All posts by Hiroko

  • Vegetables

    Red Cabbage & Carrot ‘Namasu’

    When I am mentally or physically very tired, I often have a craving for a dish called ‘Namasu’ that is vinegared vegetables and most commonly Daikon and Carrot are used. When I didn’t have Daikon, I used Red Cabbage instead. The result was really refreshing, and very pretty as well. Makes 2 to 4 Servings …

  • Fish Potato

    Fish Pie

    This is one of my family’s favourite winter dishes. There are many different ‘Fish Pie’ recipes but this is how I cook it. My daughter complains that the dish tastes ‘blunt’ and I should add some herbs or lemon zest to it. I know some recipes use lemon juice, but I like my Fish Pie’s …

  • Vegetables

    Anchovy Garlic Sautéed Green Beans

    It is quite hard to understand why some people dislike Anchovy & Garlic. It’s a heavenly combination and that makes the simple sautéed beans into an extra spacial dish. I have cooked this dish for so many occasions and everyone enjoyed it, even the ones who hate fish. I love this dish. Makes 4 to …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets Cold Sweets Fruit

    Pavlova

    ‘Pavlova’ is a meringue dessert with crispy crust and soft inside, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. I heard that the dessert was created in honour of the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova’s tour to Australia and New Zealand. It is one of the iconic foods in Australia.The recipe is simple and it is …

  • Fish Other Soup Zōsui (Rice Soup)

    Smoked Salmon Rice Soup

    I cook rice very often and left-over rice is in the fridge almost always. Zōsui (Rice Soup) is a great way to use up the left-over cold rice. This is an Italian ‘Risotto’ inspired version. I sometimes add some milk to make the soup creamy and some shaved OR grated Parmesan Cheese for topping. It’s …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets Fruit

    Wonton Skin Apple Rolls

    What do you make with left-over Wonton Skins? I often simply add them to soup. But I wanted to make something with them. Wonton Skins look like small version of Filo Pastry. So I just wrap some apple with sugar & cinnamon with them and fried. The result was simply ‘YUMMY!’ I would buy Wonton …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets Sweets

    Twisted Fried Cookies

    When I was a young child, my mother was a full-time mother looking after three children. My family was poor and couldn’t afford to buy sweets. But my sisters and I always enjoyed sweets that our mother cooked for us. This is one of them. 1 cup flour, some sugar and 1 egg, and oil …

  • Gyoza Pork Vegetables

    Pork & Vegetables Dim Sims

    In Australia, there is a Chinese-inspired dumpling-style snack food called ‘Dim Sim’. It looks like a very large ‘Shumai’ dumpling. I have tried it. It is not very yummy and I really don’t know what is in it. Why don’t you make it yourself with lots of vegetables?Shumai skins are hard to find. I use …

  • Mushrooms Takikomigohan

    Garlic Mushroom Takikomigohan

    Mushroom lovers would enjoy this dish. Rice and the sautéed Mushrooms are cooked in the soy flavoured broth of your choice. Mushroom need to be pre-cooked with Butter, but it is a quick and easy process. Butter & Soy Sauce is a yummy combination and crunchy mushrooms are simply delicious! Makes 4 Servings Ingredients Short …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets

    Profiteroles

    ‘Profiteroles’ aka ‘Chou à la Crème’ or ‘Cream Puff’ (which is a different food in Australia) is called in Japanese ‘Shuu Kuriimu’ sounds exactly same as ‘shoe cream’! It’s not hard to make but many people don’t even try. You only need Flour, Butter and Eggs. My favourite filing is custard, but whipped cream, chocolate …

  • Egg Sweets

    Basic Custard

    Every cook should be able to make ‘Custard’, that is so simple, yummy and versatile. ‘Custard’ is the mixtures of Milk and Eggs thickened by heat. When it is used for desserts, Sugar is added. For thickening it, Flour or Starch is often added, but you do not need such thing as custard powder. This …

  • Chicken Other Soup Potato

    Chicken Cream Stew

    ‘Cream Stew’ is a very popular dish in Japan. When the weather is getting cold, we often see TV ads of ready-made cream stew roux and we start to crave for the dish. My children loved it when they were young. And now? They still love it. I don’t use read-made roux. It’s a quite …

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