Oh, Yeah, This is the Stuff

My hubby makes the best Portrait of a Bartender 

Don't we all deserve this after a long day's work?

I really do not have much knowledge in liquor but when my hubby and I discovered this drink called "Portrait of a Bartender" at our favorite restaurant, we just had to know what was in it. My hubby tried to recreate the recipe so many times before getting it just right. I think I like his version of the drink even better, in fact. If you've had a Sazerac in New Orleans, it is sort of like that, but this one is so citrusy and bright in flavor. I never thought I would like whiskey before I met this drink. You don't need a lot, just enough in a double old fashioned glass. Don't put too much orange bitters, you just want a tiny splash. St. Germain adds a pleasant flowery note. Oh, yeah....

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Today's Snack Attack

Korean seasoned seaweed

When I want crunchy snacks, my first thought is junk food. If I remember where I hid it, I would probably eat that and regret it later. But if I could control myself, I reach for this. It is seasoned very lightly with salt and sesame oil, still retaining the crunch, and it is delicious. I find that the Korean brands of these seaweed snacks are very tasty. Calories? What calories? There is absolutely no remorse after this snack.

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Sprouted Brown Rice

I have been eating the sprouted brown rice instead of the regular rice. It is not as starchy as the regular rice can be, and sure, I miss that sometimes. But the health benefits outweigh way more than that. I don't have the usual fear of carbs when I eat this rice. A perfect side for any meal.

Rice grains with an opaque sprout attached to them

I actually feel good about eating this rice. Wouldn't you love to eat carbs without much guilt?

Koshihikari brand. One of the best you can get

I've been reading a lot about the sprouted brown rice. When I found it at our local store, I was so excited! Regular brown rice has been ok, but after tasting this, there is no going back!

Check out these numbers!

When the rice grains start sprouting, the whole component of the rice changes for the better because they create the nutrients needed for the grains to grow. 

Sprouted brown rice also has the increased amount of GABA, a kind of amino acid that can help promote healthy brain function. High in fiber and tons of nutrients. What more can you ask for?

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Detox Soup That Soothes My Hunger

I make it really spicy with hot sauce which boosts metabolism

I make a huge pot of this detox soup and have it for at least a week as a meal or part of a meal. It has cabbage, green pepper, onions, celery, ginger, fresh tomatoes, and a can of whole tomatoes. No oil, sugar or cooking wine is added. Flavored with a couple of cubes of chicken bullion. It supposedly helps you burn more fat as well as detoxing you. Instead of reaching for trans fat and sugar ladened snacks, I have this soup to soothe my midday hunger. It also has the effect of curbing your appetite when you eat it before dinner. Drink up the whole soup because good nutrients are in every sip.

Detox Soup

1/2 cabbage 
2-3 onions
1 green pepper
2 stalks of celery
2 fresh tomatoes
1 can of whole tomatoes
1-2 small chunks of fresh ginger
1-2 cubes of chicken bullion
4 cups of water
Salt and pepper
2 bay leaves (optional)
Thyme (optional)

Cut up everything into bite size and add to a big pot with water. Cook it high for 20 minutes and simmer until the vegetables get soft enough for your liking. Add lots of hot sauce and enjoy.

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Today's Snack Attack!

Tastes like molasses 

Drum rolls please.... Today's snack attack is...RJ's Licorice Log! It also comes in the raspberry flavor, which my sister likes. She likes anything raspberry. I like the black licorice. I can only find them at Whole Foods so far. If you find them anywhere else, please let me know. They don't have a stinging and lingering licorice flavor, just enough, and have a nice aroma and sweetness of molasses. They are not waxy or rubbery, and they do not stick to your teeth, which I love. Even my hubby who runs away from the sight of licorice candy grew to love these. Now that says something.

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Hot Spring Egg

Softer egg white and slightly harder yolk 

Soba noodle dipping sauce and Yuzu paste

I think I got the consistency right for the first time after several attempts to make a hot spring egg. For it to be a hot spring egg, the white needs to be softer than the yolk. Because the yolk coagulates at the lower temperature than the white, the cooking water needs to be at 140-145F degrees at all times. That way the white stays softer while the yolk gets cooked a little more. Wrap the egg with a paper towel before immersing it in the hot water to keep the white from getting cooked with a direct heat. Gentle heating is the key.  Soak the egg for about 12 minutes. I wrapped the sauce pan with a couple of kitchen towels to keep the same temperature after taking it off the stove. If you soak it too short, you'll get the runny yolk, soak it too long, the white gets stuck to the shell and the yolk gets too hard.

