All purpose Dashi

Dashi is the most basic ingredient necessary for many Japanese recipes. I make dashi at least two or three times a week depending on how often I cook. There are various qualities of dashi and it can get more gourmet by adding Shiitake mushrooms and anchovies, etc, etc.

I've made a slide show on how to make an all purpose dashi. Personally, I never use packaged dashi because nothing beats fresh dashi. Once you know how to make it, it becomes very easy and becomes an asset in the kitchen because you can use it to cook in so many ways.

The ingredients are:

2 litres of cold water
2 inch kombu - wipe with a wet cloth, do not wash
One and a half cup of katsuobushi


Method:

• Soak kombu in cold water for 15 minutes
• After 15 minutes, the kombu will double up in size.
• Bring water and soaked kombu to an almost boil (about 7 minutes).
• Do not boil kombu in the water because it will give a bitter or awkward taste.
• Once the water has almost come to a boil, remove the kombu.
• Pour the one and a half cup of dashi into the hot water.
• Bring to boil and switch off the fire immediately.
• Skim of scum if any.
• After 15 minutes, sieve dashi into another pot.
• Use as required or keep in a Tupperware in the fridge. Can keep up to one week.
  

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BENTO #119

Was busy the whole day. Didn't really have much time to post this bento.

I julienned some raw carrots, cucumber and turnip ("Bangkuang" - read in Malay). For added flavor, I fried a slab of Salmon and mashed it up, mixed them all up with the raw vegetables and stuffed them all into some Abura-age. I wanted to give #2 some chili sauce but she declined.

Below, you can see the julienned vegetables and mashed Salmon.


Here is the stuffed Abura-age close up.



I fried some Tamagoyaki and added some wakame and bits of pickled Chinese turnip ("Choy Poh" - read in Cantonese or "Chai Por" - in Hokkien). See the close up in this picture below.



The complete Bento box contains of 2 pieces of stuffed Abura-age with mashed Salmon and veggies, some blanched baby French beans, Tamagoyaki fried with pickled Chinese turnip and wakame, an orange and some Hijiki simmered with carrots (frozen stock).



A bland variety of flavors with an orange to save the day!

BENTO #118

I think the trick to 'diet bentos' is to use lots of vegetables! I used most of the same as you can see in the picture.

In the left bento box are rolled ham slices with some slivered carrots and lots of alfalfa sprouts.

In the silicon cup is some vegetables I kept back last night from cooking the "Yasai Itame" for this morning. I blanched the vegetables together in salted boiling water, mixed them with a dash of shoyu, pepper and sesame seed oil. I bought some Jackfruit yesterday so I skewered some with my new picks!



In the right bento box, I filled one and a half mini croissants with more alfalfa sprouts, some slivered carrots rolled in thin slice of ham with a dash of mustard. More cherry tomatoes to accompany the sandwich.

Yasai Itame

I saw this in Nobu's site. I just happened to buy "Taugeh" a.k.a. bean sprouts yesterday. Normally, I would fry with salted fish but I tried frying it "Japanese style".

I used Nobu's 'recipe' and managed to fry a deliciously fresh and sweet vegetable dish. I dropped the meat because we were having soy sauce pork as another dish for dinner.

• carrot
• sliced snow peas
• onion
• cabbage
• soy bean sprout
• yellow pepper
• straw mushrooms
• soy sauce
• salt
• pepper
• salad oil

Soy Sauce Pork

I love Smilebox! It's given me endless opportunity to experiment and convert my pictures into a slide show.

In a previous post, I mentioned about my mum cooking without proper measurements. I realized that one of the reasons I never picked up on cooking Chinese is because she always estimated her ingredients and that put me off.

I am one who had to have my weighing machine, my liquid measuring jugs and measuring spoons (both Japanese and US standards) and recipe available before I get cooking.

I found that by taking detailed pictures of her cooking, I could easily follow and re-make her recipes! What a Gem I found in Smilebox!!! Yipeee!!!

I showed mum the first slide show I made on her Salted fish bones and vegetables curry and she was tickled! She cooked Soy Sauce Pork for dinner and I asked to post the recipe again. She was a little trilled, I think! Both of us are having fun!!

