Tag Archives: Dessert

レシピ, Cakes, Chiffon Cake, 美食, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 農業, Gardening, Gastronomes, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Tofu

Tofu Chiffon Cake Steamed in Rice Cooker

January 26, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Rice cookers come very handy when you want to make lighter cakes you can either eat hot, lukewarm or cold!

Here is another simple and healthy recipe for a chiffon cake including tofu!

INGREDIENTS:

Silk tofu: 150 g
Eggs: 2
Hot cake mix: 200 g
Milk: 100 cc (1/2 cup)
Sugar: 30 g
Vanilla essence: 2~3 drops

RECIPE

Put the tofu into the rice cooker bowl.
There is no need to get rid of its water.

Beat the tofu with a whisk.

Add milk, eggs and sugar.

Beat until you obtain a smooth mixture.

Pour in the hot cake mix and mix well.
Last add vanilla essence and mix.

Set the steamer on, close and switch on.

Prick it with a wooden toothpick or a long and thin wooden pick.
If it comes out clean the cake is ready. If not cook again for a few minutes.

You should be able to easily take it out!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Cakes, 美食, Dessert, 静岡県, 静岡美食, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes

Tea Chiffon Cake Steamed in Rice Cooker

January 23, 2014 dragonlife 6 Comments

Rice cookers come very handy when you want to make lighter cakes you can either eat hot, lukewarm or cold!

here is a simple recipe for a chiffon cake!

INGREDIENTS:

Eggs: 2
Egg whites: 2
White sugar: 40 g
Salad oil: 2 x tablespoons
Baking powder: 4 g
Flour: 4 x tablespoons
Black tea teabag: 1 (Darjheeling, Earl Grey or whatever your favorite tea!)

RECIPE:

Make 2 tablespoons of tea with teabag. The more concentrated, the better.
Warm up inside microwave oven.

Beat the egg whites with half of the sugar. Add the sugar in two steps.

Beat until you obtain solid meringue/beaten egg whites and sugar.

In another bowl the two whole eggs and the rest of the sugar.
Beat until the mixture becomes whitish.
Add the warm tea and salad oil and mix again.

Mix in 1/4 (one quarter) of the meringue/beaten whites) with a spatula.

Add flour and baking powder.
Mix gently with the spatula.

Having obtained a smooth mixture with no flour curd bits, add rest of meringue/beaten egg whites and mix quickly with the spatula.

Pour the mixture into the rice cooker basin. regulate the temperature a bit down and cook once.

Check if it is cooked to your liking with a wooden stick.
Actually it’s best to cook it twice!

Once cooled down serve it with a whipped cream of your choice.

Bear in mind that it tends to crumble easily so cut it with a very sharp knife!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Cakes, 美食, Design, Desserts, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Vegan, Vegan Cuisine, Vegan Dessert, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Vegan Christmas Cakes & New Year Confectionery: Japanese Wagashi!

December 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Pyramid-style Christmas Tree?

Here are some more suggestions for Christmas Cakes through re-published articles!
Have fun!

NOTE: I’m an unrepentant agnostic hedonist (and an omnivore to boot!), but since some of my vegan and vegetarain friends are Christian, I hope these pictures will inspire them!

Flowery Christmas!

What’s in Santa’s bag?

Bring your forks and knives!

Holy (Holly) Christmas!

For the toddlers!

Pity you have to eat it!

Definitely Japanese-style!

They almost look like sushi!

Elegant simplicity!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

レシピ, Budino, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Italian Dessert Gatsronomy: Budino-Ricotta Cheese Puding at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

December 16, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

When you order “pudding” for dessert at Soilo Italian Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, you will first have to say “Budino”, and then don’t expect something in a small round dish!

This great pudding you delightfully cut through with a spoon was concocted with extravagant ricotta cheese!
It results in multi-flavored dessert you take time to enjoy a little at a time to rediscover all its facets!

Since all the food is seasonal at Solio you can expect late Autumn fruit at this time of the year, including squat persimmons which were first grown in Shizuoka Prefecture a long, long time ago!

Once again, simple and sublime!

