Food Related

Vegan in Virginia Beach, VA

2015-05-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

As a resident of Virginia Beach, I WISH we had more vegan restaurants to go to, but we do have a quiet variety of restaurants who serves vegan options.

So I listed some my favorite/go to restaurants and what I order every restaurant on this page.

However, don't you ever wonder what is the item on the menu look like? So I looked back some of my Instagram pics and added some pictures, if there is no pictures but title of a food item, that is a link to my Instagram page.

Links on every name of restaurants are directly to their Yelp page, so refer them as you wish.

Fellow vegans, enjoy Virginia Beach!!

**************************************************************************

First and most "plant-based" restaurant we can think of in this area is Fruitive, of course.

Fruitive was the first 100% plant based organic restaurant in Hampton Road.

As a vegan, the best part being Fruitive is that I can choose whatever I want, and I don't have to worry whether if the menu item is vegan or not.

Antioxidant Berry Blend

My second go to restaurant is Baladi Mediterranean Cafe.

Baladi actually located in the same shopping area as Fruitive.

Their customer service is always good! Good thing is that they serves dinner as well. ;)

Their menu is pretty easy to navigate, GF(Gluten Free), red V(vegetarian) and green V (vegan) to distinct from others. They also serves meat and seafood as well, so if you are meeting someone is not vegan, they might like Baladi.

Mezze Plater

Sautéed sabanekh

Moujaddarah brown rice and brown lentil bean

Lentil Cake

Masala Bites in Red Mill Commons is pretty good with Vegan as well.

Unfortunately, their naan is not vegan but this cauliflower dish is really good! I can almost have only this dish and rice to go with it. Okla curry and Eggplant curry, both were really good too but a bit oily, so if you are staying away from anything with oil, I would not recommend it.

Gobhi Manchurian/ Cauliflower Florets, Soy-Tomato Glaze

Pahadi Baingan/ Eggplant, Herbs, Sesame, Garlic, Onions, Tomatoes And Spices

Amchuri Bhindi Masala/ Okra, Peppers, Tomatoes, Ginger, Garlic, Mango Powder

Pho79 located so conveniently, right next to Trader Joe's in Hill Top area. I liked this place even when I was not a vegan. So glad to see they have many options to make them into vegan. I asked them to make Bah Mi with Tofu. Forgot to ask them eliminated cheese, so I had to get rid of it myself, but if I can bring my own vegan mayo, would have been perfect!

Bah Mi

Stir fried tofu with lemon glass and ginger -My absolute favorite.

Vegetarian Pho with fried tofu (Vegan? Vegetarian for sure)

Vietnam Garden is an another option for us too.

<Landstown Commons>

Peter Cheng is one of the gem! A little more sophisticated Chinese than regular Chinese in neighborhood.

Marinaded ear mushroom

Kung Pao Tofu

Mapo Tofu

Stir-Fried Tofu Skin with Napa Cabbage

I really like Zpizza 's whole wheat crust option. They can veganized most of their pizza! On Yelp, somehow it says this place is closed but I don't really think so. I will go and check that myself very soon.

<Oceana Area>

Sushi Yama has a pretty good vegan option as well. It is not far from ocean front!

Meadow (Avocado, carrots and cucumber) was super good!

Jade Garden is for our family favorite Chinese take out!
They even have online order system and pretty convenience.

Noodles&Company is right by Lynheaven Mall. When I am exhausted, I'd rather stop by and fuel myself.

Indonesian curry noodle

<More around Hill Top area>

More than Fruitive, Balad, and Pho79, Hill Top has Whole Foods Market on our back too.

Vegan Blueberry Cake

They also have vegan muffins, cupcakes, even vegan pizza, and more things are available.

My Vegan Sweet Tooth just opened their door lately.

AND Green Cat (I believe they are vegan joint as well) is opening on May 23rd on its door at Ocean Front!!

Plus, lucky for us, every month, The Cruelty Free Kitchen host a dinner at various locations. Check their website for "upcoming events" page. Any profits made by CFK will be re-donated to the featured animal rights organization of the month! This month they are hosting....

Backyard Dinner Party

Featuring Live Music w/ Little Pants!!

WHEN & WHERE: Sunday, May 24th, 6:00 - 9:00pm @ 113 N. Oceana Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23454

PASSED HORS D'OEUVRES: sushi crepes with ume lime dipping sauce, charred shishito peppers w/ smoked sea salt, hot herb cheese puffs w/ homemade boursin...

SALADS: baby spinach and chevre salad, summer barley salad with preserved lemon and basil, pear and carmelized pecan salad w/ maple dijon vinnaigrette...

GRILLED: grilled vegetable skewers with orange coconut curry sauce, skewered filet of soul with lemon caper sauce, truffled setain skewers with duxelles...

SWEETS: miniature lemon cream tarts, individual cheesecakes with jellied peach jewels, strawberry mousse parfait...

BAR: sparkling holy basil apple shrub - with or without whiskey, summer white sangria, and home-brewed peach iced tea...

Does this sound delicious? or what? I am planning to heading over. Will see you there!!

How am I doing as a vegan?

2014-09-24T23:10:00.000-07:00

It has been over 1 year and 4 months since I became a vegan. I noticed myself I don't get sick/cold easily any more and all the breakouts used appeared on my jaw line and my back are never coming back. When I skip exercise, I don't gain weight easily though, when I visited Japan last Summer I lost 5lb! I guess because we walked everywhere we went. (I refused to drive in my country because I wasn't confident enough to drive tiny streets!) I ate and ate and ate all Japanese vegan goodies, still I could loose some weight! What does that tells me? I don't have enough physical excise my ordinal days being here. I've got another Groupon deal for a nearby yoga studio, hope it keeps me motivated and I decided purposely park my car far at campus like 13 mins away from my class room so hope it gives me at least minimum exercise I need. Wish me luck!

To be honest, I do feel fatigue once in a while, but it did not started just because I converted be a vegan. I experienced same symptom before and it turned out to be not having enough iron back then. I looked up how to intake iron efficiently and found out that having tannin contained beverages such as tea and coffee, right after a meal can cause iron deficiency. ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1168162 ) So I have been paying attention WHEN to have my coffee or tea, and trying to have a little more steel cut oats or some nuts and green veggies and adding molasses to my diet hopefully works for me.