This is it, the recipe:

Approximately 600 grams of pork belly and lean pork marinated in 2 Tbsp of dark soy sauce.
Season for 15 minutes.

Spices:
A handful of garlic
3 cloves
half a Star Anise
1 inch of cinnamon
1 tsp of crushed white pepper
1 piece of rock sugar (to caramelize the pork to give it a glossy look)

Half ladle of cooking oil

Method:

• Heat up half a ladle of cooking oil
• Fry cinnamon stick, star anise and cloves and then add garlic
• Add crushed pepper corns
• Add marinated pork
• Saute and toss pork and add the rock sugar
• Add half a soup bowl of water
• Bring to boil and cook on medium/low fire for 15 minutes
• Add 3 Tbsp of soy sauce (Mum used the dinner spoon - she says it's the same!@#?!!)
  
• Add a ceramic soup spoon into the pork (this is to tenderize the pork)
• Add 1 Tbsp of dark soy sauce for darker color
  
• Continue to cook for another 15 minutes on medium/low fire (leave the ceramic soup spoon in the pot!)
  
• Taste and add soy sauce to taste if not sufficient

Mum's Soy Sauce Pork is different from others I have eaten because she adds spices like cinnamon and cloves into it. It adds a nice flavor to the soy sauce pork dish.

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Note: I have no affiliations with Smilebox

BENTO #117

I've been surfing the Weight Watchers site for low calorie recipes with no luck! Most recipes would require me to cook the night before to be ready for packing into my Bento a la minute in the morning! Can't work for bento!

I decided to come up with my own 'diet' menu today!

I made some guacamole from this recipe. Added some bread (baked dry) and corn in the left box.

I rolled up carrot strips, thinly sliced ham with peas and baby corn for a light meal of protein and more veggies! Skewered some papaya and pineapple for fruits.



Hopefully, this is low calorie enough because #2 is stubbornly sticking to her 'diet' decision.
When I went to buy the ham, I asked the man behind the counter to slice the ham as thin as possible. He looked at me and asked again "thinner?" madam! "Yeah! thinner!" He looked confused because I'm the same person who used to tell him to slice the ham thicker!

Oh well! Desperate situations require desperate solutions!

Recipe for Salted fish bones and vegetables curry

My mum is 80 years old this year. She's an amazing cook who can whip up any dish without referring to it's recipe! I been craving this dish of "Salted fish bones and vegetables curry" for a while and over the weekend she cooked it. I told her that I wanted to blog about it and take some pictures. She was quite accommodating was even a little excited. We had some great "bonding" time laughing and talking about how to cook this dish. She says "SO EASY!" and I on the other hand is "Curry challenged" (can't cook curry if my life depended on it).

However, after this session with mum, I found that it's not that difficult and that I could possibly do it myself! Hehehe! The curry was absolutely delicious! If you are like me "curry challenged" please try it because it is actually quite simple!

But....before I give you the recipe, I need to tell you this, Mum is from the 'old school', she doesn't have a recipe! It's all by "agak-agak" (estimation of proportions), that's why I took quite detailed pictures so that you can see what and how much was used. The amount in the pictures was exactly what she used.

Here's the Ingredients:

The ground ingredients:
6 stems of Serai (lemon grass)
2 inches of Lengkuas/Galangal
1 inch of Kunyit/Tumeric
12 pieces of dried chilli
1 soup bowl of blended onions

Brinjals
Cabbage
Taufoo-pok
Long Beans
Salted fish bones
One Coconut
Salt to taste
Prawns
Squids (optional)
Pandan leaves

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Vote for your favorite Bento!

I finally got the poll done! Please vote for your favorite Bento.

When I did the shortlisting I thought I calculated 14 in the short list but when I was working on the poll, I realised that it was only 13. I went back to the folders to check if I had missed anyone out by mistake but NO, I didn't! Thank goodness!

So anyway, Bento Packers, friends and guests, please cast your vote and we will have our winner in one week's time! May the best Bento win!

Cheers!!!

More confusion!

My daughter #2 is a little of a computer whizz kid. Every time I have a problem I will go to her for advice. Sometimes, when she's in the mood she'll update me with some cyber news. I'm a total dud when it comes to IT.

