My mom’s one plate lunch comes with lots of colors and flavors. It has Japanese green (Komatsuna), onion, red pepper, bitter melon, Shimeji mushroom, pork, anchovies and walnut bread. She places the ingredients, except anchovies and bread, on a plate and covers with saran wrap. She places the plate in microwave and pushes the button. After four minutes, she hears…
iCook500calories Posts
Do you use good quality salt for cooking? When I was younger, salt was to make food salty so that I can eat without tasting the real flavor of ingredients, especially vegetables. As I matured, I learned that salt is like a supporting actor or actress that makes ingredients more flavorful. Why don’t we dress up an ingredient with GOOD…
Can you guess what vegetable has the lowest calories? It is Bok Choy! This rich green vegetable has ONLY 9 calories in 100 grams followed by lettuce that has 14 calories. Bok choy is ACE! Why? It contains vitamin A (beta carotene), vitamin C, and vitamin E. The combination creates antioxidant that is anti-aging and anti-cancer. The combination is ideal for…
China, Italy, France, Korea, Morocco, and of course Japan. These are the countries I wrote about with recipes in the JAPANESE way. Let’s review! Sweet and Sour Pork (China), Chicken Tender Piccata (Italy), Asparagus with Aurore Sauce (France), Bean Sprouts and Spinach with Sesame Oil Namuru (Korea), Grilled Lemon Chicken (Morocco) and MANY Japanese recipes. Remember? I made you cook dishes…
Is chicken tender really tender? Chicken tender is called “sasami” in Japanese. The name has nothing to do with tenderness. Japanese people call sasami because it looks like bamboo leaves. Chicken tender is like tenderloin for pork or beef, the part of the meat is tender and low fat. Chicken tender is similar to chicken breast, yet it has a…
My first visit to America was 30 years ago. I was dreaming about eating big steak! My Japanese friend and I went to a local steakhouse. After standing in line for hours, we got a table. A waitress came over and asked what we would like to order. We both pointed at a sign that said XXX Steak for $10.…
“I am going to make one!” My mom was excited to tell me about something she heard on a TV show. She is very health conscious. She is obsessed about healthy stuff like food, exercise, and habit. There are many Japanese TV shows that talk about health. These are the only kind of shows she watches everyday besides news and…
Green onion is strong! I purchase green onion and chop the bottom. Leave about 2 inches with root hair. I soak it in a cup with water filled to cover the root. In a few hours, I notice green onion has grown. What a vitality! Then I take it to outside and transplant to ground or pot. Within a month,…
St. Patrick’s Day is coming. No matter who you are, Irish or non-Irish, American people like to celebrate. I believe the last celebration, a New Year’s Eve party, was too long ago. Or people with a New Year resolution, like losing weight, want to take a break. Hopefully, you are not giving it up! If you look at grocery ads,…
I love yogurt. I eat yogurt with slices of banana for my breakfast. I eat yogurt with vanilla ice cream for my desert. And I cook with yogurt for my dinner! Yogurt is good for you especially if it is NON-FAT and PLAIN. Yogurt contains probiotics that help to regulate the digestion and strengthen the immune system. Yogurt can be…