I found interesting article Is a vegan diet healthy? on Jamie Oliver's Facebook page and I thought it is important to keep reminded myself to not forget to intake "calcium, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids." We found Flax Milk from Good Karma Company has pretty good balance on Omega 3s and of course, good source of calcium, vitamin D and B12 as well.

Another ingredients I started enjoy being a vegan is "Chia Seeds" and "Nutritional Yeast"

Bob's Red Mill Large Flake Yeast, 8 oz

Bob's Red Mill Chia Seeds, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4)

Sorry, can't get pictures of them shows up but this Chia Seeds is the best deal I've seen so far. $27.96 on 4 16oz bags, total of 64 oz! As of today, 25th, Sep 2014.

As for zinc... I haven't thought of this just yet but it was a good reminder to look it up! However, it turned out be 7 out of top 10 of Top Foods Highest in Zinc was plant based anyways. They are wheat germs, spinach, pumpkin and squash seeds, nuts, cocoa and chocolate, beans, mushroom. I don't think I have to worry about zinc, but speaking of cocoa, I usually have dark cocoa such as Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Cocoa, 8-Ounce Cans (Pack of 6) handy because it contains a lot more iron (10%) than normal cocoa(2%). As I looked up benefit of dark chocolate/cocoa and found many articles how dark chocolate/cocoa can benefit people like me! So I shall eat more dark chocolate without feeling too much of guilt!

Go Vegan!

Vegan@Trader Joe's

2013-11-18T20:42:00.004-08:00

I am so thankful that we have Trader Joe's near by. Without them, it won't be this easy for me to being Vegan at all.

These are some of things I buy from them...

I don't use "meat like product" often, but if I do I usually get them from here or frozen section. Needless to say, these are very good quality tofu! Their Vegan cheese is okay. At least, it doesn't contain "casein"(milk protein) but not the best vegan cheese.

I hated Tofu when I was growing up! However, this is one of our favorite dish these day!!

Vegan cream cheese and onion dip mix.

This Vegan Cream Cheese is very useful! I mix it with their onion dip mix with a splash of almond milk to make a spread. I baked up savory pastries and my boys loved them. I rolled them up with baby spinach in crescent rolls and baked them for lunch today.

Along with my chia seed pudding with cranberry sauce and some salad.

I hated avocado when I was growing up as well. Now I cannot live without them. I remember first time I even tasted this green weirdo at my grand mom's house....with soy sauce and wasabi! Now that's one of my favorite too! Avocado used to be a fancy FRUIT back then and could not believe she dipped with SOY SAUCE!! Well, what can I say... she was very different. I miss her!!

Anyhow.... get back to the topic. Trader Joe's chia seeds and coconuts oil are really good price for those quality products.

I found a few chia seed pudding recipes with different ratios. 2/3 cup (or little less) chia seeds, 2 cups of nuts milk and a little bit of agave. Mix well occasionally and refrigerate it until it gets firm. I like it with some fruits or 'nata de coco!'

Haven't seen this cashew pieces for a while, but it is the best deal for raw cashew. Now they have cashew meal (powdered cashew nuts) they might not carry this kind any more...

I make Vegan alfred pasta, creamy soup or nacho cheese with it.

Alfred pasta

I add garlic and nutritional yeast, very similar recipe is on here. This dish is our family favorite instead of mac n' cheese. ;)

Soup

Can't add a photo of my vegan nacho grande but it's on my Instagram page, http://instagram.com/p/dQlsniwiLd/ check this out. :)

These refrigerated jumbo cinnamon rolls and crescent rolls are vegan. :)

Sorry for this disturbing portion of this photo!

Speaking of sweet vegan dreams this Brown Rice Marshmallow Treat is a real treat!! It's a completely vegan too. :)

On the left hand corner. Only a few box left!

Have not seen this Meatless Meatball for a while and they told me that they are working on making improvement so it might take a little while until it gets back on the shelf but if you find them, I recommend you to pick them up! These little balls are amazingly good. I used it for my vegan lasagna and everyone loved it. Their mandarin chick'n and chickenless strips are pretty good. I use chicken less chicken strips for sandwich sometimes and boys really like them. We also like Vegetable Masala burger. Pizza flavor one is vegetarian and we didn't really care for other veggie burger...

I've grabbed two more bags of Turkeyless Turkey after the sample turkey dinner the other night, I figured we'll need more.

This picture showing only half of one piece. I cut one piece into four pieces, this bag contains two pieces. It also comes with the delicious gravy and it is enough amount to go with my own mashed potatoes. Can't wait for Thanksgiving dinner already!

This gluten free and Vegan pancake is our boys favorite for special breakfast for weekdays. The pumpkin butter uses honey but I allow myself to have a little bit of honey. I found a new word from a book to describe me as "beegan" ha!

These are something I look forward to, in the morning. This cinnamon sugar grinder is crazy good. So watch out, if you are trying to cut down sugar!!

These cookie butter items are dangerously good as well....One with cocoa swirl got hazel nuts in it. That kind of remind me of Nutella and and it might be even better....but not nutrition wise. It said on its label "contain wheat, soy & coconut" and also said "may contain traces of tree nuts, milk and eggs." I spotted emulsifier (addictive; might be made out of egg yolk or animal source) this may not be vegan from the start... :(

This Fried Onion has a big V sign, I had to get it this afternoon and this rosemary cracker that I found on Instagram is Vegan as well. I cannot wait to try it!!

I love Trader Joe's not just because people are so friendly, their store and packages are so cute, they have plenty vegan stuff, they are affordable or small enough to get in and out in 15 mins. On top with all that I love them because their products do not use GMOs. I am completely against GMO products so I don't have to feel suspicious while I shop there. Thanks Trader Joe's!!

Very Vegan Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

2013-11-05T21:57:00.000-08:00

It's the time of a year for pumpkin everything. I started baking pumpkin muffins and I finally got satisfaction with my recipe to share with you all.