Egg before bath

I used two sheets of paper towel

Put the lid on

Wrapped with towels for insulation

Egg after bath

A good science experiment, don't you think? Look how happy the egg is after a nice long bath in a hot spring!

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Oscar Night

Hot ginger lemonade

So I am watching the Academy Awards with my dog sleeping on the warm carpet by my side. I made a cup of hot lemonade with mostly hot water, a couple of slices of ginger, a slice of Meyer lemon, mint and honey. It warms you inside and out.

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Pasta That's Good for You

Cod roe paste and De Boles spaghetti

Garnish with green onions and thin strips of seaweed. So pretty in pink!

De Boles pasta is the reason why I can enjoy dishes like this without much guilt. It is made with Jerusalem artichoke flour which naturally contains inulin. It does not spike up your blood sugar levels like regular pasta, therefore diet-friendly. If you love pasta like I do but worry about what carb does to your blood sugar levels and your weight, this is your answer. And it does not taste like cardboard like whole wheat pasta. 

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I Love Fage

Add honey if you like it sweet 

Packed with antioxidant 

I tried many brands of Greek yogurt and ended up with Fage. It is not too tangy, and the neutral flavor of it does not compete with the fruits you put in it. It still has the creamy consistency of good Greek yogurt and tons of protein (23g per serving!) and live active cultures. We love 0% fat; still plenty creamy and tastes rich. I have this when I have no appetite in the morning but still need to eat something to get my metabolism going. 

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Good Dog!

Dandelion 

His favorite vegetable!

Our dog loves eating those white fluffy top of dandelion. He single-handedly got rid of all of them in our yard. Is it safe to eat them? Maybe it tastes like cotton candy to him. It is fun to see him eat them.

Forsythia in the backyard

Another sign of spring. Love to see them when everything still looks gray and brown in the yard.

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Night Cap, Anyone?

Tangerine Orange Zinger Tea spiked with a dash of Grand Marnier

Such a quiet night. Almost eerie. I keep looking for a silly movie on TV but I need something else to put me in a good mood. Usually, my go-to is a cup of tea. Which flavor do I want this time? Tonight is extra special since it is spiked up a little bit. Try it, you will love it, too. 

Add orange peel for extra aroma to cheer you up

No caffeine for a good night sleep

Oh, goodie! The Matrix is on. I suppose I'll watch this for the 10th time. Because "I CHOOSE TO!!"

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Soy Beans, Soy Beans, Good for Your Heart

Since my hubby is away today, I am going really hard-core in Japanese home cooking. Well, not really. But I sometimes get a craving for certain foods. I looked in the freezer and found a package of Natto. My mind had already known what to make with it that instance. I could not resist that kind of force....

Fermented soy beans a.k.a. Natto

Rice vinegar, grated daikon radish, miso paste and Natto 

Mix them all up and stir till it gets really slimy! Pour it over rice

Voila! Natto Rice Bowl

This dish reminds me of home. The grated daikon radish takes away the pungent smell of Natto and makes it milder in flavor. Miso paste and rice vinegar add nuttiness and freshness to the dish. Garnish with green onions and roasted sesame seeds. I love Natto.

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Spring Has Come!

Okame cherry tree in our front yard.... good to see you again

The very first tree in our yard to bloom this year. A sign of new things to come here in Atlanta.
My mother in Hokkaido said they had the coldest temps of this winter this week there. Keep warm and don't slip on those icy roads!

I drink it all day

It is time for my sister to visit me again so she can get me a box of Itoen Green Tea with Matcha from Costco.This tea is seriously what makes me want to become a Costco member. No bitter after taste, you can make it hot or cold with these tea bags. I like mine cold. Just look what a pretty green color it gives! I carry a couple of these in my purse so I can make my own favorite tea wherever I go. They come in a huge box. They last me for good several months.

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Amazake Soft Candy

My mother sent me this candy from Hokkaido, Japan where they make the famous Chitosetsuru sake. Now they make candy tastes like sake. It's like a taffy... soft and chewy.  There is no alcohol in it. It just tastes like good sake. Pure yumminess. 

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