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Happy hour: 16:00~17:00: 1,000 yen set-3 appetizers plate and 1 glass of house wine!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

レシピ, Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fruit Tart, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tart, Tourism

French Dessert: Apricot Tart at Caravin in Shizuoka City!

December 27, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: very friendly if a bit shy.
Facilities and equipment: overall very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Authentic French and European bistro gastronomy. Slow food. Excellent and reasonable wine list.

As i mentioned before, when it comes to cakes, I’m a sucker for any fruit tarts at any time of the day, even at breakfast or in the wee hours of the morning back from a drinking binge!
I’m practically scouring all the cake shops (very few to my liking unfortunately) and bistros/restaurants (with far better results!) in their search!

In winter you do have to do with what is available and when it comes to apricots only the preserved ones are left… Even so, Caravin in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku somehow managed to create this little beauty to comfort me during my last visit!

Served warm with a dollop of home-made caramel ice-cream, what more can you ask for?
The marzipan is just perfect with the right light but satisfying bite and the taste is so simple and exquisite!

And I wouldn’t give the crusty border to anyone!

CARAVIN
Shizuoka City, Takajo, 2-25-17
Tel.: 054-246-3539
Opening hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Cafes, Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, Vegan Dessert, Vegetarian cuisine, Wagashi

Christmas Cake: Vegetarian & Vegan Japanese Wagashi/和菓子-Christmas Cakes Pictures

December 23, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Pyramid-style Christmas Tree?

Here are some more suggestions for Christmas Cakes through re-published articles!
Have fun!

NOTE: I’m an unrepentant agnostic hedonist (and an omnivore to boot!), but since some of my vegan and vegetarain friends are Christian, I hope these pictures will inspire them!

Flowery Christmas!

What’s in Santa’s bag?

Bring your forks and knives!

Holy (Holly) Christmas!

For the toddlers!

Pity you have to eat it!

Definitely Japanese-style!

They almost look like sushi!

Elegant simplicity!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Cafes, Cakes, Chestnuts, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Green Tea, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Matcha, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Christmas Cake: Japanese Matcha Bavarois

December 22, 2012 dragonlife 3 Comments

I thought it might help my friends to re-publish some of the best Japanese cakes I have introduced before for suggestions for the coming Christmas!

This one is Japanese Matcha Bavarois!

Matcha/抹茶, an ingredient readily available here in Shizuoka, opens the door to so many ideas as it can included in almost all cakes.
Moreover, its green colour is an extra attraction that is difficult to resist!
Here is the recipe for a cake that marries western and eastern traditions!
Just think of alternative decorations fro Christmas! ( a Green Christmas?)

INGREDIENTS: For a 21 cm diameter mold (can be adapted to square molds or individual molds)

-Sponge Cake:
Eggs: 3 large
Sugar: 70 g
All purpose flour: 40 g
Matcha powder: 1 tablespoon
Butter (unsalted): 25 g

-Bavarois:
Milk: 200ml
Fresh cream (vegetal): 200 ml
Egg whites: 3
Sugar: 50 g
Gelatin: 5 g
Matcha powder: 1 tablespoon
Water (to dissolve matcha powder): 5 tablespoons
Matcha liqueur (optional, but try and find it or replace with something else according to taste!): a little

-Decoration jelly (nappage):
Matcha powder: 2 tablespoons
Gelatin: 5 g
Sugar: 40 g
Water: 250 ml

Supplementary decoration (optional):
Chestnuts (cooked)
Black beans (cooked)
Candied mint leaves

RECIPE:

-Sponge Cake:
Separate the whites and yolks of the eggs, beat the yolks until thick and lemon colored, add the sugar gradually.
Mix matcha powder and sifted flour. Mix in butter by hand (with the tips of your fingers). Add egg yolks and sugar and mix well. Cut and fold in the stiffly beaten egg white.
Bake in an ungreased pan in a very moderate oven.
Bake until the cake is puffed, has lost its shine, and springs back when gently pressed.
Let cool completely and trim off to shape of the cake mold.
Line the cake mold with a layer of sponge cake.