Very Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

Makes regular size 12 muffins

Start preheating oven, set for 400F(200C)

Oil spray a muffin pan or have liners ready

-A-
1 1/4 cups Any kind of Flour
( I mix spelt sprout flour, whole wheat sprout flour or white whole wheat)
1/4 cup Almond Flour

1 cup Turbinado (Raw)Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Salt

2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

-B-

1 cup Pumpkin Purée (NOT Pumpkin pie filling)

1/4 cup Grape Seeds Oil (or any kind of oil, like canola oil works well)

1/4 cup Apple Sauce or mashed ripped banana

1/2 cup Almond Milk (or any kind of milk, soy, coconuts, cashews..cow?)

1 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1. Shift the ingredients under -A- together.
I prefer using a clean plastic bag and put all dry ingredients together and shake them up!

2. Mix all the wet ingredients under -B- together.

3. Add the entire dry ingredient from 1. to 2.

4. Using an ice-cream scooper, transfer mixture into a prepared muffin pan about 2 scoops each and bake them ABOUT 16 minutes. I always check about 2 minutes before suggested time so I won't over bake them. Remember, every oven is different!!

Cool them on a baking lack and enjoy!

Here is another shot of my muffins that I made for Japanese Bazaar the other day. On this picture, I used Japanese turbinado sugar that make looks rumply. If using regular turbinado sugar, all those dots won't be there.

I wind up making about 100 of them. I also baked up Green Tea Muffins as well and I got recipe from this site. I've received really good compliments for both of muffins. They could not believe they are vegan! Really don't need butter or high cholesterol eggs in our yummy muffins, plus it is less work. ;)

Go Vegan!!

Vegan Homemade Chocolate Turnovers

2013-09-11T22:40:00.002-07:00

I have been wanting some good sweet pastries but wasn't sure which one I can purchase at stores. I found out that Pepperidge Farm's frozen Puff Pastry sheet is a vegan!

The useful info is from this book.

So I figure use the pastry sheet and make it easy and probably cheaper than any store-bought vegan goods.

It was a huge hit, and I wanted more...that's how good! or bad... in a way. ;)

You can easily look up recipes for "chocolate turnover"...but this is what I use.

I know being a vegan isn't mean that being healthy and it is a good or bad example.

Well, at least it doesn't contain no dairy products.

Also this item helped make this easy! Oh how I love Trader Joe's!!

When it says "May contain traces of milk" I just wish it doesn't. So it is a vegan for me!

All I did was defrost the sheet over night in the fridge. Preheat the oven 425F. Cut a sheet into 9 pieces of 3 inch square. Place a little less 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips on the middle of this cutted small square sheet. Fold it into half, like a triangle, seal them brushing with almond milk, press it with folk from top. Brush some almond milk on these triangles and then bake them for 12-15 minutes until they are golden brown.

I had it with my usual, iced cafe almond latte.

This chocolate chips melted perfectly! It can be really hot, so please careful if you are urge to try them right after taking it out from your oven!

I do have some healthy snacks available on the table as well though.

My younger son could not stop eating those clementines. So cute and yummy, easy to eat!

Good for afternoon snack or let them take as part of school lunch.

I'll talk about boys vegan school lunch next time. :)

Have a good one, everyone!

Vegan Cakes

2013-08-18T22:31:00.001-07:00

We've celebrated my husband's retirement last month at Nautica downtown Norfolk.

I ALMOST ordered cupcakes from a local bakery but figure we won't be able to eat non-vegan cakes and it would cost a lot more than I invest my time and purchase own ingredients to make them.

So I searched vegan cupcake and cake recipes here and there, I don't have list of sites where I've got all the recipes from anymore...but all the cupcakes and the cake both came out pretty good!

If we don't have internet, I don't think I could become a vegan at all! That's how much I depend on internet to search everyday meal's recipe as well as special occasions.

Anyways, I made vegan yellow cake, coconuts cupcake with pina colada frosting from sticky fingers cookbook, chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting.

Coconuts cupcake's recipe was from Chef Chloe. I bake just cupcake part and it is enough yumminess and people love them! I like how fluffy the cake part comes out.

Here is the cookbook, I've got pina colada frosting recipe from. It was a huge hit!

I've noticed the other day at our local Whole Foods Market, carries her cupcakes! I should try them soon!

Virginia Beach Whole Foods Market now has 6" Vegan Oreo Cake available for $17.99 as well.

Yes, Vegan shouldn't have to be all that healthy.... lol

Okay, I made plenty cupcakes ready since we weren't really sure how many guests actually come to the reception. So I made cake part a day before....

and frost and decorate them next day which was a day before the ceremony.

This peach filling was amazing!

Voila! with an edible sheet on top. :)

I ordered these anchors from Etsy as well.

I tasted a bit of every frosting before actually decorated them on the cupcakes. Just a little bit of each but it was enough to give me SUGAR high!

Yes, sugar (regular sugar and powder sugar) for vegan is a bit controversy...but I used it since all the vegan recipes call for 'sugar' or 'powder sugar'.

I could tell sugar was affecting me! Even after midnight I've got going until I've got done with my own satisfaction.

I was lucky enough to get a few hours of sleep before we left!

Vegan Blueberry Muffins

2013-08-18T10:56:00.001-07:00

We went to blueberry picking the other day. It was so hot and unfortunately the blueberry was not sweet as prior years. So I've made blueberry pancakes right next day but still had some leftovers.

I wanted make some kind of a quick breakfast/snack bite and searched recipe for blueberry muffins. I've tried one recipe from Bekarita.com(http://www.bakerita.com/vegan-blueberry-muffins/)but didn't turn quite right for me. I have no idea what did I do wrong, but dough was too heavy and it didn't look pretty as hers! So the second try, I've adapted her recipe but changed a little bit and it turned out very nicely. Fluffy and tangy, it represent a perfect combination of lemon and blueberries. If eggless, dairyless muffins are this good, why do I have to even think of using them? I am so happy baking vegan style! It is so much easier than dealing with eggs too. :)

Vegan Blueberry Muffins

Makes regular size 12 muffins

Start pre-heating oven, set for 400F(200C)

Oil spray muffin pan or have liners ready

-A-
1 cup All Purpose Flour
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Sea Salt

-B-
1/2 cup Raw Sugar(I use Trader Joe's Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar)
2 TBS Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice and its peel grated
1/2 cup Almond Milk
1/3 cup Coconuts Oil
1 Ripe mashed Banana(or 1/2 cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce SHOULD work as well)
1 cup Fresh Blueberry
1 TBS Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar

Directions
1. Combine all the ingredients under -A- together. I prefer using a plastic bag and shake them up!

