: sandwiches
Examples: Cheese slices, Cheese spreads

5 tips to prolong the shelf-life of your cheese

1. Fresh cheese should be kept in their original containers and kept in the fridge. It is advisable to finish this type of cheese quickly.

2. Other aged cheeses should be kept in conditions which it can breathe. You would need plastic containers lined with lightly crumpled kitchen towels to soak up excess moisture. Breathing room should be maintained between the cheeses and the walls of the containers.

3. Keep cheeses in separate containers, similar ones can be kept together provided they do not touch.

4. Rub cooking oil over the cut surfaces. Once mold starts to form, it will only eat into the oiled layer. You may wipe or wash off with lukewarm water.

5. Short-term storage can be achieved with a larger ziploc bag. Punch holes into the sides and layer kitchen towels in the bottom.

Think you know how to take care of your hair?

2007-07-18T09:36:00.000+08:00

Your hair care regime should be deemed as serious as your body care regime. Taking care of your hair isn’t rocket science but you will be surprise at the number of mistakes committed out of carelessness, over caring or sheer laziness.

1. The myth of washing your hair everyday to keep it clean and shiny is quite unnecessary unless you have oily hair. The natural oils in the hair will actually dry out if washing is done too often. If habits die hard, then use shampoo that is gentle on the cuticles.

2. Make sure hair is saturated with water before beginning the shampoo. Many people do not get hair wet enough for the shampoo to lather up and work effectively.

3. How much shampoo is too much? A quarter-sized dollop should do. Lather it up before putting it on your hair. Massage scalp gently to loosen dead skin cells which are dandruff in the making if not cleaned out well. Do not scrub the scalp vigorously as it will stimulate the oil glands to produce more sebum.

4. Apply conditioner, make sure to work it to the ends where the oldest and most damaged area are likely to be. Leave it on for a minute before rinsing. If you feel conditioner makes your hair limp, or you simply do not have the habit of conditioning your hair, try to use a deep condtitioner once every 2 weeks with a clarifying shampoo for thorough
deep cleansing and conditioning.

5. Unless the conditioner is the leave-on variety, ensure that the shampoo and conditioner are thoroughly rinsed out or it will leave your hair dull, limp and unmanageable, and counteracts hair styling products.

6. Blot dry your hair, vigorous towel-drying may cause hair cuticles and fibres to entangle and break. Blow dry hair till its 80% dry and leave it to air dry. Overheating encourages hair breakage and strips its shine. Always hold dryer at least 30cm away from your hair.

7. And finally, maintain the condition of your hair and its style by trimming it every 6 weeks. The tip of each hair strand is weaker compared to the root so it is more susceptible to breakage and split ends which will affect the shape and style.

Dinner in exactly 1 hour!

2007-07-16T21:01:00.000+08:00

I challenged myself yesterday to have dinner ready in one hour flat!

Hot Dog = 2 minutes' in the microwave

Sunny side up = 2 minutes

Cayenne pepper potato wedges = 15 minutes in oven

Cauliflower tempura = 25 minutes

What kinds of accommodation arrangements are available in Japan?

2007-07-14T13:06:00.000+08:00

Hotels

Many famous hotel chains provide the finest first class and deluxe hotel living. English speaking staff and gourmet restaurants are all part of the package. And most major hotels would provide limousine buses to connect the guest from hotel to airport.

Many businessmen find solace in the wide range of business hotels across the country. Less expensive with less amenities, and no room service. Food and drinks vending machines are available on the guest floors with a restaurant on the ground level. Located closest to train stations for convenience, few would have staffs whom can speak or understand English. Catering to traveling businessmen, room types are usually confined to singles with individual bathrooms.

Pod hotels is a unique feature of Tokyo City. Catering to people who need no more than a bed for one night, usually used by people who missed the last train home, a few do have small rooms to cater to traveling businessmen. Guests are provided with a bathrobe and towel, rooms are spaces only as wide as a lain adult body. , piled onto one another and lined, much like small cavities in cave walls. Facilities include a small TV, radio and lights. Baths and toilets are shared, necessary toiletries are available from vending machines. This is, however, not for the claustrophobic.