-Bavarois:
Soften jelly in cold water or dissolve it depending on type.
Whisk the the egg whites thick and hard with sugar.
Bring the milk and fresh cream to boil.
Switch off fire.
Add matcha powder and matcha liqueur and mix well.
Let cool completely. Add and mix in gelatin.
Fold in egg whites.
Pour the bavarois over the sponge cake and leave in refrigerator overnight.

-Decoration jelly:
Soften gelatin or dissolve in a little water.
In a pan pour in water, matcha powder, sugar and heat to dissolve sugar. Switch off fire and add gelatin. Mix weel.
Wait until it has cooled off completely.
Take cake out of refrigerator and pour jelly all over.
Put back in refrigerator and leave it until it has properly settled.

Decorate further with chestnuts, candied mint leaves and black beans.

That is how it would look once cut.

The same as an individual cake!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Dessert: Wasabi Panacotta and Sweet Soy Sauce at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

December 19, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly.
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (mouthwash and toothpicks provided!)!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive, very good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables and Shizuoka-bred meat.

When it comes to desserts Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, has never been afraid to experiment with ingredients that would discourage many a vaunted chef to try!

His latest creation has involved products Shizuoka Prefecture are justly famous beyond the mere borders of Japan!

Here is another overview as the “lengthy appearance” is not easy to represent in a single photography!
Apart of strawberries (topped with organic mint) and squat persimmons, what famous Shizuoka products have been used?

Not inside the succulent pistachio in spite of its great marriage with the rest of the dessert!

Shizuoka-grown wasabi!
Freshly grated wasabi extract wasincorporated in this exquisite panacotta!
The taste, but with not real piquancy, of the wasabi inside a sweet panacotta is difficult to describe, and simply said, I felt privileged with the discovery! Chili pepper or black pepper can be found in ice creams or choclate but this is different , and so elegant!
Note that the edible flowers are organic shiso/perilla flowers!

And the sauce was made with soy sauce from Amano Company in Gotemba City as it was generously united with a caramel sauce!

More than a discovery, a study in succulent artistry!

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, Cafes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Fruit, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Dessert: Organic Apple Creme Brulee at Patina in Shizuoka City!

December 16, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting and reasonable wine and cider list.

Anyone with a sweet tooth do like its dessert but will enjoy them all the more when they are made with local products!

Today at Patina Cafe & Brasserie in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, I noticed an intriguing dessert on the menu of the day as I was ordering my usual cappucino!

Seasonal Creme brulee made with Kougyoku apples. Kougyoku/紅玉/Ruby apples are a Japanese variety renown for it red skin and sweet and sour balance in taste!

Now, let’s have a look at what’s inside that cute little pot!

That certainly beautiful and appetizing!

I just couldn’t wait to break that crispy layer of caramel!

But one thing at a time!
I first tasted a compote of the same apples.
Incidental these kougyoku/ruby apples are organically grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Their slightly tangy taste perfectly marries with the custard and caramel sauce!

Interestingly one the spoon had broken the caramel layer it didn’t sink into a soft liquid but cut through a cream with the perfect consistence, both soft and firm which allowed for a slow and delicious savoring of the cream together with a piece of the caramel!

The fact that the apples were first mashed before being incorporated to the cream explains the ability to spoon it without anything breaking or spilling away in spite of the very soft cream!

A little jewel!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00=22:00 (last orders, 21:30
10:00~21:00 on Sundays (last orders, 20:30)
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 野菜, 農業, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Kabocha, Muffin, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Halloween Kabocha Coconut Milk Muffin

October 5, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

using a rice cooker can be so useful for creating cakes when you don’t have an oven!
For this particular muffin use a rice cooker with a capacity of 5 “go”/900ml/4 and a half cups!

INGREDIENTS:

Kabocha: 200 g (without the seeds)
All-purpose: 160 g
Baking powder: 5 g (1 + 2/3 of teaspoon)
Sugar: 85 g
Salt: 2 pinches
Egg: 2
Coconut milk: 100 ml/1/2 cup
Salad oil: 1 tablespoon
Raisins: 2 tablespoons
Cinnamon: a little

RECIPE:

Cut kabocha in 2 cm side pieces. Wash in clean water . Cook inside microwave for 2 minutes at 600 W or until soft.
In a large bowl mix flour and baking powder.
Add sugar and salt and mix well.
Coat the inside of the rice cooker dish with salad oil.