2. Mix all the wet ingredients under -B- together. If coconuts oil is not liquid form, I suggest heat it with milk until WARM so that it'll mix well.

3. Add the entire dry ingredient from 1. to 2. then add blueberries to the mixture.

4. Using an ice-cream scooper for transferring the mixture into prepared muffin pan. Sprinkle additional 1 TBS Turbinade Raw Cane Sugar and then bake them ABOUT 18 minutes.

I usually check them 2 minutes prior to the Direction's suggested baking time. Sometimes they are done already, sometimes not. It's varies depends on your oven and temperature of each ingredients, but it is better not over bake them. I'm pretty sure that fresh blueberries should be able to substitute with frozen blueberries but then, you should be careful how long to bake. Normally, a lot longer. I recommend if you are baking with frozen blueberries, it should be 20-25 mins. This is very easy recipe and amazingly tasty! They banished quickly so I should be making some more. :)

Enjoy Baking!

Miso and cucumber

2013-06-22T23:34:00.001-07:00

I love Persian cucumber. It reminds me of Japanese cucumber a lot more than any other kind. I like both English and Persian vs regular American just because thinner skin and no seeds! Persian cucumber has little more crunch to it, if compare with English one.

Having cucumber with miso paste is very simple way to have them, they compliment each other. If you don't know what to do with your miso paste, try this one. You get a bit of protein and amino acid from it. Good benefit of using soy product. :)

Vegan Banana Muffins

2013-06-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to bake Vegan Banana Muffins for three weeks in a row! Finally, I have a recipe that I can call it's the winner! (Sorry but I made better changes on Dec. 22nd, '14)

First, I've adapted recipe from Averie Cooks, I reduced oil and sugar, add more banana, switched all purpose flour to whole wheat and almond flour.

I like using almond flour (Trader Joe's works well, 1 lb about $4) because it gives more flavor and protein for vegan. :)

Yep, I have been vegan for almost three weeks and I am enjoying it.

Well, many people has been asking me for a recipe, so here you are.

Vegan Banana Muffins

makes regular 12, mini muffin 30-ish

Start pre-heating oven, set for 375F

Oil spray (mini)muffin pan or have liners ready.

<A>

1/4 cup Coconuts oil*

1/2 cup Coconuts Milk**

1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 TBS Apple cider vinegar

<B>

3 "very" ripped banana

2/3 cup sugar***

<C>
1 1/4 cups Any kind of Flour ****
1/4 cup Almond Flour

1 tsp Cinnamon Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

<Option 1>
1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 2 TBS of sugar

<Option 2>
Chocolate chip***** about 1 cup or half of 12 oz bag.
Walnuts or Pecan nuts about 1 cup

1. Microwave coconuts oil and coconuts milk to make it "warm." DO NOT make it hot! OR let them sit on room temperature for a while. Add Apple cider vinegar and vanilla extract mixed together set it aside.

2. On a large bowl, start smashing bananas with a whisker or folks and add sugar. Add oil and milk mixture (1.) to this banana and sugar mixture and mix until all the ingredients get well blended.

3. All the dry ingredients on <C> in a bowl or a food storage plastic bag(with air, close it and shake, the easiest method!) and mixed/shifted it together.

4. Mix 2 and 3 together and fill the prepared (mini) muffin pan. Do not fill them up full. Leave it 2/3 or 3/4 high. Bake them till they are done. Usually it takes 16 mins (for mini, 12 mins) for me, with MY oven, but everyone's ovens are different so please check them in little after 13 mins. When you insert a tooth pick and it does not come out clean, it's not done. Leave it in the oven for a little longer.

There you have it. I'm telling you, I was not able to stop eating them.. so watch out!!

One of the tips for baking is never over mixing the ingredients at last, and never over baking... so good luck!

Option 1: I like the idea of dressing the muffins. I mixed 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 2 TBS of sugar in a food storage bag, after muffins are cool enough to handle, I place them gently in the bag and shake it a little.

Option 2: Add chocolate chips and/or nuts of your choice on Step 3.

*Any kind of milk you have in your hand is fine. Almond, Soy, Cow...

**Any kind of oil, I don't recommend EVOO on this, but canola or grape seed oil works fine. I like Trader Joe's organic coconuts oil, that is best deal that I found so far

***I used "turbinado raw cane sugar" or usually have coconut sugar on hand, but any kind of sugar works

****I mixed sprouted spelt flour, whole wheat sprouted flour, white whole wheat flour

*****Trader Joe's Chocolate chips is vegan, so as Ghirardelli semi-sweet

Greek festival was a really tasty event...

2012-08-12T21:22:00.001-07:00

I apology for neglecting this blog for a while...I have been updating my Japanese blog quite often.

Just wanted a quick update on Greek Fest that I mentioned on last post.

Yes, that Greek Fest was so tasty!! Cost was "festival price"...

Well, it has been a couple of months since we went there... but here are a few things we enjoyed.

It's the cart, you can buy drinks while you waiting for line to get food...

These what we bought (Greek beer on the left and Greek soda on the right) and they both tasted really good!

yum!

Kababu!

Many people having their food while enjoying Greek music and dance on a stage under the tent.

These what we had that day. Everything was so good! I don't remember how much exactly we paid for it though...

Over all, we enjoyed the food but it could be a little too noisy to have a conversation under the tent. We would have stayed a little longer if it was a bit more comfortable atmosphere. Well, it was a festival so we understood. :)

I love one of Greek restaurant it's call Azalea Inn in Norfolk. We need to go check them out sometime soon! I am craving for Greek.

Greek Festival (Norfolk)

2012-05-10T08:20:00.003-07:00

I am so excited about Greek Festival every year at this time. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral 7220 Granby Street Norfolk, Virginia 23505 PH: 757.440.0500 http://www.norfolkgreekfestival.com/index.htm The traditional Greek cuisine(!!!), exciting Greek entertainment, arts and crafts, beautiful jewelry, tours of the Cathedral. I would love to try their refreshment at the festival this year! We've tried a few years back, but didn't get a chance to test anything that time...it was so crowded. So hope to get the chance this year, and update some pics later on. Wish me a luck!

