Friday, February 27, 2009
A Taste of Japan: Bento (boxed lunch)
http://justbento.com/bento-no-37-onigiri-bento-box-action-okowa-sticky-rice-onigiri
sources: http://www.airandangels.com/bentobox/intro.html
Thursday, February 26, 2009
A Taste of Japan: Tea Ceremony
sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony,
http://www.holymtn.com/tea/Japanesetea.htm
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A Taste of Japan: Sushi Time!
Ingredients
2 cups of rice
6 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
6 sheets of nori (seaweed)
1 avocado-peeled, pitted, and sliced
1 cucumber-peeled and sliced
8 ounces of smoked salmon, cut into long strips
(you can substitute with different fish or vegetable)
2 tablespoons of wasabi paste (optional)
Soak rice for 4 hours.
Drain rice and cook in a rice cooker with 2 cups of water.
Rice must be slightly dry as vinegar will be added later.
Immediately after rice is cooked, mix in 6 tablespoons rice vinegar to the hot rice.
(tip: you can also add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar in the rice vinegar to add extra flavor)
Spread rice on a plate until completely cool.
Place 1 sheet of seaweed on bamboo mat, press a thin layer of cool rice on the seaweed.
Leave at least 1/2 inch top and bottom edge of the seaweed uncovered.
This is for easier sealing later.
Dot some wasabi on the rice.
Arrange cucumber, avocado and smoked salmon to the rice.
Position them about 1 inch away from the bottom edge of the seaweed.
Slightly wet the top edge of the seaweed.
Roll from bottom to the top edge with the help of the bamboo mat tightly.
Cut roll into 8 equal pieces and serve.
Repeat for other rolls and enjoy your sushi!
source: http://allrecipes.com/Cook/10923420/Profile.aspx
other sources: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Smoked-Salmon-Sushi-Roll/Detail.aspx,
http://www.eat-japan.com/sushi_perfect/sushi_perfect.html
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Taste of Japan: Vending Machine
http://www.cscoutjapan.com/en/
Any culture can be influenced by many changes economically, socially, and even technologically. In Japan, technology and culture combine together with the invention of the handy vending machine. The vending machine began in the beginning of the 1900s with a stamp vending machine. Today, vending machines in Japan can sell anything a person could need from an umbrella to udon (Japanese noodle soup), even with walking robot vending machines. There are over 5 million vending machines in Japan with the most popular items being different types of clothing, hygiene products, and drinks. These vending machines have been evolving to fit environmental concerns with solar powered vending machines covered in moss. In America, most people know vending machines to sell snacks or drinks and where you can only put your money or credit card through. In Japan there are some vending machines with face recognition to stop minors from buying certain items like cigarettes, touch-screens with maps, customized cappuccino machines, or vending machines where people have to watch a 30 second commercial for a free item. Many of these vending machines are very visually pleasing to people, with bright colors and creative designs to show the innovativeness of Japan. So make sure to definately check out the vending machines when visiting, they won't be hard to find!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanchome/
sources: http://pingmag.jp/2008/06/16/vending-machine-extravaganza/
A Taste of Japan: Food Etiquette
sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine
Friday, February 20, 2009
A Taste of Taiwan: Healthy Breakfast
Ingredients:
1/2 cup rice (not quick-cooking)
3-4 cups water (may use chicken/vegetable broth)
2 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut to thin slices
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 dash black pepper (according to your taste)
6 pieces shiitake mushrooms, julienned
Garnishes
2 tablespoons scallions, chopped
black pepper or white pepper
Rice cooker: Dump all ingredients (except garnishes) into rice cooker, turn it on and stir occasionally, until congee is smooth and no longer grainy.
Stovetop: Combine all ingredients (except garnishes) in a medium saucepan, bring to boil over medium heat then turn down heat and let simmer until water has been absorbed.
Add more water/broth if necessary (for both methods)
Sprinkle with black/white pepper, a few drops of sesame oil and chopped scallions just before serving for 4 people. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend and will continue cultural foods in Japan on Monday!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Taste of Taiwan: Sinni Kionghi!
Even though New Years has already passed over a month ago in America, it's still a recent event in Taiwan because Chinese New Year was celebrated on Feb. 1st according the lunar moon calender. Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is one of the most important days in Taiwan and other parts of Asia just like in America. Family and friends get time to enjoy with each other and celebrate. Its a time where people pay respects to their ancestors and Gods and decorate their houses to get ready for the new year. Many families and friends travel to each other exchanging good wishes for the new year and decorate their houses with paper scrolls saying "good fortune", "wealth", "longevity", etc. On New Years Eve, families will have a huge dinner, where each food has a different meaning such as the radish rice cake that means "prosperity" or dumplings that will help you amass fortune and wealth. After that, family members will hand out red envelopes to elders and kids filled with "lucky money" to bring in the new year. The days following after are filled with worshiping their Gods and performances from lion and dragon dancers on the streets. The ending festival is on the 15th day of the first moon and known as the Lantern festival, where lanterns decorated with birds, beasts, historical figures are carried by children and adorn temples. Here's the recipe to make your own Taiwanese New Years rice cake:
Ingredients:
Native or Thai rice 600g
Radish 1800g
Dried shrimp 38g
Dried shiitake mushroom 6 pcs.