Break the egg in the middle.
Pour in the coconut milk.
Mix starting from the middle and incorporate the rest little by litle.

Add salad oil and mix well.

Add kabocha and raisins am\nd mix roughly.

Pour the mixture inside the the rice cooker dish.

That is how it should look once cooked.

Turn it over onto a serving dish.

Cut and serve!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 農業, Halloween, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Kabocha, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Halloween Baby Kabocha Gratin

October 3, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

The witches are gathering for the coming Halloween.
They told they love to concoct magical recipes inside pumpkins, especially the small kabocha the Dragons bring them from the Isle of The Rising Sun!
They seem to take a lot of pleasure out of baking them in hellish ovens!

INGREDIENTS: (for two baby kabocha)

Baby kabocha: 2
Onion: 1/2
Fresh Mushrooms (of your choice): 50 g ~
Chicken breast fillets/sasami: 2
Butter: 30 g
All-purpose flour: 30g
Milk: 300 ml/ 1 1/2 cups
Cheese (melting cheese, pizza cheese or cheese of your liking: as appropriate
Salt, pepper, spices: as appropriate

RECIPE:

Cut the top of the kabocha as to form a lid.
Scoop off the seeds and make a small “pot”.
First heat the kabocha inside a microwave oven for 3~4 minutes or until soft enough. Do check from time to time.

Cut onion, mushroom, chicken in equal bite size pieces.
Fry them all in a little olive oil, salt and pepper over a low fire until soft.

Prepare the white sauce/bechamel (it will be as liquid as a stew sauce. Over a low fire melt the butter. Once melted add the flower and whisk. Once the mixture is smooth add the milk in about three times whisking all the time for a smooth sauce. Once you have attained the wanted smoothness switch off fire.

Add the fried chicken and onion with their juices into the white sauce and stir gently for a uniform stew. Check the taste and add salt, pepper and spices according to your taste and priorities.

Fill the two baby kabocha with the stew and cover with melting cheese.

Bake until the top has melted and cooked to a nice brown color.

Serve immediately with its lid for decoration.
Sprinkle a little chopped green herbs for better effects.

Great comfort food in the cold nights!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

レシピ, Cupcakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Muffin, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Halloween Kabocha Muffin Cupcakes

October 2, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Some people like muffins.
Some people like cupcakes.
Some people like Halloween.

Let’s combine them all!

INGREDIENTS: (For 6 cakes)

Kabocha: 120 g
All purpose flour: 120 g
Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
baking powder: 1 teaspoon
Milk: 40 ml (1/5 cup)
Unsalted butter: 50 g
Sugar: 50 g
Egg: 1

RECIPE:

Peel the kabocha and throw away their seeds.
Put inside a cooking bowl.
Cook in microwave oven for 30 seconds at 500 W.
Break with fork to make it easier to mix.

Bring butter and egg to room temperature.
In a bowl pour butter and sugar.
Whisk until mixture whitens.
Add beaten egg one third at a time and mix well.

Add kabocha and mix roughly.
Add flour, baking powder and cinnamon and mix.
Add milk one g\half at a time and mix.

Pour mixture inside 6 paper cupcake cups.
Bake at 170 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.
Let cool completely.

Points: Do not mix all ingredients too much.
If you have too much mixture you can freeze it.
Re-heat muffins inside microwave oven before eating them!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

レシピ, Croquettes, 美食, 里芋, 農業, Food, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Kabocha, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Halloween Kabocha Croquettes

September 23, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Halloween might all be about pumpkins but when it comes to cooking kabocha is far better!
Croquettes are popular all over the world, so why not make some for Halloween!
The witches will make a special brew to drink with them!