Hot Cross Buns

2012-04-07T06:15:00.002-07:00

As soon as I saw Hot Cross Buns at Panera Bread for a first time last year, I had to taste it. I don't think I've never had it before then. I really liked it, so I've baked it this year using Martha Stewart's recipe for Easter weekend.

I didn't realized that I was baking 30 pretty big rolls!! Well, 5 and 1/2 cups of flour...

My suggestion to making this buns, I would use "Bread Flour" instead of all "All Purpose Flour". It turned out to be a little dense than we prefer.

My husband took 15 of them to work. I heard that they didn't get a chance to heat the buns up...Well, hope they enjoyed it.

Happy Easter, everyone. :)

How to eat more vegetable, effectively...

2012-04-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I crave for a crunchy fresh salad though most of time I like my vegetables cooked.

I get tired of eating the salads (my signature style) that I make. I have many salad recipes but I wind up making almost the same flavor every time. Plus, there are tons of calories in salad dressing which I'd rather stay away from. It uses lots of oil to create the creamy texture. A little bit of oil is very essential when you are on diet, but not a lot...

A good reason why cooked vegetables are better or easier to eat.... since vegetables contains lots of water, when we cook them, they shrink. A bag of baby spinach can shrink to almost a handful! By using very small amounts of butter or olive oil on a heated frying pan and add pre-washed baby spinach, stir and cook for a couple of minutes, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and taste. That's pretty much all we do. Sometimes I add mushrooms and a mixture of whisked eggs and a bit of heavy cream and seasoning... to turn it into scramble eggs.

My favorite way of eating vegetables are oven roasted or grilled vegetables. I use a Panini maker for grilling vegetable, sometimes too.

I like oven roasting asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, colored peppers, cherry tomatoes, onions, zucchini, etc. My sons really like them as well. Yes, my 6 and 8years old boys love vegetable! Expect egg plant though... ;)

I use a touch of olive oil and salt & pepper before roasting or grilling vegetables. I like them as they comes up, but sometimes I dress them with a little bit of crushed garlic and white balsamic vinegar and some chopped herbs.

Left over grilled or roasted vegetable soup is even better. I believe it's an Ina Garden's recipe. Cook vegetables in chicken broth, until they are heated, then puree the vegetables in the soup. Add heavy cream at last. Sometimes, when I don't have left over roasted vegetables, I then cook chopped zucchini, cabbage, onions, carrots, mushrooms and/or potatoes in chicken broth until it gets tender, then purée the cooked vegetables in the soup.

Kale chips were a big hit on our family, too. I'm not a big fan of traditionally cooked kale, but these chips were amazing! Just don't try to store them, they take on moisture and get soggy.

I like vegetable in my cakes, too. I love carrot cakes, and I discovered zucchini muffins are also good.

I use Williams-Sonoma's recipe and give it my own twist. I like cranberry, rather than dried cherry or raisins. Since it uses orange marmalade, cranberry goes so well. Orange and cranberry are like butter and bread... I use a half cup of wheat flour, instead of making it with all all-purpose flour. I reduce amount of sugar by half and use light brown sugar. It still gives it enough sweetness and the flavor of light brown sugar really compliments the other ingredients.

One main reason why I like cooking and baking is because I can twist the original recipe to fit our taste or make it to a healthier version.

This is the soup I made from grilled vegetable.

Cook grilled vegetable in chicken broth then puree it in the soup like this...

This is even before pureeing...

This is Kale chips! I used Melissa's recipe.

My friend's cooking

2012-03-25T19:40:00.001-07:00

I was invited to my friend's house for lunch. She made us Pho and spring rolls, and for dessert a banana cream pie.

We usually have lunch together, at someone's house, not at restaurants. Because at friend's houses we can get comfortable even with children.

It was my request having Pho. This lady really surprise us by cooking something unusual for us, and she really makes look like an easy task. I tried make Pho a couple of times, but it always turned out to be a huge mess... and she asked me what I would like to eat this time so my answer was Pho. :)

I seriously think that, we get the best quality food by cooking at home. However, I get bored with MY cooking but my friends cooks really good as well. I learned from them a lot.

Most of my friends cooks most of time, because a lot of restaurants doesn't really impress us anymore. So we usually try making good food ourselves and get better at it.

I am so thankful to have wonderful friends here and my family. They are my motivation and inspiration for keep cooking something good and try something new. :)

311

2012-03-11T20:57:00.003-07:00

It has been exactly one year, since the Earthquake. I wasn't able to watch this video clip without tears...my prayers still goes out to those of who lost their loved ones.

Take a moment and join the “Goodbye to Nuclear Power Plants”.Thank you so much for your support.

My husband's blog...

2012-03-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

My husband started a blog, it's call... Husband Has Good Eats!

I am happy to know that he is happy with my cooking. It's interesting that we sometime share the same photo but we do have different comments for it.

Arigato, Thank you for all the people who helped Japan.

2011-12-07T22:28:00.000-08:00

It was posted on my friend's page on Facebook. It's only 8 minutes video. I'd really appreciated whoever helped my country. Thank you so much.

I have been super busy since the last update, but hoping to come back with some good articles very soon! Finishing up my finals in this week!!

Thank you for visiting.

Having Friends Over

2011-03-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

I like to have my friends over to our house every once in a while, and they are usually our boys' good friends and their mothers. When our boys were still not in any schools yet, I used to go to "play group" every week and it was always pot luck. I really enjoyed the time together with other moms to chatted and exchanged recipes with, while kids played together. I learned a lot of new recipes from them and improved my cooking and baking.

Having people over is not always an easy task. First, you got clean your house, and plan a meal, if it applicable, then go to grocery store, and cook, host, and clean again. However, I see it is a good motivation. Because I can really get lazy about how this house look sometimes, or forget about trying new recipes. Well, trying a new recipe for the guests isn't really a good idea for serving people for first time unless they are super close friends, but I usually try not to serve the same meal I've cooked before, unless it's requested.

These days, every occasion I get talk to Japanese friends is always about what is really going on in Japan, of course. It really hurts us to know what exactly going on in individual levels...However, we haven't giving up our hopes yet.

