All posts by Hiroko

  • Tofu & Soy Protein Udon

    ‘Kitsune’ Udon

    ’Kitsune’ means ‘Fox’ in Japanese. ‘Kitsune Udon’ can be literally translated as ‘Fox Udon’ but it has nothing to do with the foxes. No one knows why this Udon dish is called with its name. As a food, ‘Kitsune’ is ‘Abura-age’ (Fried Thin Tofu) that is seasoned and added to noodle dishes as a topping. …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets

    Rice Cooker Chocolate Cake

    I still have no access to my oven in the kitchen that is under repair. Actually the repair work hasn’t started yet. So, I am making cakes using my rice cooker, which I found the easiest & most energy-efficient way to cook cakes. Not all cake recipes work well for rice cooker method, but this …

  • Sweets

    Sweetened Condensed Milk

    A recipe requires Sweetened Condensed Milk? You don’t need to make a trip to a supermarket. Condensed Milk can be made by condensing Milk. Add Sugar to sweeten it and it is easy to adjust the sweetness as you make it. Instead of simmering Milk and Sugar in a saucepan, the microwave is the easiest …

  • Mazegohan

    Dried Shiitake & Peas Mazegohan

    Do you know that sun-dried Shiitake are a great source of Vitamin D? They also have more Umami flavour. In Melbourne where I live, imported Dried Shiitake are widely available but most commercially produced Dried Shiitake are not sun-dried. If you are after the nutritious benefit, purchase fresh Shiitake and dry them under the direct …

  • Beans & Peas Donburi (Rice Bowl)

    Spicy Natto & Avocado Rice Bowl

    This is a plant-protein-packed power rice bowl dish. Spicy condiments such as Toban Djan (Chilli Bean Sauce) and Gochujang (Korean Spicy Miso) go very well with Nattō. I know some people find the smell of Nattō too overpowering, but this dish is not too bad. Sesame Oil makes the dish smell more appetising. Makes 1 …

  • Sushi

    ‘Gunkan’ Maki Sushi

    You may not know its name, but you have seen it. It’s a type of Sushi called ‘Gunkan Maki’. Small oblong shaped sushi rice balls are wrapped with Nori, and covered with various toppings. It is a big fun to make them at home. By the way, ‘Gunkan’ means ‘Battleship’. The Sushi rice wrapped with …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets

    Rice Cooker Apple Upside-down Cake

    My first attempt to make a cake using the rice cooker was very successful but the bottom of the cake was fairly dark brown. I could have taken it out a little bit earlier. Then, I realised that the Upside-down Cakes such as my ‘Pear Upside-down Cake’ would be very suitable for this rice cooker …

  • Vegetables

    Mock Sauerkraut

    Germany’s Sauerkraut is famous but many European regions have their own version of pickled and fermented Cabbage. They are overwhelmingly sour, but I love it especially with smoked sausages. As I do not stock Sauerkraut because it is a sometimes food for me, when I want to eat it, I make my ‘Mock Sauerkraut’ in …

  • Cold Sweets Fruit

    Peach Fool & Peach Jelly

    I am from Okayama, Japan. Okayama is famous for its production of fruit, especially ‘White Peach’. Different types of White peaches are available in Melbourne where I live. Different, but they still smell and taste like Okayama’s ‘White Peach’ that I miss. *Note: White Peaches are the best for this dessert, but you can use …

  • Sea Vegetables Vegetables

    Red Cabbage, Carrot & Nori ‘Namul’

    I love the Korean dish called ‘Namul’. Any kind of vegetables can be used and it can be seasoned with a variety of seasonings including Salt, Sesame Oil, Soy Sauce and many other condiments. I understand ‘Namul’ and Japan’s ‘Aemono’ are same type of dish, that is basically seasoned vegetables. I usually season ‘Namul’ with …

  • Chicken

    Teriyaki Chicken With Tartar Sauce

    If you have tried my ‘Sweet Sour Chicken with Tartar Sauce’, you know that the sweet soy sauce flavour goes well with Tartar Sauce. This is an easier version of the dish and you don’t need to deep-fry Chicken. It is almost identical to my ‘Teriyaki Chicken’. Enjoy this delicious combination. Makes 4 Servings Ingredients …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets

    Rice Cooker Sponge Cake

    My kitchen is currently under repair and the oven is not accessible. I have been cooking in a bathroom using a small Induction hob. But, I can still make cakes using a steamer. Then I realised that my rice cooker has ‘Cake’ setting, which I have never used. I tried to make my hard-to-fail ‘Basic …

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