Ryokans (Traditional Inns)

These establishments are quite small with a limited number of rooms and usually built surrounding a well kept Zen garden. Room rates normally include 2 meals, dinner and breakfast.

Ryokans are one of the unique aspects of traveling in Japan. Generally associated with a hot spring on their premises, so live in guests may enjoy the onsen. Baths are communal, and very few would have western style rooms. Typical ryokan wear, a blue and white patterned cotton yukata would be provided for use.

To fully appreciate the experience, it is advised that travelers choose a quiet district to stay in.

Youth Hostels

A backpacker’s haven, these are quite the cheapest lodgings available. Not many are open to public, as membership of the Japan Youth Hostels, Inc., or the International Youth Hostel Federation is usually required. There aren’t any age limits although an older guest may be bypassed for a young one in need of lodging and there will be an evening curfew imposed.

Guest Houses (Minshuku) and Pension Houses

Generally family-run, the lodgings are part of the owners’ own homes. Amenities are hardly available and in more suburban areas, guests may be expected to fold and stow away their beddings just like any family members. Meals are provided in most of these cases too.

Pension houses are similar in running styles of the minshuku, but guests can expect more amenities in comparison. You may find the standard toiletries in the bathroom, free internet, pay to use washer and dryer and usage of common rooms like the kitchen and living area.

It is not uncommon to find both run by immigrants or young Japanese couples who can speak relatively good English. In any case, it would be a relief to travelers who cannot speak the local language and a good way to penetrate the surface of Japanese daily life, at lower room costs.

Natto - My side of the story

2007-07-08T16:15:00.000+08:00

This is not a theory paper on natto. I am sure there is plenty of specific info of that kind on the net for the taking.

I am crazy about natto and I just want to wax lyrical over it here.

Natto is, of course, a product from ancient Japan. I can't accurately explain its attractiveness to the Japanese but it is something Japanese appreciates, being brought up on it from young.

I am very much a Kanto resident. (Kanto = region east of Hakone checkpoint) It is said that the people of Kansai, whose palate is mild and clear, do not favor natto like their Kanto counterparts who love their food heavily flavoured.

Many a times, from foreigners tasting it for the first time, I heard comments like "strong smell like decaying cheese" or "slimey". They are not wrong. Natto does have a strong smell and is slimey in texture. Like blue cheese, it takes some getting used to to appreciate and love.

Freshly made natto has a slimey sticky sheen, frozen ones will achieve such an appearance after it has been stirred well with gusto. The more it is stirred, the more gooey it becomes. Then add a dash of soy sauce (optional) and as much karashi (japanese mustard) as you desire. Optional toppings include green onions, seaweed, sesame seeds and thinly sliced young okra or just eat it as it is over hot steaming white rice.

Natto is a staple food of traditional japanese breakfast, along with grilled mackeral and miso soup and white rice. These days, there are many ways of eating natto. There is natto toast, natto curry, natto in pork soup. Fusion cooking has made natto into an ingredient of cooking.

There have been many medical claims regarding natto. It reduce blood clotting, helps lower obesity due to its low calories. It has Vitamin K which aids with calcium binding etc etc.

Ask any Japanese walking by you, they will probably tell you they had natto for breakfast, and they felt vitalised and energised after having it.

And that, is what natto is to the Japanese.

10 Essential Tips - Cooking with a Microwave (Part I)

2007-07-06T22:04:00.000+08:00

Tip #1
Understand what kind of foods are good candidates for microwaving. Fish is moist and flaky when microwaved. The freshness of whole fruits and vegetables are easier to retain when microwaved. Pastry cases bake well covered with kitchen towels, sauces and custards cook with ease and doesn't stick or catch.

Tip #2
Realize what kinds of foods are a no no. Hard boil eggs and shellfish can explode when steam builds under their shells. Batter and pancakes would never become crisp and dry. High salted content foods would dry up too fast to control and deep frying in the microwave is a big challenge for you to control the temperature.