INGREDIENTS (for 6 croquettes)

Kabocha: 500g
Milk: 2 tablespoons
Butter: 20g
Honey: 2 teaspoons
Cinnamon powder: a little
Salt: a little
Cheese or Camembert cheese: 20 g
Raisins: 10g

Flour: as appropriate
Egg: 1
Breadcrumbs: as appropriate
Sliced almonds: as appropriate
If you have them dried somen (thin Japanese wheat noodles)

RECIPE:

Cut kabocha into rough pieces.
Put inside oven dish.
Cook inside microwave oven for 8 mintes at 700 Watts.
Peel skin off.
Bear in mind kabocha will be very hot when you manipulate it!

In a bowl mash the kabocha.
Add milk, butter, honey, salt and cinnamon.
Mix well.

Separate the paste into 3 identical quantities.
Make two balls with the first quantity around cheese/camembert cheese.
Make two balls with the second quantity mixed with the raisins.
Make two plain balls with the third quantity.

Shape each croquette like a small pear.
Roll them in flour, then beaten egg and then breadcrumbs (or sliced almonds, or dried somen).

Heat oil to 180 degrees Celsius and deep-fy.

Serve 3 different croquettes on a dish and decorate with Italian parsley.

How about the above for a more elegant presentation with croquettes filled qith camemebrt Cheese!

So easy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Halloween, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Kabocha, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Halloween Kabocha Pancakes!

September 17, 2012 dragonlife 3 Comments

The Japanese love pancakes, be they American or European style!
Have you ever tried making some with pumpkin or Kabocha?
Here is a simple recipe for Halloween parties!

INGREDIENTS: (For 2~ people)

Kabocha: 250 g (without the seeds)
All-purpose flour: 250 g
Baking powder: 1 tablespoon
Syrup (or sugared water): 2 tablespoons
Salt: 2 pinches
Milk: 450 ml/2 cups and a quarter
Egg: 1
Salad oil: 1 tablespoon
Honey: 2 tablespoons

RECIPE:

Cut the kabocha roughly and cook for 3 minutes inside a microwave oven.
Check it is soft enough before mashing it.
It does not have to be mashed down to paste.

In a bowl pour milk, beaten egg, syrup, salt and beat the whole well.

Add all flour and baking powder and mix well.
Add kabocha and olive salad oil and mix well till you obtain a smooth paste.

Use a non-stick frypan if possible.
Oil the frypan with a piece of kitchen paper imbibed with oil to avoid using too much oil.
Pour enough paste for a pancake and cover with lid. Keep cooking over low fire.
Turn it over after 20^30 seconds and cook again for same length of time.

Serve at once if possible!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

レシピ, 美食, 里芋, 野菜, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Vegan Japanese Recipe for the coming Winter: Vegetables and Yuzu Casserole

September 13, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

I’m neither a vegetarian nor a vegan although I eat heaps of vegetables but many of my friends are.
It is always a problem for them to vary their food coming winter, unless they want to fill themselves with beans and potatoes all day long!
Here in Shizuoka we are blessed with a mild winter replete with citruses, winter vegetables and the like and it does become a paradise for such priorities.
Here is a very simple and very Japanese dish prepared with vegetables and yuzu/lime that you might often encounter in homes and restaurants.
This is the basic recipe you can expand at will.

Note that for better and more even cooking the use of Le Creuset-type pan/casserole is best!

INGREDIENTS: (For 2 persons)

Small turnips: as appropriate
Lotus root: as appropriate
Taro root/Sato imo: as appropriate
Cauliflower: as appropriate
Yuzu lime skin: 1/2 a fruit
Salt: as appropriate
Olive oil: as appropriate
Water: a appropriate

RECIPE:

Use a thick wrought iron pot (with lid such as a Le Creuset casserole).
Cut vegetables to size of your preference, but try to make them roughly the same size.
Place the vegetables inside the casserole.
Cut the yuzu lime skin in 1 cm long strips and place them evenly on the vegetables.

Pour the water gently on the vegetables. Cover with lid.
Steam for 3 minutes on a medium fire. Lower fir to minimum and keep cooking for 15 minutes.
Switch off fire.
Do not take lid off!
Leave as it is for another 15 minutes.

Open the lid.
Place vegetables on serving dish with natural salt and premium olive oil you will sprinkle or pour over the vegetables before savoring them!

Simple is best, isn’t it? (Well, most of the time!)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,