She introduced me to blogging and registered me for this blog. She's made some minor upgrades for me since then. #2 also registered me for Facebook, honestly, up to now I can't understand how to use it!

I seldom go to Facebook because I get spammed with all types of games that my young youth contacts send to me. Aghhhhh.....! Apparently Facebook is quite hot in cyber space but I'm really cool about it because I'm blurr.

I now manage 3 e-mail address for various very valid reasons. I also author and moderate in two other blogs. I surf a lot of bento sites and sometimes to leave a comment, you're required to sign up or something and I kinda signed up for a Xanga account (Goodness knows what it's all about because I don't!). I only know that now I also operate a 'private' and dormant Xanga account for comments purposes.

I know that #2 has had probably about half a dozen blogs which she keeps changing and I heard that she's about to change again. I can't understand the logic behind this either.

Aiyoh! And as if all these are not stressful enough, my daughter #2 signed me up for Nuffnang! She says that they have some cool parties (as if mum would be going).

She got home today and was talking to #1 about the day's activities in school and the fun time she had there.

Then she was sharing about how a friend's picture got taken from his Facebook and landed in a banner or poster in Vietnam! Mind you, without his knowledge.

Hahaha! Mum being mum, I chipped in "Ah! He got international popularity for free lah! Okay what!"
"You know, his picture with Kenny Sia at the Nuffnang pajama party was plastered everywhere too! In so many blogs also" #2 added.
"Wah so grand ah? Picture with Kenny Sia become public property mah!" mum said.
Hmmmm....! she replied. "I also have Nuffnang says #2.
Ahhh....mmmm....so? I respond.
"Aiyah! Mum! I get paid for putting Nuffnang in my blog lah, understand?"
"Ohhh.....yeah kah? So?" "How much do you get?"
"Well a couple of ringgit and they only pay you if you reach RM50/="
"Hahaha!!! You got a couple of ringgit?"
And the conversation went on......and she persuaded me to sign up for Nuffnang or rather she signed me up!
"Don't worry, don't have to do anything, just put the Nuffnang advertisement on your blog will do" she says.
"So? Will I get RM50 after this?" I asked.
She stares at me in disbelief. Rolls her eyes and asks me "IC number?".

*BIG sigh* I hope that giving in to her persuasion doesn't end up with me being drowned in some weird cyber journey! Already I have to make a list of all these other accounts and passwords that I have to have at hand to access the accounts and it can get so confusing!

BENTO #116

"I need to loose some weight" #2 tells me! "You give me too much food", "I have to loose weight to get into 'che che's' (elder sister) dress" she looks at me accusingly.

"Okay, okay, we'll see what to do the next two weeks" I reply.

#2 has to bring along with her, 3 gowns for her piano competition in Korea and 2 national costumes for a cultural night exchange. She has 2 black gowns which she uses for performances and the third she's borrowing a lovely cream colored gown from #1.

Both are tall (above 5'5") and have often been mistaken for twins. I don't know how they are mistaken because to me they look totally different but time and again strangers ask if they are twins. Their reaction is similar - looks at each other, grin, rolls eyes a little then breaks into a wide smile and shakes their head and deny profusely.

The cream colored gown is an off shoulder, corset style body hugging dress. If fits her like a glove but she says she needs to loose a couple of pounds so that it doesn't fit so snugly. I guess when you are standing upright it feels comfortable but when you sit and have to play the piano at the same time, a fitting corset can get quite stressful.

Perhaps I should suggest another gown. But....it IS lovely and would be such a waste....oh well....we'll see.

Today's meal is light and easy. In the left box are corn, cherry tomatoes and some Kiwi slices.

In the right box, frozen dipping sauce, Cha Soba and a spoonful of sesame seeds.

In the triangular box is some blueberry cereals for snacking.




I think I should browse through "weight watchers" for some low calorie recipes.

Sole Piccata

I visited Yvo's site @ The Feisty Foodie and tried a recipe from a competition that she's having for July. When I compared pictures, they didn't look the same!

When my husband saw the fish all 'dressed' individually, he exclaimed "Wah! Fine dining tonight?" I grinned at him and told him to eat up!

I must share with you my husband's eating habits. He's what our local people call a "China man". He has to have rice for dinner or at least once a day. Two days without rice and he'd behave like a bull in a China shop.

