Chow Times

Ecuadorian Vegetable Salad

Suanne — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:55 +0000

The second dish which Colleen prepared for the South Arm Seniors’ Kitchen is a simple and colourful salad.

I enjoy this Ecuadorian Vegetable Salad which has a combination of raw lettuce and cooked beets and carrots.

Ingredients

5 beets, peeled and quartered
8 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
3 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup chopped parsley
6 large romaine lettuce leaves, thinly sliced
juice from 2 lemons
salt and pepper to taste

Source: via Colleen

Serves 6 to 8

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Locro de Habas (Fava Bean Soup)

Suanne — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:57 +0000

Colleen prepared 3 dishes for the South Arm Seniors’ Kitchen. Her goal for this menu is to introduce some new ingredients to the participants.

The first recipe is a Fava Bean Soup. The soup is thickish with the addition of egg. It has some similarity in ingredients like this Chinese Tomato Egg Soup.

Fava Bean is also known as Broad Bean, Bell Bean, Field Bean or Tic Bean. Preparing fava bean involves first removing the beans from their pods, then remove their exterior coating of soft shell before cooking.

So, the kitchen started with everyone seating around the table to prepare the fava beans. This job is great to involve everyone in the family to help out while catching up with one another.

Ingredients

4 cups twice peeled fresh fava beans, from about 4 pounds of whole fava pods
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cups diced white onion, about 1 large onion
2 roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon achiote powder (annatto seasoning)
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt to taste
3 large gold potatoes, peeled and diced, about 3 cups
6 cups water or broth
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs, light beaten
1 1/2 cups crumbled queso fresco (we substituted with feta cheese)
3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro or pasley
1 avacodo, peeled and sliced for garnishing
hot sauce, optional

Source: via Colleen

Serves 6 to 8

The Annatto seasoning gives the soup the reddish colour.

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Shang Noodle House on Saba Road, Richmond

Suanne — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:00:17 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers.

Lorna, Marian, Emily and I met up for lunch at Shang Noodle House on Saba Road.

Shang Noodle House is a relatively new addition to the restaurant scene in Richmond. It had opened since last December.

Parking is a problem here. There is only one hour parking as the sign above indicates. We were kind of force to leave after the parking limit was up. It’s not a place for hang out unless you dont drive.

The restaurant is new and relatively bright.

Although it’s already more than 3 months since opening, the above offer is still on going.

We ordered two noodles to share. So, we got two free drinks, one coffee and one tea.

The first noodle is their signature Assorted Mushroom with House Ramen in Japanese Mushroom Soup. It is $8.88.

The house ramen is a wheat noodle as the server told us. It has a firm texture and I personally quite like it.

We love the assortment of mushrooms in this noodle. The soup has …
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Various Japanese Sushi

Suanne — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:00:59 +0000

Terumi demonstrated how to make various sushi at the South Arm multicultural community kitchen.

Participants listened attentively to the instructions.

Terumi demonstrated how to make California Roll, Tuna Maki and Cone.

Kazuko demonstrated how to use plastic mold to make nigiri sushi.

Ingredients

4 cups Japanese short grain rice (cooked a little harder than usual); for rice cooker, one cup is 180 cc
1/2 cup rice vinegar
4 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons salt
1 package of unseasoned sheet nori (dried seaweed); cut in half
1 avocado
1 cucumber
250g crab meat (can use artificial crab meat)
4 tablespoons Japanese mayo
pepper to taste
1 block of sashimi quality tuna
soy sauce
wasabi
1 can tuna or salmon

Look at all the preparations needed for this demo.

Source: Terumi & Kazuko

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Rolled Egg

Suanne — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:37 +0000

The last side dish which Kazuko demonstrated in the South Arm Community Kitchen is Rolled Egg.

Rolled Egg is a popular bento box item and great for lunch box.

Ingredients

4 eggs
Dashi bonito soup stock seasoning to taste (optional)
soy sauce to taste

Please note: the bonito flakes should not be in the photo

Source: Kazuko

Serves 4

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Spinach Ashitashi

Suanne — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:48 +0000

For starter or appetizer, Kazuko prepared a cold spinach dish called Spinach Ashitashi.

