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Happy Earth Day – Recycling Kitchen Scraps

Composting Kitchen Scraps

Are you recycling kitchen scraps?
I keep a small compost bin from OXO (commission earned) on the counter in my kitchen and use it everyday. A brow bag can be used as a liner to avoid the mess, and it will be recycled together.

It’s actually very handy to keep the compost bin next to the cutting board when I prep. Where I live in Southern California, recycling kitchen scraps or organic green waste from home is mandated now, so whenever the bin is filled up, usually within a day or two, I take this to a bin outside, and they come and collect it every week. Recycling is easy! Start today if you have not already.

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Kabocha Korokke Recipe

Kabocha Korokke Recipe

Korokke, deep fried mashed vegetables with meat, is one of everyone’s favorite dish in Japan.  My family loves it, too.  Korokke is usually made with mashed potatoes and ground beef, but today I substituted potatoes with Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin.)  Kabocha is naturally very sweet and soft when steamed, and it can be mashed very easily.  In fact, I even made it easier by using a microwave instead of steaming Kabocha.

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Soba Noodle Salad Recipe

Soba Noodle Salad Recipe


Soba noodles are a very popular lunch food in Japan.  They are usually served chilled with a dipping sauce (Zaru Soba) or hot with a dashi broth.  As we mentioned in our recent Zaru Soba post, it is gaining popularity outside of Japan because of its high nutritious value.  However, it is very rare to see soba served Japanese style with a dipping sauce or in a broth in the U.S. unless you are at a Japanese restaurant.  Soba is most likely prepared as noodle salad here!

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Ice Cream Dorayaki Recipe

Ice Cream Dorayaki Recipe

Dorayaki, one of the most popular traditional Japanese sweets, has many not-so-traditional variations.  Some come with whip cream, some with custard, and some with fruit.  My new favorite has ice cream (and don’t forget the Anko!)  Think of it like ice cream sandwiches here in America.  I have to tell you, it’s truly addictive.

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Yaki Onigiri Recipe (Pan-Fried Rice Balls with Soy Sauce and Butter)

Yaki Onigiri Recipe

If you have made Onigiri (rice ball) before, add one more step and try Yaki Onigiri, crunchy grilled rice ball.  The recipe can be as simple as placing the rice ball on the grill and brush with soy sauce when browned.  Here, I even made it more simple by browning Onigiri using frying pan.  Butter is not commonly used for Yaki Onigiri, but who doesn’t like the flavor of melted butter with soy sauce?  It’s so good!

If you have never made Onigiri before, I recommend that you watch our Onigiri recipe video first.  You don’t need to use salt or even fillings when making Yaki Onigiri.  Nori seaweed is optional.  I usually skip it for Yaki Onigiri.  It’s’ a perfect little snack!

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Ginger Dressing Recipe

Ginger Dressing
Ginger Dressing

I love the taste of fresh ginger.  Tangy, juicy, and a little spicy this root tastes really good especially when it’s freshly grated and mixed with soy sauce.  We use the soy sauce and ginger combination in many types of dish such as grilled meat, tofu, or dipping sauce for cold noodles.  Salad dressing is also a great way to enjoy the full flavor of ginger and soy.

All you need to do to make this scrumptious dressing is to peal and grate fresh ginger and combine all the ingredients .  You can add some sesame seeds and sesame oil to make it even more flavorful, but it’s optional.  Garlic is also an option but I like it with just a tiny bit for a kick (not too much.)  Please don’t substitute fresh ginger with powdered one.  It’s just not the same!

Pour the dressing over simple greens or with some grilled seafood or tofu.

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Miso Soup with Onion and Potato Recipe

Miso Soup with Onion and Potato

You may think that you must have tofu and/or wakame seaweed to make miso soup, but you can make it with just about anything you have at home.  If you have made miso soup before, the chances are that you still have plenty of dried bonito flakes to make dashi broth and some miso paste left in the fridge.  All you need is some onion and potato to make another authentic Japanese dish!

Onion and potato are pretty common ingredients for everyday miso soup in Japan, simply because everyone has them at home and it’s quite tasty.  You don’t need to make a trip to the Japanese market this time!

If you have never made miso soup before, please watch our video first.  For quick recap of making simple and delicious dashi broth, watch this video.

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Unagi Don (Unadon) Recipe

Unagi Don (Unagidon) Recipe

As exotic as it may sound, I’m sure most of you have tried unagi (Japanese freshwater eel) at least once.  Unagi sushi is a very popular item at Japanese restaurants in the U.S.  Since the fish is cooked, with sweet sauce glazed on top, it can be an entry point to the world of sushi for many beginners.

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