When he was in Australia with #1, he was complaining about the food. "No more sausages, burgers, beetroot and fries"!! "We have to walk 45 minutes to the closest shop selling Chinese"! Well it was World Youth Day and they can't possible serve 300,000 portions of Chicken rice! LOL!

My eldest daughter is exactly like the father! They get along like a house on fire. Rice for her is also the order of the day. "Bak kut teh" (Herbal pork ribs) with rice is fine night and day. Anything with rice is good. The Chinese has a name for these type of people - "Fan Thong" (rice pot). She enjoys all other international foods but rice is her staple.

My second daughter is very versatile. She can eat anything under the sun and enjoy it like a real food connoisseur. She can survive with or without rice. Bread all day long is also a good choice. Japanese food 24/7 would be an ideal. Her dream - to own a music school with a Japanese restaurant next door! *faints*

Anyway, when they tried the Sole Piccata this is what each said:

Husband: Very nice but not enough sauce. (I didn't add enough white wine because I thought the kids may not like it).

#1: Mmmmm....very nice mum! But next time leave out the peas. "What peas?" I asked. #2 chipped in "Aikes...they are CAPERS not peas!" "Huh! What's capers?". *faints some more*

Obviously #2 also enjoyed it and she could tell what was the ingredients to the dish too. If you want to try out the recipe, go here.

BENTO #115

Yesterday #2 didn't go to school. She had school projects to complete before she leaves for Korea for a Piano Competition in two weeks time. Not going to school meant no Bento so obviously there was no Bento post yesterday.

I planned this last night so it wasn't much of a hassle. I basically steamed the rice early this morning to make the Onigiri. The Salmon was brought out from the freezer last night and fried this morning. Half of it went to the Onigiri and the other half, I just simmered it in red miso and mirin. It was very flavorful.

On the right box is some simmered Kombu, blanched mushrooms and veggies mixed in garlic oil and shoyu. There was an orange for dessert.

Bento competition has officially ended

Dear Bento friends

I wish to announce to you that Bento Pet's Bento Competition has officially ended 29, July 2008, 12a.m. Malaysian time. (Please look at the clock at my side bar).

Thank you to all who has submitted your Bento entries. I am currently sorting them out and it is extremely exciting as well as stressful because it is almost impossible to choose THE ONE!

Please be patient while I work on the post to announce the short listed Bentos. I am trying my best to work it out as soon as possible.

Thank you!!

Shortlisted Bentos

Congratulation to the fourteen shortlisted Bentos (in alphabetical order) from more than sixty multiple submissions worldwide for the Bento Pet's Bento competition!! It's been really exciting to daily open my mail box to see new submissions.

Needless to say, all the Bentos were "delicious"! The result of this competition is really not the qualifying factor of whether your Bento is good enough or better than the other. The purpose of this competition is really meant to be a support system for each one of us Bento packers. Some could look at it as a way to make new Bento friends and also to network. For what ever the reasons, I am awed at the number of new Bento sites emerging from this competition.

I feel a sense of 'responsibility' to post up my Bento every morning (unless there is no need for one that day). I know that some people expect to see a Bento or blog post when they visit my blog - just like when I visit other Bento blogs, I have the same expectation.

Unfortunately, we sometimes get bogged down by life's routines and life's challenges and regularity doesn't always remain the same.

My two daughters and I have been having a virtual visual gastronomic party. We each looked through all the submissions individually (more than 100) and picked the ones which we liked best. We didn't discuss our selection and when we each finished the selection process, we merged the results and those which were picked by all three of us got into the short listed list below:

Apple from Gate of Toy is a collector of Pinky toys, she owns over fifty of them! Another amazing Malaysian hobbyist! Most of the time, Apple takes pictures of her Bento with one Pinky or another.

Her description of the Bento submission:

Taufu Sushi Roll The rice fit into Japanese Beancurd Skin (Inari Sushi) and the sushi roll skin is crepe roll with fresh lettuce, chicken ham, egg and crab stick.

Some fresh cherry tomato is included in the bento as well.

Click the picture to visit Apple at Gate of Toy.











This entry below is submitted by Christene @ allthingspurple. Christene packs Bento on a regular basis for her two young children. Christene also hails from my home country - Malaysia!

