Tess's Japanese Kitchen

Tess's Japanese Kitchen http://1tess.wordpress.com Cooking Japanese in the U.S. Thu, 23 May 2013 03:23:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/dffed10f4507df72e913ef2caa3170f8?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png Tess's Japanese Kitchen http://1tess.wordpress.com Lasagna Bolognese http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/lasagna-bolognese/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/lasagna-bolognese/#comments Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:43:03 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=28322

http://1tess.wordpress.com

Lasagne is a collated noodle dish. My perfect lasagne would be straightforward al denté noodles framed with luscious sauce, just as lightning, seen against extravagantly swirling deep blue and grey clouds, is both dramatic and simple. This recipe is not that, but it is luscious, subtle, to remember, to repeat. As Christmas 2012 dinner, it is especially memorable because we shared it with an unexpected and charming guest.

]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/lasagna-bolognese/feed/ 5 Tess Christmas guest from China mushroom-lasagne-recipe_392 lasagne bolognese christmas dinner lasagne layers lasagne-bologese_0732 Shabu Shabu Gift http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/shabu-shabu-gift/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/shabu-shabu-gift/#comments Fri, 28 Dec 2012 01:22:33 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=28264

http://1tess.wordpress.com

Oh winter cold, winter dark, winter comforts so dearly embraced: it’s when friendly time beside the fire and good food is most satisfying. A Japanese nabemono (hot pot) is a warm and convivial way of sharing and eating a meal. A pot of water or broth simmers in the center of the table, surrounded by plates of meat, fish, tofu, fruits, and vegetables. With chopsticks (or fondu forks) diners slide morsels of food into the simmering stock to cook, then lifts them out to a plate. I have not gotten around to buying a table-top heat source to present such an entertaining feast This Christmas, my sister and my daughter changed all that: they surprised me with an induction cooktop and prepared a lovely Christmas Eve shabu shabu! ]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/shabu-shabu-gift/feed/ 6 Tess shabu shabu table aroma induction cooktop shabu shabu table vegetables prepared for shabu shabu shabu-beef_5621 induction cooktop for japanese hot pot Shabu Shabu Christmas http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/shabu-shabu-christmas/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/shabu-shabu-christmas/#comments Thu, 27 Dec 2012 01:56:46 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=28225

http://1tess.wordpress.com

faux stained glass Christmas bird made with tissue paper and glue

It's been many years since I decorated for Christmas. This year has been different. I discovered the faux stained glass installation I made in 1979. I'd displayed them for several years, then we moved to apartments/house with small windows so they went into deep storage. When I found them a few weeks ago, my first impulse was, "Bah! Humbug!" and toss them into the recycle bin. But both husband and daughter said, "NO!!" ]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/shabu-shabu-christmas/feed/ 9 Tess Korean Vegetable Pancake http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/korean-vegetable-pancake/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/korean-vegetable-pancake/#comments Sat, 15 Dec 2012 04:41:07 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=28169

http://1tess.wordpress.com

It's Hanuka and we have been eating pancakes. These were pancakes made by Mr. Tess some time ago, yet they deserve some space on my blog. I bought a bag of Korean pancake mix, thinking it would have some special secret ingredient. I'd made them from scratch with vegetables and seafood but they were not quite the same as the pancakes served at our favorite Korean restaurant. But no, just ordinary flour, baking powder, spices… I hate wasting food, and the minor convenience of one measuring cup, one bowl, a knife, and a frying pan means we'll eat them at least a couple of more times…

