Showing posts with label vegitarian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegitarian. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Waffled

Peanut Butter French Toast Waffle

DSC_4935

The sounds of the rustling of the newspaper, noise of blender swiveling, butter melting on toast…contentment…Saturdays mornings are my favorite time of day definitely …short but sweet. Many things are planned usually…after breakfast…the grass is getting longer, my husband noticed…perhaps I murmured it too loudly?

On weekdays, rushed breakfast of kefir or vegetable smoothies but on Saturdays my husband is all about carbohydrates. This hearty peanut butter French toast waffle is French, Belgium, international whatever.  Having one of those fills you up until 3 in the afternoon.   Read interesting facts about ‘waffles’ here.

Ingredients and Instructions for 4 waffles (Print Recipe here)

Necessary equipment – Waffle iron, blender or food processor

  • 8 slices of whole-wheat or white bread, crust removed.
  • 8oz of frozen mixed berries, thawed.
  • 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons seedless raspberry preserves
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 4 Tablespoons of smooth peanut butter
  • Nonstick spray
  1. The night before - Put bread on a baking rack, let stale overnight.DSC_4902
  2. Make berry sauce- Combine the fruit and sugar in a medium sauce pan, bring to boil, stir occasionally, until berries soften about 10 minutes.DSC_4907
  3. Transfer berry mixture to a blender or food processer. Add the raspberry preserves and lemon juice blend until smooth. Note: if you have a hand held mixer, blend directly in the pan – careful for the splat!
  4. Crack eggs into a medium baking dish and whisk lightly. Add milk. sugar, vanilla and salt. Mix well.
    DSC_4911
  5. Spread 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter on 4 slices of bread. Top with remaining slices to make 4 sandwiches, flatten slightly. Soak in egg mixture (process #4), 4-5 minutes per side.DSC_4915DSC_4919
  6. Heat waffle maker according to the manufacture’s directions. Spray top and bottom grates with nonstick spray.
  7. Remove sandwiches from the egg mixture and hold it over the baking pan for about 10 seconds so that excess liquid drips back into the  pan.
  8. Place sandwich on the grates. Press down and close completely. Cook until golden brown about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Serve immediately with Berry sauce
    . DSC_4921DSC_4924DSC_4939

More fabulous eats…

We have been trying to have a dinner at Nodoguro (means ‘ black throat’ in Japanese), for some time but our schedule prohibited it until now. A pop-up restaurant only open Fridays and Saturdays in borrowed space. IMG_1959My husband with young chef Ryan and local celebrity – Mr.Yoshida, the creator of Yoshida’s Marinade and Cooking sauce was one of the guests.

Ryan studied under some well regarded chefs also apprenticed work in Fukuoka, Japan. He speaks fluent Japanese.The restaurant offers 9 plus courses of creative Japanese cuisine. The dishes are prepared with high quality local produce, and the well developed flavor wowed us throughout the affair – we spooned out chilled charred white turnip, tofu mousse with salmon roe topped with matsutake mushroom shaving…the exciting start.IMG_1943 
Thinly sliced tender flounder. The yuzu paste enhanced the flavor. IMG_1946I adored –scallop, sea urchin and the beans, specks of red water pepper is visually effective and had nice kick.IMG_1947Matsutake clear soup…I feel so lucky!IMG_1950

Other dishes were equally fantastic but I don’t have good photos…the place had low light.

A friend shared her homemade miso paste.DSC_4967
Naturally, I made miso soup with Satsuma sweet potato and radish sprouts…the best miso paste ever!DSC_4969

My husband came through with my request – to make fruit tart for my birthday from scratch. See my other fruits tart recipe hereDSC_4952DSC_4962IMG_1965

In Karuizawa, we had a over $10 per slice fruits tart. I expected my husband to make one just like it and he did an amazing job! I think I must post the recipe in near future…Honey, can you make it again? And next time, don’t forget to take the process pictures…ok?IMG_1880
Nagano purple (tart) – name of large variety seedless grapes have thin skin.

IMG_2223
Having good food like that is a
huge part of our trip…At the end of our holiday, I started get melancholy…how we were fortunate to have that experience but it’s time to say good bye…I think I’m going to cry…(Totoro shop in Old Karuizawa)

 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Figgy!

Grilled Fresh Figs

DSC_4760Figs were ripe when we came back from the trip. They are overripe in fact…the weight of the fruits were too great so that the branches broke off. Where have you been? We were ready for you a week ago…DSC_4746

I figured out quickly what I should do with them. I called to my husband; ‘Honey, Turn-up the grill’ ‘ We need to smoke’em! I said figuratively.

Grilled fresh figs for ice cream (adapted from Fine Cooking magazine) (Print Recipe here)

Necessary equipment: barbeque grill

  • Figs – 10 to12, the magazine recommended Black Mission Figs, we used Desert King, stemmed and halved lengthwise Note: we only grilled 6 figs. DSC_4737
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1-2 Tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • Vanilla ice cream
  • 2-3 Tablespoons honey
  • 4-5 mint leaves, thinly sliced (optional)
  1. Heat up - a gas grill to medium low or prepare a low charcoal fire.
  2. Brush - set the figs cut side down and brush the rounded side with oil. Flip and brush the cut side with the balsamic vinegar.
  3. Mix - Sugar and chopped thyme in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the figs.DSC_4743
  4. Grill - set figs on grill cut side facing up. Cover the grill and cook until the sugary tops start to bubble and the bottom of the figs get light grill marks. 5-8 minutes.DSC_4755
  5. Serve immediately over scoops of ice cream, drizzled with honey and sprinkle with mint if using.DSC_4761

We’re blessed to be able to vacation in Hawaii. To see our two gorgeous grandkids then to visit fascinating Big Island, the money was well spent.

IMG_1419IMG_1430 
Akaka Fall has a nice trail.  Azuki special at Matsumoto Shave Ice
 IMG_0997IMG_1437

Sanseis signature Apple Tart. Ships ahoy to snorkeling tour!IMG_1559IMG_1044

The sprawling, mega hotel has it’s own monorail inside of the hotel. From main lobby to our room was about 10 minutes by foot. By tram also takes 10 minutes, because our compound is 3 stops away.
IMG_1463IMG_1428
Flavorful Acai bowl from Tropical Frozen Yogurt in Kona.   
.IMG_1472DSC_4712
A petite French patisserie in Hilo with few selection of sweets. The store closes at 4 pm!, we managed to squeeze inside by 3:57pm.  
IMG_1519IMG_1522
The Donkey Ball Chocolatier in Kainaliu, I like the silly name.
The original King Kamehameha statue in Hawi, my husband taking photos in heavy rain.
IMG_0928IMG_1580
Historical Bamboos lilikoi cheese cake. Donkey crossing sign reminded us of the kangaroo crossing signs in Australia. 
IMG_1572IMG_1552
See my nice tan?IMG_1089Hawi doing there?…it’s all rain, can’t see the black sand beach.IMG_1566The wooden poster hung in little café in Hawi gave me a chuckle!IMG_1561Sunset at Volcano National ParkIMG_1533A spectacular night view of volcanoIMG_1038I saw this sign in Hwy.19 on the way to Hilo.IMG_1501

I hope you’re enjoying the summer…Oh hi Chelsea! the next door neighbor’s cat was under my feet while we were grilling figs outside…missed me? DSC_4749Yeah?…me too.