Sweet Potato Casserole

I was in a mood for something sweet but not too much like a dessert. So here is what I decided to do to deal with that craving. Turns out, it was good as part of a meal and all by itself like a dessert. Yum!

Crunchy top and fluffy potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 medium sized sweet potatoes
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup orange juice
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup bourbon
Handful of coconut chips

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup pecan, crushed by hand

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Microwave sweet potatoes under the baked potato setting and remove the skin. In a medium bowl, combine everything except for the topping, and beat well with a whisk. In a separate bowl, combine the topping ingredients, and mix well. Transfer the sweet potato mixture with the pecan topping and bake for 45 minutes.

There are good by themselves.

Dark rum would work, too.

Good as a side, even better as a small snack.

We want some, too...

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New Year's Mochi

We had special bowls of mochi for the new year as good luck. It's the year of sheep and it's my year that only comes around every 12 years, so I wanted to make a point to eat the mochi.

Mochi with sweet azuki beans.

We displayed this mochi for about a week as an offering to god, and ate it for good luck. So I guess we ate god's leftover...

Conveniently packaged for the occasion. This year is the year of sheep!

Cut it in half and broil them for several minutes.

Bubbled up nicely. Soft and gooey now.

Sweet azuki beans. 

Mochi starts to melt in the warm azuki soup.

Yum!

I can use every little thing to get me going with the new year instead of being dragged by the usual dread, and this helped! I don't mind eating this again! 

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Sausage, Kale and Parmesan Pasta

I had a few requests for the pasta recipe I tweeted today, so here I am. 

Sausage, Kale and Parmesan Pasta

4 sausage patties (or 2 mild Italian sausage links)
Sprinkles of red chili pepper flakes
1/2 cube chicken bullion
1/2 cup pasta water
2 cups cooked pasta
2 handfuls of kale
1 clove of garlic
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
Lots of grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Sprinkles of nutmeg, optional

Cook pasta. Reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water. In a skillet, cook sausage patties, garlic, chili pepper flakes. Add kale and cook some more. Add balsamic vinegar and place a lid on top. When the kale is welted, add pasta, cooking water, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Drizzle olive oil. 

I had leftover breakfast sausages. If you have Italian sausages, even better!

For more flavor.

Balsamic vinegar.
Just a little splash gives a tang and sharpness to the dish.

Nutmeg goes great with dark greens like kale.

I put lots and lots of Parmesan.

Done!

日本語でも書いておきました。Read on...

Secret Sushi Place...

Well, it's not so secret anymore. A lot of people have found out about this place already. Sushi House Hayakawa is our best kept secret in Atlanta. It's sort of become our tradition to have this sushi as one year ends and another year is about to begin. 

Yellow tail and Botan Ebi shrimp. 

Taisho, the owner and the chief sushi chef, Mr. Hayakawa.

California sea urchin on the left.
Japanese sea urchin, all the way from Tsukiji, is on the right.

What a clever presentation! We got to try both sea urchin to compare and compliment each other. The California sea urchin is creamy and sweet, the Japanese sea urchin is more briny but delicate. Both delicious.

Ikura, salmon roe. The flavor of my hometown.

"Hey, Taisho!" 

Sake "Dassai."
It's difficult to get hands on this bottle of sake even in Japan now.

This place is a special place where I feel like I'm in my hometown. Mr. Hayakawa happens to be from my hometown, so he can almost "read" what my faves are and what I'm looking for in good sushi.

Many celebrities like Harrison Ford and Paul Walkder (RIP) came here when they were filming in Atlanta. Try this place out the next time you're in town! (Make sure you sit in front of Mr. Hayakawa at the bar, so he makes the sushi for you.)



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2015 Is Here! Long Time No See...

Howdy, y'all! I know it's been a long time since I posted anything. I was taking a little break from blogging, but I've been tweeting some here and there. 

The best way to watch the ball drop. On TV.

Now that all the crazy holiday hoopla is over, I feel I can sit down and start blogging again.

Kona watches TV on my lap.

Kona the ornament.

Our Christmas tree.

I have taken some fun pictures during the holiday season. I think I'll share some of those with you. I wish y'all a healthy and prosperous new year!

Atlanta botanical garden's light show.
With a spiked apple cider in hand to keep me warm. 

Went to see Nutcracker at Fox Theater. 

Inside the theater. Absolutely beautiful. 

All cast nutcrackers would cost around 120 dollars or so.

Dogs outside the theater.
"Hey, you look silly." "So do you."

Best wishes for 2015, y'all! 
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