Her description of the Bento submission:

It's turkey slice rolled up with a layer of cheese. On the side is a bunch of champagne grapes and some green grapes with the skin peeled cos kids nowadays only have 15 minutes break time and they don't have the time to peel grapes.

The idea is to have them eat the skin, but they wouldn't. Hence the champagne grapes.
Click the picture to visit allthingspurple.












elaineevdw/Elaine is from Reno, NV, USA and according to her Flickr profile, love literature, Web design, cookies, yoga, henna, the ocean, and astronomy. Oh, and sharing photos on Flickr, of course.

Her description of the Bento submission:

Top tier: Tamagoyaki mixed with some bonito furikake, carrot kinpira (carrots quickly stir fried in sesame oil with red pepper flakes, soy sauce, and sesame seeds), fresh blueberries.

Bottom tier: Rice cubes with vegetable furikake and fresh grape tomatoes. I packed a higher portion of fresh fruits and veggies to bring the calorie count down, since I was going out for sushi with friends after work. Then I saw Wall-E. :))))

Click the picture to view this Bento @ Flickr.












H.W. a Ph.D. student who never has enough time for writing or knitting. She hails from SheffieSheep, New York, United States. She authors a bento and knitting blog called Cuilionn Delig.

Her description of the Bento submission:

In the top tier: bonito flake onigiri with nori decorations, sugar snap peas, cherry tomato, and chicken gyoza.

Bottom tier holds edamame, carrots, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, mango. Lid holds candies and dried fruit.
Click the picture to visit Cuilionn Deilg.












Jacki hails from Halifax, NS, Canada. Her current best friend is frozen banana leaves. Jacki can also ice some fancy cup cakes.
Her description of the Bento submission:

Everything is home made from scratch:

-Tamagoyaki (omelette) nigiri sushi

-Sesame fried gai lon with dried cranberries

-Fried pork shumai

-Steamed broccoli

-Lemon and orange daikon pickles.

-Steamed sugar snaps

-Boiled sweet potato butterflies

-Fiddleheads, steamed with lemon juice

-Honey tangerine pieces

-Fresh cherries

-Strawberries

-Blueberries

-Truffle

Click the picture to visit Jacki's Bento Blog.













K.S. is from USA and has collectively packed over 100 bentos for herself and her husband. Awesome! She celebrates her personal 100th bento on the 29 of July 2008 - same as my blog anniversary! Congratulations!
Her description of the Bento submission:

A strawberry, an apricot, yellow baby carrots, snow peas, blueberries, and a 1/2 turkey sandwich with light lemonaise and mustard. (granted, it's a sandwich, but I like to think of it as the cloud in the sky with the rainbow of fruit and veg).

Click the picture to visit Kastinkerbell blog.












Kashmirkat is from New Jersey, USA. She packs lovely lunch Bentos for her husband. BTW, she shares the same Birthday as Bento Pet's blog!!! Congratulations!

Her description of the Bento submission:

This bento includes a Chef Salad of lettuce, shredded carrot, diced red and green bell pepper topped with swiss cheese flowers and hearts and ham and turkey pinwheels, next to that is a heart shaped egg that is sliced and some garlic pita.

The other tier contains fruit salad of strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and mango, more garlic pita, roasted red pepper hummus topped with roasted red pepper and macaroni salad. On the side are two molasses cookies and a midget container of ranch dressing.

Click the picture to visit kashmirkat.














Kel is a full time mum from Malaysia. She has this to say "my family is my everything" :)

Her description of the Bento submission:

The contents of the box were (from left): octopus and crab sausages with mask, soba with little bow shaped nori, tomatoes, broccoli, baby corns and a few drops of mayo.

On the right top was the jelly and iced grapes, and below was the soba sauce with lots of spring onions.

Click the picture to visit Kel's Place.

Krisaki who is from Texas, USA has this to say: "I made this blog to showcase the different vegan meals I make and the sewing/craft projects that I do".

Here’s a little info about me. I have been vegan for almost 6 years and enjoy making all types of meals for myself and boyfriend. I am also a fashion design major at UIW in San Antonio. I have one year to go and am very excited about finishing up my degree.