Tip#3
Never turn on an empty microwave. Waves bouncing off the inner walls will damage the cavity. A cup of water inside it will help to absorb the wayward waves.

Tip#4
Meat, poultry, fish and raw vegetables should enter the microwave straight from the refrigerator, canned and dry goods should be at room temperature when attempting to cook them. This is to ensure that the food items cook at the correct pace, not too fast or too slow.

Tip#5
Air your microwave oven to remove lingering odors from cooking. Leave the door ajar and wipe the inside with bicarbonate of soda dissolved in water. Deodorize the oven and your kitchen by heating a jug containing 250ml of warm water with sprigs of thyme, or lemon slices in the microwave oven till mixture is boiling then remove it.

Tip#6
Round containers ensures that food cooks more evenly. Ring moulds helps the center of the food to cook faster and deep dishes will help prevent fast boiling liquids from spilling.

Tip#7
Melamine and polystyrene may overheat and break. Fat and sugar rich foods may also cause plastic to melt when used to microwave.

Tip#8
Covering foods when microwaving encourages steam built up which speeds up the cooking process. The steam also tenderize food and keep it moist. For dry items, do not cover. Microwaving brings out moisture from the food, wrap it in paper towels if a dry constituency is desired.

Tip#9
To prevent "exploding" during the cooking process, pierce all foods with tight fitting skin or membrane to prevent steam built up and bursting. Foods include whole vegetables and fruit, egg yolks, livers, oysters and fish.

Tip#10
Microwaves can penetrate a depth of only 2". Denser food cooks even more slowly. To ensure even cooking, stir frequently during cooking.

Microwave Oven Experiment #1 - Meringues

2007-06-29T16:18:00.000+08:00

I love meringues. These fluffy sweet things, crispy on the outside, marshmallow-like inside...

But oi, they are a pain to make!

Have you seen a basic meringue recipe? "After baking....leave it in a blow oven for 2 hours."

2 hours? Erm, not for me. I have to do something about that long wait.

Well, guess what? I made a batch today!

Firstly, I did away with the hand-breaking ritual of beating the egg whites till fluffy. Secondly, I had them baked in under 3 minutes.

Taste? They are just as crispy and light as any that came out of a blow oven after 2 hours!

This is what I call instant gratification.

With the second batch, I increased the cooking time to see what would happen.

It is not too badly burnt, the brown bits are nice and chewy.

My Affair with the Microwave Oven

2007-06-29T16:02:00.000+08:00

I DO loudly declare that I am a very lazy cook. Whilst other cooks would spent 60% of their time looking for fresh ingredients and ways to perfect their start from scratch cooking skills, I spent that amount of time trying to find a way to do the same thing with less effort and time required.

I love kitchen appliances, induction cookers, and my favourite invention of this century, the Microwave Oven. Ingredients wise, trust me when I say the word "instant" grab my attention faster than a cabana boy *grin*

And so, what I whip up usually involve no cooking or pushing it into the microwave.

Thus, begins my journey to prove that the microwave can whip up decent meals too! I pride myself with having a dash of cynism, for all the microwave recipes I have seen and gather, I rather see it as not plausible till proven otherwise.

Dealing with Difficult People

2007-06-28T23:47:00.000+08:00

Dealing with difficult people professionally and personally you encounter in life must be one of the biggest problems any human will have to deal with. In this imperfect world, it is impossible to find near perfect people, much less perfect people. But then, it is your choice to either deal with it or bear with it.

When coming face to face with a difficult or irrational person, most likely anger is the main subject matter here. If it takes two hands to clap, then it takes one to step back and let the anger and abuse bounce off. Imagine that the abuse hurl at you as a parcel in the mail, don’t accept it and it will be returned to the sender. The anger belongs to the opposite person, it should, therefore, remain there.

Many a times, a quarrel or a fight started when one reacts to the other person’s anger. It is very difficult to remain calm when anger usually spews personal attacks. But if you are very focus on not letting your moods be swayed by outside factors, then it will be easier to step back from all the insanity and stay detached mentally.