Our second son't school had a PJ day last Friday and it was called "Jammies for Japan." It was a several forth graders' idea to raise money for Japan! I was very amazed how much little children are participating for the event, and brought so much coins and more... I went to see the class who organized it and wanted thank to them, it almost made me cry...

I've just purchased an album Songs for Japan. Since I pledged not downloading music illegally since my dear friend "laptop" got infected by an evil spy wear some how, this deal is great! New and classic 38 pop songs for $9.99 and profits goes to Japan Relief effort. I've seen harsh comments several times about helping Japan is not necessary kind of things. But it is not true. Many of people lost everything, really no house, no vehicle, no job, no heat, even at evacuation site they still not having enough food. It can be happening to you. I am pretty sure, those people have been helping others whenever possible before. We never know what can natures do to us...

Now their water is in danger...radiation level is getting higher as of today. In Tokyo, the officials are recommending not to give the tap water to infants. I have been trying to talk to my parents, who live near Tokyo, to move here or at least come visit us until things gets settled...but they love the place where they belong. I guess as well as those people currently evacuating and being patient. If it was me, I might have moved to another place and start my life over. I can think of this way, maybe because I left my hometown when I found my love to be with and haven't really got stayed one particular place more than three years, so far as an own family. What if it was where I grew up and had everything right there, like most of people in community...

I've heard that many of them have the thought, if they leave now to evacuate to another place, not helping out the community, even everything gets rebuilt in the future, they might not be accepted or welcomed by the community. However, I just read a news that government secured 42,000 housing and it will be available to those people have been evacuated.

Now many people outside of those affected areas are discouraged to have fun. It is understandable. Plus, many of them are suffering with the planned black outs to save the electrics nation wide as much as possible...Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea are currently closed. Many restaurants has to close during the hours while they are having black outs. So many temporary workers out there works by hours, hours of the work they missed or missing by the disaster won't be covered by the company. How in the world, can Japanese economy still be remained strong like it used to be....?

I heard the most serious damaged site, only get two rice balls each per day still! It can't be happening... So please, help them out whenever, however you can and I'd really appreciated all your help. Thank you!!

Little by Little

2011-03-24T22:21:00.000-07:00

Fresh Market is one of our favorite grocery store to buy something special and unusual items. Their flower, coffee and bakery are the thing we stop by most for. It was my birthday last weekend, and my husband and I went to pick up Crème brûlée to celebrate. Yes, I took break from baking anything for me that day. Crème brûlée was good, as well as Red Velvet Cupcake. I had a few bites and it was just enough for me.

Most thing I was impressed by them was that when we were checking out, we've noticed this flyer...they will be collecting donation for Japan at the cash register until 3rd of April.

I am not anyone famous. I don't have tons of money to donate myself, but I started find ways to help out those people need most, without spending too much money out of our pocket.

I cannot wait till tomorrow. :)

Aftermath of Japanese Earthquake

2011-03-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

I feel that seen enough of Tsunami, and earthquake videos on TV, but this natural disaster still damaging the country in many ways, not over yet and it will takes years to rebuilt everything. In fact, some of part in Japan is still feeling earth quake...American government started evacuating their government employees from Japan, and it seems like there is a voluntary evacuation started military bases in Japan as well. While most of the citizens remained in the area, they don't get know much of information about risk of nuclear plants/radiation because Japanese government may not releasing truth to avoid panic. OR there is a controversy, American media might be escalating the fact with the shocking news title to get people's attention.

From the day of the earth quake, those people who escaped to evacuation site, they are still suffering from not having enough food, heat and medicine so forth. Many people just lost everything they had, family, house, vehicle....EVERYTHING. I cannot imagine myself loosing everything what I have right now. However, there is a hope, they are still not giving up, they stay in a line to receive so little food (for examples: rice balls, a piece of bread, instant ramen noodle, 3 strawberries for each person), or water remaining calm even the evacuation site is cold and uncomfortable. Not only having enough food, toilet papers, diapers, and blankets are the items they need most.

This affected area located in northern part of Japan, because of not having enough fuel, they cannot run much of heater at the evacuation site either... Most of people basically just had to left the house without having time to prepare to evacuate. Unfortunately, it got snowed a few days ago, and still it's pretty cold out there. So many people, especially elderly are suffering being cold without enough blankets and clothes...

Good news I heard so far was that even middle school students are trying to help out voluntarily at the site. Some news of survivors, cheer everyone up.

Having a patient and a cohesion is Japanese strength and I am so proud of them. I read a few other foreign countries' article that complimenting victims well behaver at evacuation sites.

Near the area, people didn't have to evacuate from their own houses, yet some of them still not having water, electric, or gas and phone line. The damage by direct earth quake broke those pipes and lines. The road got messed up and that's still causing delay of everything to get fixed or delivered. The lack of fuel is causing everything to get delayed as well.

We all know that there is a threat by nuclear plant, but there is no gas to run their vehicles for people wants to evacuate from the area. There is barley any evacuation plan run for people who live just outside of alert area where people were force to leave by the government. The government recommended to not go to out side for the particular area. (as of today, 18th March 2011, finally Minami-Souma city where is the nuclear power plant is located, decided to provide buses for evacuation to take citizens to other cities.)

Shortage of gasoline, created by damage on the oil plant causing lots of people's daily activity, including going to work. Even in Kanto region (near the Tokyo area), there is planed blackouts to save electric, therefore, transportation is not running as normal. Near the Tokyo area as well as the afflicted area, many of gas stations are closed or running but have limitation about $10 for everyone. My father went to one of a gas station and waited for 4 hours but still could not get it. I've told them, just stay home might be better because they are wasting gas to get gas! They barley use the vehicle anyways. However, it causing many people's commute. This can cause brings down Japanese economy.

In Northern part of Japan is well known for daily products. Milk is threw out or use as compost, and some of the farm suffering because equipments has been damaged by the earthquake thus, I am not sure exactly what area but at least in Kanto region, milk and eggs are hard to get at the stores.

Delivery system barley running because of the gasoline shortage, not only trucks are not able to deliver essential goods to victims, many products got out of the circulation. I guess the same reason-not having enough daily products- breads are all out from bakery as well. Plus, rice are gone from stores as well, so people started depend on other than rice such as bread. So it is just a bad cycle. Some people saying it is like oil shock... But still it is better than loosing everything, that's how people participate, even the planned black out or shortage of gasoline, people started walk, not using public transportation which uses tons of electric or vehicle to not waste gasoline.