Her description of the Bento submission:

There is the Asian noodles and cabbage, then on the left we have a half of pita tore into bite sized chunks with some hummus, and some sliced strawberries and kiwi with raw unsalted pumpkin seeds.

I never knew pumpkin seeds were so healthy until recently. My friend did the Master Cleanse and wanted some pumpkin seeds for when she was done so I checked out the health benefits.

Two of major things pumpkin seeds have in them is zinc and magnesium. In 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds you get 92% of your daily magnesium. They taste somewhat like a sunflower seed but larger. Personally I prefer the taste of almonds or walnuts, but they’re a nice snack and aren’t as expensive as nuts.

Click the picture to visit Krisaki - Food. Fashion. Bento.













Lyvvie is from Dalgety Bay, Scotland. She's the one who packs an edible joke with her Bento to go.

Her description of the Bento submission:

Left: Two onigiri one with ham and cream cheese parcel inside, the other has fried chicken, mini fried chicken kebabs, rocket leaves, mange tout, red pepper.

Middle: Puree of ham, red pepper and cream cheese topped with nanami togarashi, sliced carrots, sugar snap peas, red pepper and sliced hot dog.

Right: mixed nuts, haribo, apple and an orange.

Click the picture to visit Lyvvie @ Obento Baby!













Rei is a full time working mum from Singapore, she has two fantastic kids. Cooking and Baking is therapeutic exercise for her.

Her description of the Bento submission:

Bento 6 : Rice, sakura denbu, black sesame and Natto, Unagi, stir fry Kale with carrots.

Click the picture to visit Rei at All That Matters.












3lilangels, a happy stay-at-home mommy of three pre-schoolers, 2 girls and 1 boy. Interested in making Bento meals, child rearing and education, reading and scrapbooking. 3lilangels mummy is also from Malaysia.

Her description of the Bento submission:

Bottom container had chicken rice (claypot style but cooked in rice cooker) with shredded chicken thigh underneath. Decorated with flowers cut out from cucumber and steamed carrots. Swapped the insides to create a visual interest. sausage, thousand island sauce in pink container #1, tomato sauce in the other, extra Stalks were made of cucumber and leaves from sweet peas.

The top container had Chinese veggies, and grapes.

Click the picture to visit her blog at 3lilangles.













Yvo from New York city, New York, USA is a veteran Bento packer. She also authors The Feisty Foodie where she records her gastronomic journey.

Her description of the Bento submission:

Top tier: sauteed button mushrooms; sauteed Napa cabbage; BBQ chicken thighs Bottom tier: 6 dark chocolate covered pretzels from Trader Joe's; marinated squid banchan; and curried salmon orzo.

The dark chocolate covered pretzels are good, but not quite as good as the peanut butter filled chocolate covered pretzels. I like the pb ones because they're sweet and salty and creamy, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I love salty snacks, I'm not into sweets that much, so this is perfect for me. I love those...

Click the picture to visit All My Bento Are Belong To Me.


I am currently in a state of 'brain drain'! I've been working endless hours to reach this point of posting.

No worries, I'm enjoying it, only thing is hubs is a little sore that I'm at the computer all the time!

This is where you get to enjoy visiting all the different blogs and savor all the delicious Bentos that all these wonderful people have been making day in and day out.

I am most likely going to put up a poll so that you can vote for your favorite Bento. Please bear with me while I get the poll up.

Meanwhile, I'd like to record a note of thanks to all my new found Bento friends who joined in the bandwagon to have some fun taking part in this competition.

Everyone of you has become a friend and those whom I personally know, I want to affirm you all that each one of your Bentos gave my two daughters and I a mind boggling time in deciding on the final fourteen.

*Towards more Bento days!*

BENTO #114

#2 was raving about the tuna mayo and alfalfa when she got back from school yesterday. She asked if she could have it again today. "Sure! Still had some left (makes it easier for me too)!"

This morning, everything looks so pale. In the left box is blanched cauliflowers topped with Japanese Kewpie Mayo and Cheddar cheese packed next to some lemon roasted chicken (freezer stock).

The right box had some konyakku noodles mixed with garlic oil and loads of tuna mayo, alfalfa and tomatoes. Another Apricot fruit roll for treat!

Easy peasy Bento!