Hipsta-rized Evening Meal

Misoshiru (cabbage, wakame, renkon, carrots)
Rice
Tsukune in Teriyaki sauce (recipe from "Everyday Harumi")
Daikon Salad (dressing by Yukako-San)
Gyoza by Toko-San (not pictured)

Things I like lately, Which you may have already picked up on:
Random Capitalization
Hipstamatic App for iPhone

Wasabi Kit Kat

Wasn't as nasty as it sounds. But I can't actually recommend it to you either....

Try This At Home

Hayashi (Hashed Beef) on a Bed of Rice on a Bed of Spinach

普通ううの金曜日

今日はまた夕飯のインスピレーション無し。。。。
なので、冷凍庫に入っていたエンギリシュウマフインでこのミニピッザを作りました。枝豆、きゅうり、コッテジチーズも出したらなんちゃって食事になったでしょ。
と信じたいです。

Report

Just want to report that today, I had Cornflakes and Whole Milk for breakfast.

I roasted a whole chicken's parts in Asian flavors, per Mark  Bittman's recipe, but I served it to Aogu and the girls with rice and stir fried soy sauce bean sprouts.  I myself ate lunch at church, Papa John's pizza, veggies and chocolate chip cookie. 

Quesadillas, rice, beans, carrots and broccoli were our dinner.  Oops, I forgot to insert random Capitalization in that last sentence.  Hmm.  I hope the state of gustatory affairs around here improves tomorrow.  Good night. 

Apple Cake

For Izumi's half birthday. Recipe here. Guess I don't hate baking even if I'm in a cooking slump (it's for real, I even planned dinner tonight, then couldn't force myself to make it and dished up a bunch of leftovers instead!). Anybody know a good half birthday song? Trying to modify the original was awkward.

Confession

Here's the thing, and be prepared to be shocked:

I don't like to cook anymore. 

That sounds so final and sad and strange, but for now, it's true.  I never thought this would happen to me, but it has.  Maybe it was going to Japan and eating out or having others cook for me for two weeks straight, and now I just can't get into the groove though we've been back for three weeks. 

Maybe it just finally feels like more work than it's worth, though why I should feel that way now (or maybe this phrase will help me understand my feelings: 19 month old toddler) is a bit of a mystery. 

Anyway, so, I haven't really cooked at all, by my standards of cooking, for ages now.  I'm still slapping food on the table when it's called for but I'm not enjoying the process.  Wah.  Or, maybe this is a good thing and will give me the interest/motivation that's been missing from my so-called weight loss efforts?  Maybe?

Enviable Kids Menu

Koji ordered this from the kids' menu of a restaurant we went to in Japan. 

I wish the kids' menus here had this set as an option!

Now Available at Target

But I'd much rather be doing the Tim Tam Slam in Boonah with Bex.

Courtesy of Hot Chocolate 5K

Get a Big Bottle of Soy Sauce

'cause you're going to need it to braise chicken with this Chinese style recipe that I got from Quick & Easy Recipes from the NY Times .  Sorry no picture, this was not a photogenic dish.  I'm realizing most of my favorite dishes aren't very pretty. 

But, it was quick, easy and tasty so I'll definitely be making it again.   Below is my approximation of the recipe, because I am much too lazy to get up and grab the book. 

Soy Braised Chicken, Chinese Style
Boil 1 1/2 cups soy sauce, 1 1/2 cups sake, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar (I used brown) and 3 Tablespoons of Grated Ginger.  Drop in 1 whole chicken (I used four breasts, cut in half for eight pieces) and boil for 10 minutes.  Turn off the heat and let sit for 15 minutes, then serve (do I have to say "with rice"?!).  Add root veges as it pleases you (I added onion and turnips). 

All Thanks to Koji's Teachers

Koji's school was so kind as to plan a jack-o-lantern party for us last week. If they hadn't hauled the pumpkins and the carving utensils and the garbage bags and the newspapers into the classrooms, and then if they had not decided what time I should be there...well, then, I don't think we would have carved a pumpkin this year.
So thanks to their efforts, we did it! In case you aren't clear, the extra holes on either side of the eyes are for laser shooting, and the other long diagonal hole is Mr. Pumpkin's walkie-talkie. Oh yes, watch out if you meet Mr. Pumpkin in a dark alley. And you just might, we put him out there yesterday since he was getting moldy.
The food related bit of all this is that I saved the seeds, brought them home and then soaked and roasted them according to this recipe. I did a cinnamon sugar version, and they are pretty tasty! Worth the battle with Mr. Pumpkin, to carve him up into the fine specimen he is. Er, was.

Why Is This Monstrous Dessert Called "Honey Toast"

when it should be called "Honey Half Loaf of Bread"?! Enjoyed a couple weeks ago at a karaoke place in Ikebukuro with Fumi and Naoko.

In Which I Talk About Dinner, But Can't Be Bothered to Show You a Photo

Or maybe it's just that I didn't take one.
Maybe I know that what we ate wasn't particularly photogenic.
And it's not like it hasn't been pictured and mentioned here before.
In fact, I don't think I'm going to tell you what it was.
I'll just let you guess.
Ready, go!