Neapolitan Kasutera (Neapolitan Castella)
Single flavored kasutera, check! Double-flavored marbled kasutera, check! I did not make this one but it is out there. And now I present to you the triple-flavored Neapolitan Kasutera! Achoo…talk about a persistent bug! This one shows no sign of abating. Have no fear though as this bug should not harm you unless you over-indulge. [...]
Continue reading about Neapolitan Kasutera (Neapolitan Castella)
Would you believe there is such a thing as a “kasutera bug”? It seems to have gone viral again in the food blogosphere. I was told it made an appearance some years back where there was a frenzy of “kasuteritis”. Symptoms varied from deep despondence over sunken sponges to giddying heights over light and fluffy [...]
Continue reading about Matcha Kasutera 抹茶カステラ (Green Tea Castella)
Kasutera カステラ or Castella is a popular Japanese sponge cake. It is said to have been named after the Castilla Monarchy in Spain but brought into Japan by the Portuguese merchants through Nagasaki in the 16th century. Imagine the consternation of the first European traders arriving on those shores to realize that there was not [...]
Hot pots and nabemono are especially good during the colder months. The cooking can be done and kept warm at the table on portable stoves or in electric pots. I like to serve them in the weekends when dinner can be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace. The ones I have shared so far are [...]
Continue reading about Hōtō Nabe (Flat Noodles Miso Hot Pot)
The temperature dipped to the twenties this past weekend and the snow came sooner than expected. We were out shopping at the mall when the snow started to fall. We quickly made our final purchases and scrambled home. Come Sunday morning, there were three inches of white pristine snow on the ground. We woke up [...]
Not too long ago, I chance upon this book, Japan Country Living: Spirit, Tradition, Style at our local library. It is a very interesting book with a glimpse into the daily lives of the Japanese people in the countryside, far away from the fast-paced, high-tech modern cities we so often associate Japan with. The pictures [...]
Many outside of Japan would be surprised to know that curry is one of the most popular dishes there. It is ubiquitous in many Japanese fast food and family restaurants, often served with rice. Another popular way of serving curry is with ramen or udon as seen in my Japanese Curry Udon. The taste of [...]
Continue reading about Japanese Curry Rice and Bento Banter on Facebook
During the warm summer months, ice cream is the most wanted dessert at our home. I always have a couple of store-bought tubs in the freezer. The flavors are limited though as I only buy egg-free ice cream because a member of the family has egg allergy. That changed when Ro-Ri San presented me with [...]
Tau Sar Bao or steamed red bean paste bun is very popular in East Asia as well as among the Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. These simple yet delicious buns are a common dim sum offering and they are eaten throughout the day. In Malaysia, steamed buns can be easily found in the coffee shops. [...]
Kabocha is one of my favorite squashes and I cannot resist bringing one home when I see it at the grocery stores. It is a sweet squash with a light and fluffy texture. The skin is very hard when raw but once cooked, it is soft and edible. It only takes minutes to cook and [...]