I found out that my father was in a train near Tokyo, the time earth quake actually happened. He could not get out from the train for 40 minutes while it still waving by earth quake, yes, not shaking, it felt like waves he said. After it simmer down a little, all the passengers had to walk on a rail road, to get to next station. And waited and waited till close to mid night, and train finally ran again a little. So he jumped on it, but it didn't take him to his home town, then many of them just stayed on a station and waited until train started ran normally till early morning.

My mother on the other hand, she was at home and power was shut down on phone line got disconnected soon after the earth quake. So all the news we were able to watch, she didn't have no clue how bad it was. My brother who lives near Mt. Fuji, he got contact with my mother right after the shock, and let my father knows that she was okay. Cell phone was busy for a few hours but text messaging was a lot better to communicate after all, but my mother is anti cell phone, so I've tried call her at home and finally let her know where my father located at the moment, soon after phone line and electric started running 13hours after the earth quake. She was very happy to hear from me. We have relatives in Miyagi prefecture, where tsunami hit directly. Luckily, they were little bit away from the fishing town and got saved.

Many organization started collect donations, many artists, companies contributing big time and I can't thank enough to all of you already made contributions and all your prayers. But people are still suffering, I really hope anymore damage won't be made and no more people has to suffer and get helped.

I don't tweet, but this is a tweet page that people read and stay motivated in Japan.
It's English version. http://prayforjapan.jp/message/?lang=en

Lady Gaga sells wrist bands, and money goes to Japan relief effort.
http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/artists/lady-gaga/icat/ladygaga/

American Red Cross through out Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=2673660011

Other ways to help
http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/11/6246445-japans-earthquake-how-to-help

AT&T and Verizon, Cox are helping us unique way
http://gizmodo.com/#!5781617/att-customers-can-call-and-text-japan-for-free

I really can't do anything being here just watching news and feel like my country is getting damaged pretty bad... it is really frustrating, but at least I can tell the facts what is going on in Japan besides major news and broadcast we see on American shows. Remember, natural disaster can happening in your area, but it is in Japan this time. It can happens to anyone in the world.

Please help, even for $5, and pray for everyone out there to be safe...Thank you so much....

Cupcakes and Decoration Items

2011-03-06T16:01:00.000-08:00

As the trend...there are so many cupcake stores these days and every coffee shops you go to, you will find cupcakes instead of coffee cakes... I've visited a cupcake store "Just Cupcakes" near by and their cupcakes was pretty impressive. Their cupcakes were moist and each of them had very distinct flavors, unlike others...

However, I am not really big fan of cupcakes daily basis. Those little cupcakes have too much frosting-usually butter cream-on such a small portion of cake part. For me, it just not balanced right. But the other day, I had very young guests (They are three years old girls) and all adults were having an espresso chiffon cake. So I thought cupcakes might be better treat for those little girls. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to make proper frosting for American cupcakes, so I used whipped cream instead and it turned out be NOT so great... so I made only one kind of frosting that I like, which is....cream cheese frosting.

Basic Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

8oz(1 package), Cream Cheese
1/2stick (4 table spoon), Butter
1 cup, Powder Sugar
1 tea spoon, Vanilla Extract

Leave cream cheese and butter in room temperature about a half hour till it is not so hard anymore, and whipped them up with electronic mixer and add powder sugar and vanilla extract until it's combined. If butter and cream cheese doesn't get soft enough, use microwave but lower power for 15-30 seconds. Make sure you don't melt the butter, just soften them up.

I used one table spoon of strawberry preserve, and one tea spoon of black berry liqueur, instead of vanilla extract, it'll give this frosting extra flavor and pretty color without food coloring.

Kids really enjoyed it for their afternoon snack along with a glass of milk, so that it really made me happy. :) As you can see in this picture... right after you make this frosting, it is much softer than normal frosting. So if you like to decorate the cream better, this frosting needs to be in the fridge for at least a half hour.

I've purchased this pink decorating candy at local TJ Maxx about $3 right before Valentine's day but silver ones made by the same company priced about $8, at another gourmet store. Micheal's sometimes offer decorative candies for sale. I have visited other decorating store has very wide variety and it is fun to look around. They have a web site and one of my friend order from other state and told me that they have pretty good customer service and shipped quickly. http://www.wineandcake.com/

These little decorating items really makes finishing touch to the home baked cake different and go people say wow!! The first impression is very important as well as the taste of the cake.

This is the espresso cake I made for my friend's birthday. My guests enjoyed it very much. :)

Tea and Avatar-Last Airbender/Trader Joe's

2011-03-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

I've watched TV show it's call "Avatar:The Last Airbender" series with our boys for last couple of weeks. Characters learns something every episode, and talk about not only good and bad, sacrifice, believe, and harmony are some of the interesting topics for any generations. My husband and I really got into it with our boys as well. This story was set in Asia-ish region, it's not particularly any country, but they look like China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Alaska... They use chop-stick to eat, hero-Aang is a monk, so he is vegetarian. Aang explains why he doesn't eat any meat in this story, and our boys got really interested in the concept of "vegetarian."

One of very clever old guy, guardian of hero's enemy Iroh, he always talks about tea. "Tea supposed calm you down" or "Ginseng tea is the best!" Iroh eventually own tea salon in the story.

Hearing about how good he makes his jasmine tea, we all are so mood for a nice cup of jasmine tea. I usually buy them at any of local Asian stores, but the day we were at Trader Joe's, and found the tea! It's call "Jasmine Green Tea" I didn't taste no difference from those Asian store's jasmine tea and it was fairy good.

Speaking of Trader Joe's,Our boys likes to visit Trader Joe's, more than any other grocery stores. Because they ask children to find one of their mascot-stuffed turtle-some where in the store, and when children finds it, they get a little treat. They always have new items tasting counter, along with coffee and tea sampler. If you have never visited Trader Joe's, I highly recommend to stop by sometime soon. Also, their eco-bags are so cute. Don't miss it! If you have your favorite Trader Joe's items, please let me know so that I can try them too. :)

I usually purchase these items...