You can garnish the Spinach Ashitashi with bonito flakes or sesame seeds. This is another very simple side dish to make.

Coincidentally, this recipe reminded me of a recipe in a cook book by Michelle Tchea with the title “Building A Perfect Meal”. I came to know Michelle T through chowtimes. Michelle T wrote to me one day asking me where to get sao bing in Vancouver out of the blue.

During the 2010 Winter Olympic Game in Vancouver, Michelle T was in town for the games. We met up a couple of times at Gingeri Chinese Cuisine and Red Star Seafood Restaurant for dim sum.

Last month, I received an email from Michelle T asking me if I’m interested to share her newly published cookbook on chowtimes. I was trilled to hear that she had published a cook book.

Building A Perfect Meal is about how to create quick and simple meals at home. It’s a collection of basic recipes like creamy mashed potatoes, hand pulled noodles, pickled vegetables and fried rice with a jazz up version to create a more elaborate dish. The cook book also comes with valuable cooking tips from her experience in the kitchen.

While I was browsing through Michelle’s cook book, I came across a very similar recipe to the Spinach Ashitashi. It’s called Japanese Soy Spinach. Michelle T”s recipe uses beetroot leaves and stalks instead. In the cook book, Michelle T featured a Versatile Soy Stock and Dipping Sauce as seasoning for the spinach. I will share the recipe at the end of this post.

Ingredients

2 to 3 bunches spinach
soy sauce to taste
bonito flakes
sesame seeds
salt

Source: Kazuko

Serves 4

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Miso Soup

Suanne — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:29 +0000

Due to numerous requests, Kazuko and Terumi teamed up to do a Japanese cuisine demonstration at the South Arm Multicultural Community Kitchen. All the participants look forward to this kitchen.

Kazuko started off with Miso Soup, a staple soup in Japanese cuisine. Miso soup is quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

200-250g soft tofu
6 teaspoons miso paste
1 teaspoon Dashi bonito soup stock seasoning
600ml water
2 tablespoons dry seaweed
2 green onions, chopped

The Japanese ingredients can be bought from T&T, Fujiya or Izumi-ya.

You can click on the photos above to have a larger view.

Source: Kazuko

Serves 4

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Maxim Bakery in Richmond Centre

Suanne — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:00:46 +0000

Nanzaro and I went to The Bay to buy an advance birthday gift for him. He wanted the 2012 Canadian Team Jacket which is on sale now. He is passionate about the Olympic game after his participation in the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic in Vancouver.

After buying the jacket, we stopped by Maxim’s Bakery which located near the entrance to The Bay inside the mall. Maxim’s Bakery is a quite popular bakery as I always have to line up to pay.

I bought a box of 6 items. The reason for 6 is that you’ll be exempted from tax. The server asked me if I wanted a box or a plastic bag for the packaging. Obviously, I wanted a box so that my egg tarts will not be squished.

I found some White Egg Tarts on promotion. They were $1.80 for 3. For those who are watching their cholesterol, white egg tart will be a healthier treat.
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New Ikea Restaurant in Richmond

Suanne — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:00:51 +0000

The new Ikea finally opened on the 25th April. It was bigger than the original location which was the first Ikea in North America. We are very eager to visit the new Ikea but we did not go on the first day as we knew it will be packed due to freebies, etc.

We went to the Ikea Restaurant for lunch on the first weekend. The restaurant was packed with people. There was a line up as expected.

The restaurant is huge with various settings for different ages. I love the new setup.

I like the new food tray cart. It is very handy for family dining.

Ben and Nanzaro opted for the 10 piece Meatball Combo which is $5.99. We switched the mash potatoes with fries instead.
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Oatmeal Dates Squares

Suanne — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:06 +0000

For dessert, Colleen prepared a Oatmeal Dates Squares for the South Arm Seniors Kitchen.

Celia was so happy because she loves Oatmeal Dates Squares. She always asks her friend to make her some when she craves for it. Now, she can make it herself.

Dates are the fruit of the date palm and are high in potassium, magnesium, folate, as well as containing many other nutrients. They also have dietary fiber and are sometimes used to prevent constipation. They have very high sugar content and should only be eaten in small quantities.

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups rolled oats or quick cooking oats
1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates
1 1/2 cups boiling water

Source: via Colleen

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