Only when one is in a tranquil state unaffected by external factors, positive or otherwise, can one plot the next move.

So what is the next move? Onwards, we would want to look at how to deal with it.

Assuming you are a human with a nice balance of pride and ego, having to deal with external negativity must be a real pain in the side. It is not to say there is a sure way of guaranteeing that what you choose to do will be a permanent and surefire solution. As with dealing with human relationship, it is all trial and error. And if you don’t succeed, there is always next lifetime to try again.

Remove. Sounds extreme? To protect one self is an animal instinct, and we are living in the animal kingdom. However, I am not talking about murder, but rather what you can do to remove the negativity cause from your life. Move away? Leave a job? End a relationship?

Confront. If you have enough leverage, negotiate. State the terms, voice your discomfort, then draw the line and dare the other person to cross it. Many bullies are cowards and back down from a real challenge. You win. But if this doesn’t work, at least you can make a fast decision to cut the losses.

Train. Some nasty behaviors stemmed from lack of emotional control. Adults are just as guilty as children when it comes to being incapable of expressing themselves. In this case, it is you who will need to “potty-train” by doling out “punishments” and “rewards” in accordance to the other person’s good and bad behaviors.

Forgive. If the opposite party is guilty of nasty behavior, it would actually look better on us not to stoop to their level. Forgive and move on may be the best advice yet. But be sincere about it, or else anguish may turn to hate and you will join the ranks of the undesirables.
Let’s be honest here for a minute. If you choose to bear with bullies in your life, there must be a good reason. Weigh that reason, was it a decision made because you wanted something in life and having to bear with abuse is part of the package? If it is, then you shouldn’t be complaining.

If you think dealing with difficult people on a professional level is hard, let’s talk about dealing with those you have close relationships with. Believe me, not every parent is a child’s best friend, and not every child has a favorite aunt, and what about the in laws?

Every child who has to deal with difficult parents will probably agree with me when I say it is so hard to say ‘No’ when the unreasonable scenes start. Be it filial piety, sincere gratitude or respect, it is so hard to tell the other party to stop trampling your feelings. We may have primates for ancestors, but really, how can you forget the kindness your parents shower you with to bring you up?

And that is precisely it. Guilt. That is the manipulation tool parents would use. It takes emotional maturity not to fall into such guilt traps and win a truce.

First and foremost, boundaries need to be set. Clashes in relationships start from not being able to respect each other’s space. However, this is probably very difficult to achieve. You can set a boundary and the opposite party will step over it before you could blink. It is the sense of “I am your kin, what’s yours is mine.”

Next, avoid guilt traps and eliminate them. Every time you sense a guilt trap in the making, don’t fall for it, don’t react to it. Rather, step back and encourage the opposite person to stop. If you can understand that such manipulators use guilt because they are powerless, then you can develop empathy for them.

Lastly, if all else fails, then running away will be an option. If your disability to deal with or bear with these negative aspects is hampering your life's development, then it is perhaps tactical to move away from the sources.

Here is the bottomline. Difficult and irrational behaviors are signs of emotional immaturity. To deal with it, we must, as human beings living in a social circle. Success in handling such situations requires the level of maturity the offender lacks and to want to deal with the problem is the first sign of maturity.

Success may not be guaranteed in every instance but to try is half the battle won.

Burdock Root, Benefits and Recipes

2007-06-24T00:48:00.000+08:00

A particularly popular root vegetable in Japan, and slowly gaining popularity in other parts of Asia is the burdock root. Its level of popularity with the West hovers low, it was even said that no animals won't eat it, only the donkeys would.

Gobo, as it is called in Japan, or niu pang as it is known in China, are cultivated for its sweet taste and medicinal properties.

As a blood purifying agent, the burdock root cleanses the blood stream by removing toxins, lowering the sugar level in the blood, making it a natural cure for diabetics and elimination of uric acid, aiding in the treatment for gout and rheumatism. External wounds and ulcers can heal faster with a burdock root compress by exploiting its antibiotic properties.