Bacon 1/2 cup
3 cups of water
Cooking sheet, 1 sheet
Seasoning:
3 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of sugar
1.5 teaspoons of Aji-no-moto
4 tablespoons of salad oil
Wash rice and soak them in water overnight.
Drain water from rice.
Add 3 cups of water to rice and turn them into puree with a food processor.
(Divide into twice or three times depending on the amount)
Cut radish into strips.
Soak dried shrimps and mushrooms in lukewarm water.
The cut dried shrimp, mushrooms, and bacon into small pieces.
Put salad oil into a frying pan, and fry the ingredients and then the radish.
Add seasoning. Add 2 and mix them enough.
Spread a cooking sheet into a steamer basket and put 5 on it.
Boil water in a steamer pot.
After water comes to a boil, put 6 on the pot.
Steam for about an hour over a strong fire and enjoy!
You can eat it plain or you can fry it with oil to give it a more savory and crispy flavor.
sources: http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/culture/lunar-NY/, http://www.s-i-a.or.jp/english/mimitaro/38eng.htm
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Taste of Taiwan: Drinks
Ingredients
3 papayas, peeled, seeded, and diced
1 ripe banana, diced
3/4 cup of milk
1/4 cup of heavy cream
1 cup of crushed ice
Puree the papaya, banana, milk, cream, and crushed ice in the blender. Serves
about 4 and make sure to finish quickly or else it will turn into a bitter custard.
sources: http://www.mapsofworld.com/taiwan/society/bubble-tea.html,
http://www.recipelink.com/mf/11/7357
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A Taste of Taiwan: Street snacks
Tea Eggs
Ingredients
6 eggs
3 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 teaspoon of salt
1 tea bag
4 pieces star anise
2 strips of dried mandarin peel(optional)
1 teaspoon of cracked peppercorn(optional)
Place unshelled eggs in saucepan of cold water--
water level should be at least 4 cm(1-1/2") higher than eggs.
Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 2 minutes.
Remove the eggs. With a knife, tap each egg slightly to crack
the shells in two or three places. Return to saucepan.
Add other ingredients and stir. Cover and simmer for
2 hours, adding water as necessary.
Drain and serve hot or cold. Enjoy!
sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan,
http://www.eatingchina.com/articles/taiwanfood.html
Monday, February 16, 2009
A Taste of Sri Lanka: Tropical Fruits
King Coconut
Rambutan
Woodapple
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A Taste of Sri Lanka: Breakfast
Ingredients
2 cups white long grain Rice
3/4 cup thick coconut milk or evaporated milk
1 tbs Cooked white Rice
1 tsp dry Yeast
1/2 tsp Sugar
2 tbs luke warm water
1-2 cups thin coconut milk or diluted evaporated milk
Eggs
Soak rice in water overnight (or until soft).
Add yeast and sugar into luke warm water and set aside.
Drain water from cooked rice.
Blend the soaked rice, milk and cooked rice in a blender until thick and creamy(The consistency should be that of thick cream).
Transfer into a bowl and add the foamy yeast mixture.
Mix well. Close and leave in a warm place for at least 6 hrs.
Add thin warm coconut to the thick batter while stirring
(The consistency of the batter should be similar to pan-cake batter).
Add salt to taste.
Pour spoonfuls into heated, greased hopper-pan and
make sure that the inside of the pan is well covered with the batter.
Close with lid and cook until done.
To make egg hoppers, cover the inside of the pan with the batter by swirling it
(same as before) and then crack-drop an egg to the center,
close with lid and cook until done.
Add chicken curry for extra flavor.
A Taste of Sri Lanka: Dessert
Ingredients
2 cups Thick Coconut Milk
1/2 lb Brown Sugar
4 Eggs
Pinch Cardamoms (Optional)
3 Cloves (Optional)
Raisins, Cashew
Beat the eggs in a mixer. Add the coconut milk, brown sugar
cardamoms and cloves to the beaten eggs mix well.
Add the mixture into a pot
and steam for 20 minutes.
Add raisins or cashews.
You can also add the mixture into multiple small aluminum
bakimg foils and then steam it for about 5-10 minutes.
Enjoy!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Taste of Sri Lanka: Popular dish
They also have a wide range of tastes in their cuisine, with rice, coconut, curry, and chili powders used in many dishes. Food is always a special occasion in Sri Lanka and can show a visitor the great hospitality of the people. One popular dish, Kiribath, is served for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, even the opening of a new store, but mainly on New Year’s Day. It’s a simple sweet recipe that uses rice and coconut milk and is topped with sesame seeds, sugar, or curry. Here's the recipe:
Ingredients
4 cups of rice
1 can of coconut milk
Dash of salt
Clean and wash the rice. Put the rice in a pan, stick in the
index finger on surface of rice and fill water up to slightly above
the 2nd joint of the index finger. Cover and cook the the rice
under low heat for about 15 minutes.
When the rice is almost done, mix the salt with the coconut
milk and add to the rice. Then stir and cook for a few more minutes.
Serve the hot rice on to a platter and flatten it using flat spoon or spatula. Cut it into squares and enjoy!