]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/korean-vegetable-pancake/feed/ 1 Tess hanuka-candles Poaching Eggs with Art and Technology http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/poaching-eggs-with-art-and-technology/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/poaching-eggs-with-art-and-technology/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:08:47 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=28120

http://1tess.wordpress.com

Onsen tomango, Japanese hot spring eggs achieve a perfect balance between cooked and raw: the white with a texture like delicate custard, the yolk firm but bright yellow with a creamy texture. I cannot duplicate the slow cooking in a natural hot spring. Soft cooked eggs are the closest, and very delicious topping toast, noodles, or salads. But they are very tricky to cook to exactly the balance of cooked but runny. Until Mr. Tess brought home a gift of these wonderful silicone "poach pods" I thought poached eggs were beyond my kitchen skills. They work like magic! And are easy to clean, and don't take up much kitchen drawer space. ]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/poaching-eggs-with-art-and-technology/feed/ 6 Tess Korean summer noodles with pickled radishes, cucumbers, and poached egg break an egg Korean Cold Noodle Soup with Radish Water Kimchi http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/korean-cold-noodle-soup-with-radish-water-kimchi/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/korean-cold-noodle-soup-with-radish-water-kimchi/#comments Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:54:38 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=28085

http://1tess.wordpress.com

Eating cold noodles in winter, preferably in front of a great big fire, is a way of enjoying the best of two seasons. We made a meal of this when Mr. Tess returned from Philly after working there for nearly two months. As a dyed-in-the-wool noodle-lover it was the best thing I could think of to welcome him home. I don't think he was disappointed in the menu; at any rate he was happier than the cats were.

]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/korean-cold-noodle-soup-with-radish-water-kimchi/feed/ 3 Tess poached eggs on korean summer noodles Korean Radish Water Kimchi http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/korean-radish-water-kimchee/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/korean-radish-water-kimchee/#comments Sun, 09 Dec 2012 04:52:09 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=28014

http://1tess.wordpress.com

Making kimchi seemed a wonderful idea. I spent a lot of deep-in-the-night sleepless hours roving the internet while Mr. Tess was working in Philadelphia. Radish water kimchi made me laugh, especially when I heard about a cold noodle soup made with this pickle. The weather was beginning to be chilly in October, and I wanted to hold on to summer if only in my dining room. These pickles are absolutely delicious, especially the water which can only be called addictive: sour, salty, sweet, and popping good…

]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/korean-radish-water-kimchee/feed/ 1 Tess water kimchi cut for dinner Nom Nom Philadelphia Visit http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/nom-nom-philadelphia-visit/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/nom-nom-philadelphia-visit/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 04:31:21 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=27956 http://1tess.wordpress.com

Looking for a great bowl of ramen? If you are in Philadelphia, then find Nom Nom Ramen in Rittenhouse Square! Okay, there were other reasons for me braving the airplane flight for a visit.]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/nom-nom-philadelphia-visit/feed/ 10 Tess I don't know why this is "spider" roll… Shiso: so she ended, the summer http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/shiso-so-she-ended-the-summer/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/shiso-so-she-ended-the-summer/#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:11:50 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=27809

http://1tess.wordpress.com

Summer's end.…from anticipation in May, temptation in late June to early July, satisfaction in August, suspecting the transitory state of life in September,realizing in October that it's time to turn the heat on!This post is only the (pictorial) progress of a couple of shiso plants in one summer. WordPress.com has a new "gallery" format. See what you think of the "mosaic tiling." Hover over individual photos to see a caption. Click on one and you can see a carousel of the pictures from a previous post. Most of the pictures include a brief description. ]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/shiso-so-she-ended-the-summer/feed/ 1 Tess No buds yet, but it's 10 Sept? cilantro, not planted until 4 June 4 June Shiso 4 June Shiso 4 June Shiso Tomato Water Geleé and Pickles http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/tomato-water-gelee-and-pickles/ http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/tomato-water-gelee-and-pickles/#comments Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:42:45 +0000 Tess http://1tess.wordpress.com/?p=27763

http://1tess.wordpress.com

The dinner for ten was a success except for the tomato water geleé.

After the dinner for ten family gathering I was left with the leftovers and drinking the excellent wine on my own: the pasta queen!

]]> http://1tess.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/tomato-water-gelee-and-pickles/feed/ 5 Tess tomato-water-jello_7946 hors-d-oeuvres agar-agar-package_7503 somen-tomato-agar_7940 japan-pickled-garlic7645 japan-pickled-garlic_7649 japan-pickled-garlic_7648 tomato-water-gelee_7937