Popular in the West, the burdock root oil extract or more commonly known as Bur Oil. It is popular as a scalp treatment. Filled with essential fatty acids, it combats dandruff and improves hair conditions.

In 1265, a soft drink named simply Dandelion and burdock was introduced. It was naturally fizzy and went under the same category of other soft drinks that taps on roots and marketed as a health benefit. Although this drink is still very much available in England now, caution is advised in regards of its authenticity.

Traditional Japanese homemade (Kinpira)

Shredded Gobo strips are soaked in water for 5 minutes to remove the harsh muddy taste. Carrot shreds are added into the sautè. Condiments to add would include sake, mirin, soy sauce and sugar. Finally lightly sprinkle toasted white sesame seeds after removing from the heat.

It is a very common dish that must be available in every Japanese housewife's repertoire. The ingredients are always the same, the recipes will never differ from one to another, but it will be very difficult to find two that taste similar. This is a dish that every Japanese eats and boosts about how unique it taste.

How the Chinese eats them (Meat & Burdock stewed in soy)

Burdock root can also be known as "poor man's ginseng". The aroma is very similar between the two roots and both have medicinal values to boot.

This dish is the best way to bring out the ginseng aroma of a burdock root. Any cut of meat is fine. Go ahead and use your favorite type of meat too! In my personal opinion, pork works really well with this vegetable.

Put the meat, burdock root into a stewing pot along with generous proportion of dark soy sauce, salt and sugar to taste and water to enable the meat to simmer till tender.

The American Camper's salad (A dear friend's personal concoction)

My dear friend lives in that part of America that boosts of mountains and wilderness. Her husband loves camping and one of the activities he would indulge in is harvesting wild burdock. I cannot stop telling her how lucky they are living within reach of young burdock roots!

The young roots are taken home, washed and simmered for about 20 minutes in water and a dash of baking soda. Removed and change the water in the pot. This time, boil till tender. Drain and season with any of your favorite condiments, add butter and toss.

Playful Bites (Gobo chips)

This is my ultimate alternative to snacking, they are really sweet, fun to eat and healthier than potato chips. What else could a girl ask for?

Wash burdock root throughly, do not remove skin. Using a vegetable peeler, slowly "peel" it into paper thin slices. Heat oil and deep fry till crisp. Be very watchful at this stage as the slices of root burn too real easily. Remove from heat and sprinkle sea salt over it before serving.

Gobo chips has the sweetness of a sweet potato and can be quite addictive. It is also easy to prepare and you will find that it is always real quick to disappear off the table.

Fruits for Every Season in Japan

2007-06-21T17:18:00.000+08:00

Winter
(Mandarin Oranges)

This fruit symbolizes the arrival of New Year in Japan. Known as mikan, you can buy them in plastic bags of 10 to 12. It is sweet, juicy, seedless and easy to peel apart. You will find many adorning the top layer of kami-mochi (rice cakes used for worship during New Year) .

Spring
(Strawberries)

Japan is currently known as the largest producers and consumers of strawberries. In the rural strawberries producing regions of the country, farms offer strawberry picking for a small fee. You can pick and eat as much as you can without time limits. In Tokyo City, there is a small but very popular fruit stall in Shinjuku area boosts skewers of strawberries for 100 yen each as their most well-known sales item.

Summer
(Watermelons)

Summer will not be complete with a "Smash the watermelon blindfolded" game on the sandy beach. Watermelons has become a symbol of japanese summers and are consumed with a sprinkle of salt. Ever seen a square watermelon? You will, in Japan.

(Melons)

There are a variety of low to mid range melons available, with the high range musk melons which are only grown in Japan costing over 10,000 yen each. Not everyone can afford this luxury item in the fruit department all of the time, a large price tag that is not quite in proportion to its size.

(Cherries)

Most delicious during the early summer months, they are as fresh as the day they are harvested. Shops tend to lower the prices near closing time so it can be a real bargain in price and a slight discount in freshness if you get your cherries during those hours.

