Since moving to New Mexico my cooking has altered to accommodate a few more people, and a few different ideas on what we want to eat. In some ways, it has been awesome (I’ve perfected my beef stew – which honestly I don’t like that much, but will eat) and other ways it [...]]]>

chirashi sushi

Since moving to New Mexico my cooking has altered to accommodate a few more people, and a few different ideas on what we want to eat. In some ways, it has been awesome (I’ve perfected my beef stew – which honestly I don’t like that much, but will eat) and other ways it had been a real bummer, because my in-laws look at my Asian cooking like….. well I can’t utter the words here.

Sadly, but happily, I’ve been drooling over La Fuji Mama’s blog and yesterday I threw my hands up, and said, “I don’t care anymore, I am making a Japanese meal tonight.”

Here is the scary and almost funny part, my in-laws would rather have Panda Express. They swear it’s the best thing they’ve ever tasted.  I’m thinking it’s  just americanized chinese food with soy sauce, why bother eating it? We got them Panda Express last night.

ingredients

As the fun began for me I could not stop thinking about Youko & Kazuma, who gave me my first lessons in Japanese food & cooking. They also introduced me to Mitsuwa (we had one close to us in Chicago too). Can I tell you how much I miss Mitsuwa.

So here’s the deal in Albuquerque: if you want Korean and Chinese food supplies, no problem (and I love Korean food), but if you want Japanese cooking supplies, you are going to be hurting. Since I last lived here, Talin (the international food market here) has decided that Japanese food supplies must have Hello Kitty on them, and the isle was filled it treats, sugar, soy sauce, and saké. I was soooooo sad, so much that I went to customer service and said what the heck?

I decided to make La Fuji Mama’s #7 Challenge for Washoku Warriors: Miso Ramen, and her link to Rachel’s Chirashi Sushi, and lastly, my homemade tofu.

miso ramen

The Miso Ramen (adapted from the book Washoku) has the following ingredients: chicken stock, dashi (kombu & katsuo-bushi), iriko (dried sardines) ramen noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, shiitake, mugi miso (barley), sesame oil, etc.

The first time I ever actively started using Mugi Miso was after meeting Youko. We stock Sweet White, Red, Yellow, Mugi, and Brown Rice Miso in our house, and she showed me how she combines them for different flavors.

my homemade tofu

I’ve been making my tofu for a couple years now. The ingredients are super simple: dried soybeans to make soymilk, spring water, and nigari.

chirashi sushi

And lastly, the Chirashi Sushi: Sushi Rice, seasoned shiitaké, lotus root, and carrot, snap peas blanched, carrot stars, toasted nori, and egg ribbons.

the best compliment of them all, my son loving the food, but then, that's all i ate when i was pregnant so i think he's predisposed!

old town - outdoor art

my favorite - i must weave or knit a shawl like this

complete outfit

The yarn is handspun singles I did on my Louet Wheel. I handpainted the wool prior to spinning [...]]]> I have friends in New York that are having their first baby. I was so excited I finally had a chance to pull out my favorite handspun yarn that I have been saving for quite awhile.

complete outfit

The yarn is handspun singles I did on my Louet Wheel. I handpainted the wool prior to spinning with some of my favorite colors. It’s a bit wild, but perfect for a child. And the parents are waiting until the birth to find out the sex of the baby, so the colors are perfect for a boy or a girl.

kimono, booties, & longies

I really hope they like it!

The Scoop:

Pattern: Seamless Infant Kimono by Carina Spencer

Yarn: My Handspun Hand-Dyed Blue Faced Leicester Singles Spun on my Louet Wheel, Cascade 220 Solids

Needles: US Size 8 Circular & DP Needles

Special Techniques: I-Cord, Seed St., Stockinette St.

As usual I had a blast making this kimono, especially when I  use my handspun!

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newborn sized kimono

The Scoop:

Pattern: Seamless Infant Kimono by Carina Spencer

Yarn: My Handspun Hand-Dyed Blue Faced Leicester Singles Spun on my Louet Wheel, Cascade 220 Solids

Needles: US Size 8 Circular & DP Needles

Special Techniques: I-Cord, Seed St., Stockinette St.

As usual I had a blast making this kimono, especially when I  use my handspun!

I had promised my friend Barbara that I would post something healthy, easy, ingredient finding friendly, and possibly kid friendly. My first thought was the BLT Salad. While living in Florida, we made this recipe frequently, and I think my mom clipped from a newspaper. I think it was written as a healthly [...]]]>

BLT Salad

I had promised my friend Barbara that I would post something healthy, easy, ingredient finding friendly, and possibly kid friendly. My first thought was the BLT Salad. While living in Florida, we made this recipe frequently, and I think my mom clipped from a newspaper. I think it was written as a healthly carbohydrate recipe, omitting bread. Either way it is delicious. And I never quite make it the same.