Breads

Baguette
Fruits and Nuts Artisan Bread

Refrigerate section

Cheese(they have so many variety)
Turkey Bacon
Hummus
Persian Cucumbers
Yogurt (European Style)
Soy milk

Dry Foods and condiments

Almond Powder
White Balsamic Vinegar
Ketchup
Spices

Frozen Items

Yaki Onigiri (Rice Snack)
Pork Shumai
Mandarin Chicken
Cocktail Meatball
Croissant
Steam Clam
Mixed Seafood (squid, scallops, shrimp mix)
Opera cake
Carrot cake (they name it different, though)

Other thing...

Coffee and tea (earl gray, mango, jasmine green tea...)
Roasted Seaweed Snack
Rice Crackers
Kitchen Towel
Wine, occasionally...

I heard that they have vegetarian Bento box in frozen section now and some of Japanese people said was pretty tasty. So I need try it next time.

Oh, get back to Avatar, I really enjoyed the show. Unfortunately, the story seems completed already, but I like to see it coming back in near future...but not mention, the movie was horrible casting though...

So if you never seen "Avatar:Last Airbender", or had a nice cup of jasmine tea, why not give it a try! Avatar is available on Netflix, instant watch.

How We Eat in Japan

2011-02-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

What's the most of people think how Japanese eat? It is probably "Sushi" but NO we don't eat sushi everyday at home. Sushi is very special treat for me. Sometimes it delivered to home for family gathering, and sometimes we go out. The Sushi delivery service is well known, like pizza delivery service here in the U.S. One exception was one of my good friend's mother used help at Sushi eatery, so while we stayed in Japan, they treated us with home made sushi. It was delicious, as the looks so beautiful! As you may notice this picture below, rolled sushi like California rolls are not traditional in Japan. They started appear more often at a few restaurants.

At my parents' house-which I'm pretty sure "a standard family"-they have several different dishes on table all at once. Those dishes are usually grilled or fried meat or fish, star-fry or simply cooked or pickled vegetable dish, and tofu on the side. Have a small plate for those dishes on serving plates/bowls and a bowl of white rice and miso soup ready.

Children's favorite dishes may be fried chicken, hamburg steak, ramen noodle, and curry and rice.* Sometimes the traditional Japanese dishes were looked down by children. I'm not going to go back the history all the way, but Japanese eating habit was changed after the WW2 was over with.

Japan start imported McDonald in 1972, Denny's, KFC are widely well known. Burger King, Dominos Pizza, Krispy Kreme, Red Lobster, TGIFridays, are also started to become recognizable. Other than that Italian, French, Indian, Mexicans, German, Korean, Chinese, Thailand, Bali **restaurants, many Ramen noodle shops, along with Japanese traditional restaurants are also available.

The restaurants mentioned above have another specific characteristic. They have been modified. These places have been imported from overseas, but do have a Japanese twist to each of them.

I.E. Teriyaki burgers, ginger flavored chicken. Denny's is really different. They have an assortment of Japanese dishes with a twist of the West.

At home, my mother would cook, Chinese and some other country influenced meals. We eat breads daily basis. Japanese bakeries has really good quality breads. So there, we don't just eat sushi all the time. We do have so many variety food to choose from and it is pretty amazing for the little island.

*These have always been well known as children's favorite dishes, many have been changed by now.

** I'm sure there is more different nation cuisines are available.

Junk or Not Junk

2011-02-26T14:21:00.000-08:00

I had a little break from cooking in my kitchen last night. We stopped by at FIVE GUYS, and had a BURGER and fries. I heard about this place more than a couple of time and everyone seemed have good compliments about them. Even President Barack Obama had visited Five Guys before (details here).

I try to cook and eat healthy usually. However, this question comes to my mind... "Is a hamburger really categorized as a JUNK FOOD?" According to Merriam-Webster definition of junk food is...

food that is high in calories but low in nutritional content
something that is appealing or enjoyable but of little or no real value junk food for young minds — Cleveland Amory>

I really believe that hamburger itself is not junk food. The anatomy of a hamburger is a pair of buns, one or more beef patty, and slice of tomatoes and lettuce and/or slice of cheese. At this location, Five Guys, they have list of things we can add for no adding cost. I believe having Mayo and Mustard is crucial on this simple beef patty sandwich. I, personally like grilled onion and mushroom so I added them on mine, as well.

There, we have protein, grains, and few vegetables, and/or dairy products. It may not be covered suggested amount of vegetable and exceeded on protein but I really don't think burger itself is not really "junk food." True damage can be made by eating french fries and fountain drink usually accompanies with hamburgers. Which I did! Well, I barely go to any of fast food restaurant and drink pops at home, so I guess I can afford eating little junk food every once in a while. I cannot even remember when was last time eating like this before yesterday.

A delicious hamburger, crisp french fries, and refreshing pop to cool your throat. I don't mind eating junk food sometimes, but not at the golden arches. :P

Why would Japanese girl even dream about eating hamburger and fries instead of the stereotypical sushi, at first place? I have eating them when I was growing up. Only once in a while though. We have amazing variety of food in Japan and they are pretty decent. I will talk about it next time. :)

So I rolled...

2011-02-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's post, I decided to make rolled sushi for packing for my boys' lunch today. So I tried, rolled and the whole procedure went pretty smooth. The 1st son even asked me, why don't I make it more often. However, they both liked it but they both admit that they like a simple cucumber skinnier roll (kappa-maki) is the best.

This roll covers protein and fiber part, like all in wrap kind of item. Original recipe used cucumber instead of lettuce, modification wasn't too bad at all. I like cooking because you can always modified the recipe how you like it, what's convenience to us. So don't afraid start cooking! :)

Anyways, tips for packing bento is...separate food from touching each other-I used a wax paper between sliced apple and sushi, and don't leave any space in the box. Because they have to travel, it can be rough ride, and all the items can be move around thus it can be pretty messy! Another thing, use different kind of color, means pretty much balanced meal. It will look pretty as well. ;)

Today, I have received a box from my mother who lives in Japan. It was a treasure! Everyone in our family got brightened. She puts some of my favorite snacks and dry food for us. I will use one of item to make boys' lunch for tomorrow, "onigiri"(rice balls) so classic for us.