(Peaches)

In season, this fruit contains an amount of juice you never thought possible. Bite into one of these and watches as the sticky sweet nectar ooze out of the corner of your mouth and through your fingers.

Autumn
(Pears)

Thirst-quenching, this fruit has a sandy textured skin but really smooth flesh. A few varieties worth checking out, they are round in shape rather than the traditional pear shape the West are accustomed to. The most common variety available outside Japan would be hosui or kosui pears.

(Persimmons)

This much coverted fruit appears near the end of autumn. Fuyugaki is soft and sweet, Jirogaki is firm and crispy. Many regions would have a variety of persimmons local to them, and the best way to sample them would be to pick up hoshigaki (dried persimmon). These are made of bitter tasting persimmons which are dried by heat. An abundance during its seasonal appearance, you will see a lot of tibits made from it as well as its original form at many grocers.

(Apples)

Aomori is probably the largest and most well-known apple producing region in Japan and Fuji apples variety accounts for almost half of Japan's apples production. the Fuji variety has appeared from many countries but to taste the sweetness of a true Fuji apple, it still has to come from Japan.

3 Natural Sleep Secrets For The Sleep-Deprived

2007-06-20T13:11:00.000+08:00

Lying awake staring at the alarm clock, feeling unfocused and tired, unable to fall asleep even though you are feeling exhausted. Insomnia can be irritating at the beginning but soon it will affect your behavior during the day. To the person who knew you before, you have turned into this monster with enormous mood swings, nicknamed "That Irritated One".

Maybe you are like me, losing sleep as you grow older and more problems piled up in life. Negative feelings are magnified beyond your natural capability to handle with a smile.

So we are surrounded by numerous drugs that promise us a restful sleep, but do we really want to take another pill just to get a night of restful z's? Personally, I rather look to Mother Nature for a remedy and there are plenty out there. Here I'll list my personal three favorite natural sleep secrets.

1. Kiwi - Take 2 kiwis an hour before bedtime and your sleep time will increase an hour on average and the time you take to fall asleep will be reduced to 39% on average.

The reason why kiwi fruits work is because overactive nervous systems, which is a common cause of sleeplessness can be calmed with calcium, magnesium or vitamin C. The kiwi has all of them combined in one tiny fruit that will help you fall asleep in the most natural way.

2. Red Onion - A pungent cure but it works! Slice some red onions and pour boiling water over it. You may choose to drink the liquid or just breathe in the warm fumes. It is said to have an immediate calming effect for an overactive mind.

The red onion not only works for insomnia, it is said to lower blood cholesterol level when eaten and even reduce the occurrence of asthmatic relapses.

3. Turkey - If you always wonder why you sleep better during the Christmas holidays, it could be more than just the long holiday away from stress in the office.

Turkey contains tryptophan which produces melatonin when digested. Melatonin is the chemical that tells your brain it's bedtime. Take it an hour before bedtime to allow total digestion and you will be feeling sleepy as soon as the chemical kicks in.

Nuts about Peanuts

2007-06-19T18:03:00.000+08:00

Americans may be the founders of peanut butter and consequently the biggest consumers of that production, us asians still prefer seeing the little nut whole on our tables.

But no matter which culture we come from, we all agree that we are krazy about peanuts!

It is high in the good fats section, ie. monounsaturated fats, it is a storehouse of Vitamin E, folic acid, fibre and minerals like copper, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and includes plant protein, arginine.

Naturally cholesterol free, satisfies hunger with greater success, it also helps dieters stick to their weight loss diets better by sustaining the feeling of being full longer than any food.

Peanuts makes surprisingly good beer nuts too! Here's 3 ways I prepare them as beer nuts.

Method 1

Deep fry raw peanuts in oil till golden brown. Remove from frying pan. Leavea tbsp of oil in pan and dry laver into pan. Fry slowly into a crisp. Add peanuts into pan again and coat laver bits. Add salt or sugar to taste.