The recipe called for small or new potatoes. I have also substituted smallish yukon gold, or the purple variety of potato.

I like to use plum tomatoes instead of regular tomatoes because they have less liquid. Equally good is homegrown heirloom varieties. It is fun to add red, yellow, orange, and green (zebra) type tomatoes.

I grow fresh basil in my backyard, and we also grow lettuce, so those 2 ingredients are always on hand. I use way more basil than the recipe calls for, possibly 1/8 cup or more. You can combine any type greens, but I think that baby spinach would detract from the BLT taste were going for.

And then there is bacon. My dad only eats turkey bacon at home, and I often substitute pancetta for the regular ole bacon. If you do use pancetta, I would not add any additional salt to the recipe.

BLT Salad

BLT SALAD

Serves 4

1 1/4 lbs small or new potatoes, cut into chunks
3 tbsp. olive oil, divided
salt & pepper to taste
3 medium tomatoes, cored and chopped into large chunks
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
4 to 8 center cut bacon slices
12 cups romaine or salad greens, torn
1/2 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Coat potato chunks in 1 tbsp olive oil in a zip-lock bag (or however you want to do it. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake on a foil-lined baking pan (coated with cooking spray – easy clean up) for 30 minutes until potatoes are golden.

2. Place tomato chunks in bowl. Make dressing with remaining olive oil, vinegar, basil, and season with salt and pepper. Pour about 1/4 of dressing over tomato.

3. Cook bacon until just crispy.

4. Divide roasted potato. Toss greens with tomato and remaining dressing. Sprinkle with bacon bits and shredded cheese.

5. Then Smile!

Pongo’s first mama (Debbie) requested some new pictures, so I finally hunkered down and followed Pongo around with the camera!

We adopted Pongo when we lived in Florida, and she is officially Wyatt’s bunny. If you want to see how bonded they are and you want to laugh your behind off, just click here to see [...]]]>

Pongo’s first mama (Debbie) requested some new pictures, so I finally hunkered down and followed Pongo around with the camera!

We adopted Pongo when we lived in Florida, and she is officially Wyatt’s bunny. If you want to see how bonded they are and you want to laugh your behind off, just click here to see the bunny cage incident.

snacking.....

Anyhow, Wyatt is really in love with Pongo, and she in love with him. In fact, he loves her so much, one of his new nicknames is “the bunny liberator”. We have to secure Pongo’s cage now, for Wyatt lets her out, and sometimes it takes us two days to catch her. We love to give her free time, but we prepare that she may be loose for up to three days. Althou, a month ago I had no problem catching her when I found her with our other bunny, who is a boy, and they were well, use your imagination, and I dove, catching both of them at the same. We still don’t know how Wyatt got our other bunny cage unlocked.

sweet but sneaky!

We love her and I know she loves Wyatt, letting him pick her up when he wants. I wish she’d let me do that! Anyway, spoiled bunny, and we can’t thank Debbie, and Pre-K for giving us this wonderful bunny!

Finally I had the chance to tweak my pattern for longies, and now I am happy that I have my own set pattern to work from! These longies are part of a layette set I had been working on, and I wanted to use my handspun, but needed a solid [...]]]>

close up of waist band

Finally I had the chance to tweak my pattern for longies, and now I am happy that I have my own set pattern to work from! These longies are part of a layette set I had been working on, and I wanted to use my handspun, but needed a solid color to go with my multi color. Also, the layette had to be unisex, for the baby is going to be a surprise.

newborn sized longies

The Scoop:

Pattern: Longies by Big Sky Mountain Designs

Yarn: My Handspun Hand-Dyed Blue Faced Leicester Singles Spun on my Louet Wheel, Cascade 220 Solids

Needles: US Size 6 Circular Needles, US Size 8 Circular & DP Needles

Special Techniques: I-Cord, Stockinette St., Garter Stitch, Kitchener Stitch

The Scoop:

Yarn: My Handspun Hand-Dyed Blue Faced Leicester Singles Spun on my Louet Wheel, Cascade 220 Solids

Hook: Size F

I’ve made so many of these booties I think I could make them in my sleep. But I love the pattern and always happy [...]]]>

crochet baby booties - sized small

The Scoop:

Yarn: My Handspun Hand-Dyed Blue Faced Leicester Singles Spun on my Louet Wheel, Cascade 220 Solids

Hook: Size F

I’ve made so many of these booties I think I could make them in my sleep. But I love the pattern and always happy with how they come out.