Japanese Style Salisbury Steak

Took a week off from work last week to give a little rest to myself after having to experience constant big and small earthquakes and fear of the radiation activity. Most of my Japanese friends remained in Tokyo while I was being a chicken in my hometown and just spending most of my time in my mother's kitchen.

It was so calm and relaxing, even wished that I never had to go back to work especially when you will have to give a little apology speech in front of everyone for taking a week off for "nothing".

Speaking of "nothing", I used to hate the fact that Japanese companies consider this little escaping as "nothing" while some of foreign companies that I know in Tokyo even shut down for week or so.
However, I have come to wonder what would be like if all Japanese companies did that?
What do I love about this place? -This city never sleeps! This is thanks to all those people who have remained and kept working despite of the fear they have.

So I have decided to stop complaining about my situation and start working again like everyone else although it might not do anything directly to rebuild this whole country.

I also thought that I should do a little something to show my respect to my friends who didn't leave Tokyo and kept working through.

What can I do? of course, to cook.

I have invited 6 of my lovely friends over to my house and cooked Japanese Salisbury Steak which was the first proper dish to cook when I hadn't ever tried anything by myself in my life. I am not a vegetarian nor vegan but I was never a big fan of meet dish such as a piece of steak or Korean BBQ since when I was small but somehow I always loved this dish.
It could also be the dish that I have cooked the most so far. It takes a long time and a lot of work though, more you focus and more love you put into, tastier it becomes. (hmm, just like every other dish anyway.)

Pork Mince (30%) and Beef Mince (70%),
Cooked Onions (til its colour become brown) and cooked Carrots,
Egg,
Crushed Garlic,
Bread crumb (soaked in milk),
Flour,
Nutmeg,
Salt and Pepper.

The Sauce:
Cooked Onion, Carrots, Celery, Apple with Butter,
Red Wine,
Water,
Milk,
Tomato Puree and Tomato Juice

Steamed and Oven Grilled Potatoes.

Steamed Carrots and Broccolis

Sometimes you need a little help of good food to make people smile ;)

x

remaking

since I made quite a big portion of spinach and pumpkin soup and thought that it should have had more pumpkin in it (or less spinach), I decided to remake it tonight.

a little more of home made Pumpkin puree, Milk and Nutmeg.

Also small amount of Honey to help bring out sweetness of Pumpkin.

And yes, it was so much better!

Can't wait for my lunch tomorrow with good bread...!

x

Spinach and Pumpkin Soup

It was snowing in Tokyo this morning! What's wrong, it's already March, you know...
But at least now I have a good excuse to stay home and cook instead of going to the gym.

Went in to a supermarket on my way back from work without knowing what I will cook for myself tonight.

Very good looking spinach jumped into my eyes first.
Then imported Pumpkin were cheap today.
don't know why I bought chicken though, guess I was too hungry.

Ingredients;

Spinach,
Pumpkin,
Onions,
Milk,
Soy Milk,
Butter,
Flour,
Vegetable Stock,
Salt
Parmesan Cheese


Boil Spinach and make them to Puree, cook chopped onions with butter and make Pumpkin puree also.
Make White Sauce in your pot then add Soy Milk, then add both puree and vegetable stock.
Boil it for 4- 5 minutes, and while you are doing that you should cook your crouton for the meantime.

Garnish your Soup with Parmesan cheese, your crouton and dash of olive oil.
Then your Spinach and Pumpkin Soup is ready to keep you warm for the night.

I definitely should have used more Pumpkin though, but it was still very good, specially for the recipe I just came up with today.

Happy Eats!

x

Fresh Spring Roll with Rucola/Roquette Salad

When I bought Rucola/Roquette Salad at a super market last time, because it was cheap, I took a lot of them.

Last time, I made simple salad- so this time, what should I do with it? I could make pasta, fried rice etc... but as I didn't want to have any carb, I decided to make fresh spring roll!

Ingredients:

Rucola/ Roquette Salad,
Bean Sprout,
Eryngii Mushrooms,
Sliced Pork Back Rib,
Cherry Tomatoes

Dressing:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil,
Yuzukoshō
Lemon Juice,
Salt and Pepper,
Dash of Soy Sauce

Rucola/ Roquette Salad matches very well with Yuzukoshō which is made from Chili peppers, Yuzu peel and Salt.

Nice and fresh, very well balanced and much more filling than just salad. and yet, low calorie as well.
Besides, Rucola/ Roquette Salad contains 4 times more vitamin C than Spinach, 40 times more calcium than Pepper and much iron etc etc!

Sounds like a dish for beauty...

Happy Eats!

x

-Non diet meal- you need it sometimes!

Since I wrote about super healthy food last night, why not talk about something slightly more exciting but contains full of fresh ingredients.

It was for lunch on a weekday. Yes, I know, I took a day off and decided to enjoy my quiet and sunny afternoon since I never manage to do so in weekends ;)

Hamburger- when you hear this word, what do you come up with?

I personally think of words like "unhealthy"and "junk food". I know that I tend to like more vegetables and fish but I am sure that not many of you have considered hamburger as a proper meal.

Main problem with hamburgers are- they never have enough vegetables!

But this J.S burger offers you one big delicious burger which you can chose two different toppings from avocado, cheese, chili bean sauce, egg, bacon and pineapple, with crispy fries, salad bar and a drink at 980 yen at lunch time (11am to 15 pm)!

They have one in Shinjuku and Shibuya. Shinjuku has a nice terrace seats where you can enjoy sunlight during daytime and the one in Shibuya offers many comfortable couch which I hardly ever find in a burger shop.

You wouldn't believe this quality is from an eatery produced by an apparel brand ;)

Chose Chili bean sauce and cheese this time.

Happy Eats!



P.S Surely it isn't a good idea to talk about such delicious burgers on the night when I have skipped my dinner...

my diet dinner

My last weekend started on Thursday and finished on Sunday. It was totally full on weekend. After having a weekend like this, you have to compensate your body for it by having heathy and low calorie meals for a little while.

Rucola leaves
Petit tomatoes,
Sliced Apple,

Dressing;
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar,
Honey,
Lemon Juice,
Salt and Pepper,
Lemon Zest



Of course some mozzarella will be nice, but I didn't have them in my fridge, damned!




Happy Eats!