Method 2

Boil peanuts in a pot of water with star anise, peppercorn and salt. Peanuts are done when water in pot completely dried up.

Method 3

Boil peanuts in plain water, remove once peanuts float on water surface. Dry completely before deep frying. Add salt to taste.

A banana a day keeps the doctor away

2007-06-17T23:57:00.000+08:00

I always knew bananas provide quick instant boosts of energy when eaten, it is the perfect food for people on the run. It has natural sugars; sucrosse, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. 2 bananas = 90 minutes strenuous workout, it is athletes' favorite food choice.

But, this fruit can cure illnesses and improve symptoms? That's something new!

Bananas contains the protein tryptophan which converts into serotonin when absorbed by the body. That improves one's mood by helping the mind to relax and improve overall feeling good. Coincidentally, the vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels and calms PMS syndromes effectively. A natural mood enhancer, it actually steadies the condition of seasonal affective disorder sufferers.

Naturally high in iron, bananas stimulate the growth of blood hemoglobin to lessen the effects of anemia. High in potassium and low in salt, it is ideal to lower blood pressure and maintaining alertness. It normalize heart palpitations, oxidise the brain and regulates body's fluid balance. When stressed, our potassium level reduces and a banana snack will correct the condition. Studies have shown that a regular diet of bananas reduces death by stroke by as much as 40%.

A natural laxative being high in fiber richness, a natural antacid, it soothes heartburns and all that natural sugars help ease morning sickness. It's soft and smooth texture allows it to be eaten raw without distressing chronical intestinal ulcers by neutralizing excessive acidity and reducing irritation to intestinal walls with the coating the stomach lining. The vitamin B6 and B12, potassium and magnesium also helps tobacco users wanting to quit by aiding the body to recover from nicotine withdrawal effects.

Bananas is also great news for people in high-pressure jobs who fed panic-induced food cravings with high carbonhydrate foods to control their blood sugar levels. Drop the potato chips, eat a banana!

Only good for internal usages? Think again! Rub the inside of a banana skin on the area of your skin where there's mosquito bites. It reduces swelling and irritation. Have warts? Try taping a piece of banana skin, yellow side out, over the said abrasion.

And lastly, cure a hangover quickly, do up a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach, the honey make up for depleted blood sugar levels and the milk soothes and rehydrates the body system.

Compared to an apple, bananas have four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron and rich in potassium, among others.

You do the maths.

Fresh Buna Shimeiji and Enoki Mushroom Quick Stir fry

2007-06-16T11:51:00.000+08:00

I found some really great fresh shimeiji
mushrooms that just came in and really fresh enoki mushrooms on sale at the supermarket yesterday!

This mushroom junkie just have to get them ^_^

In my honest opinion, mushrooms have such great aromas, whether fresh or dried. There isn't a real need to "spice" them up with other flavors. Used as a "pick-me-up" in chinese cruisine, dried mushrooms are largely used. In Japanese cruisine, fresh ones are most widely used, in soups, and stir frys, mushrooms bring out the delicateness aspect of cooking.

I threw the 2 kinds of mushrooms together with a bit of abura, mirin, shio and shoyuu. That is one of the traditional way Japanese moms would make at home.

Brand New Opening

2007-06-14T14:21:00.000+08:00

I may be an oldbie in the world of blogging but I have left this part of the woods for a long time! And now I am BACK! I am looking at maintenance of this blog as a long term investment so...

This Girl Is Here to Stay! *crossing fingers*

I brooded for a long time...I really wanted a very niche theme based blog. But I have a problem, I like a lot of things a lot of the time! So niche is such a foreign word to me >.<;;

One thing I am sure is, I want this to be a fun place! So I've decided, typos and grammar mistakes galore, this place is gonna be one heck of a fun place for ME! And the visitors, you primarily!

So what is fun for me? Hmm....

I like to create -- food, words, painting, crafts
I love being the UNIQUE one -- accessories, philosophies, theories
I adore attention -- comments, feedback, suggestions

So what are we waiting for?