Showing posts with label japanese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label japanese. Show all posts

Friday, February 8, 2013

Save 34% Off: Japanese Hot Pots: Comforting One-Pot Meals Review & Ratings

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Japanese Hot Pots: Comforting One-Pot Meals Review

After living in Japan for three years, I was pining for something Japanese besides sushi. This book more than fills that need. It is beautifully laid out with lots of photos and easy-to-follow directions. The authors recognize that some of the ingredients and tools for these recipes could be difficult to find, so not only do they give suitable substitutes, they also provide websites of vendors who carry the unique items. There are plenty of sidebars offering explanations of why some things are done a certain way, including the right way to slice cabbage and why hot pot ingredients are added in a particular order. Another thing I love about a cookbook is when I can learn something about the dish, along with getting the recipe. I enjoy learning the origin of the recipe and/or why it's unique to a certain region. EVERY RECIPE has a story to go with it and many have serving options along with suggested side dishes.
Japanese hot pot meals are very family-oriented. In a Japanese home, the hot pot meal is cooked right at the dining table using a portable butane stove. Everyone just digs in or cooks their own favorites in the broth. Although a portable butane stove isn't something commonly found in an American home, it is easy enough to find either here at Amazon.com or at an oriental market. I have two of them, and they have been real lifesavers at pot lucks and during power outages. It's like taking my gas range with me, no matter where I go. So if you decide to invest in the butane stove, know that you will use it for more than the hot pot meals!!

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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Kawaii Bento Boxes: Cute and Convenient Japanese Meals on the Go Review & Ratings

Kawaii Bento Boxes: Cute and Convenient Japanese Meals on the GoAre you looking to buy Kawaii Bento Boxes: Cute and Convenient Japanese Meals on the Go? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Kawaii Bento Boxes: Cute and Convenient Japanese Meals on the Go. Check out the link below:

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Kawaii Bento Boxes: Cute and Convenient Japanese Meals on the Go Review

I have been looking and looking for a good book in English that matches the quality of information in Japanese books about bento lunches and charaben (cute decorated bentos). This one comes the closest. No wonder really, since it is a translation of a popular Japanese bento book! The photos are really clear, and the directions are easy to follow. Anyone can start making their own bentos, decorative or not, from this book. I just took off one star because it does use a number of ingredients that may be unfamiliar to non-Japanese readers, and doesn't really describe them. (That's where bento blogs step in.) It's still practical to use for an American bento enthusiast.

Kawaii Bento Boxes: Cute and Convenient Japanese Meals on the Go Overview



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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Quick & Easy Tsukemono: Japanese Pickling Recipes Review & Ratings

Quick and Easy Tsukemono: Japanese Pickling RecipesAre you looking to buy Quick & Easy Tsukemono: Japanese Pickling Recipes? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Quick & Easy Tsukemono: Japanese Pickling Recipes. Check out the link below:

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Quick & Easy Tsukemono: Japanese Pickling Recipes Review

No Japanese meal is complete without tsukemono. Whether you are having a traditional dinner, some sushi, a bowl of udon or even a plate of curry rice, in a Japanese home or restaurant a small dish of pickled yummies will always be set aside your plate, providing a colorful and flavorful accompaniment.
Continuing the "Quick and Easy" series of Japanese cooking, chef Ikuko Hisamatsu has laid out almost 100 easy-to-follow tsukemono recipes that allow you to prepare these necessary side dishes, using seasonal Japanese ingredients which complement the various meals of Japanese cuisine. In addition to the common tsukemono, there are five Korean kim chee recipes, some dessert items like pineapple in lemon, fish side-dishes like salted squid, and some original creations like garlic in honey and garlic in miso.
The ingredient list might require a Japanese or Asian grocery store, unless you have ready access to daikon, shiso leaves, kombu, ume and the like. Required Japanese spices are things like miso, sake-kasu, karashi, wasabi and yuzu citron. Nothing terribly rare, but exotic enough that they probably won't be found at a regular grocery store.
The recipes are easy to follow. If you have never done any pickling before, you can expect some trial and error before you get it exactly right. There are some overall tips for pickling, and advice as to the specific equipment you will need. Pickling does require some special equipment and preparation, so it is not really a "grab and go" type of cook book, although there are simple recipes that you can try right away. The length of time for the recipes vary, and you are probably better off trying a one hour pickle before tackling the two-month long fermentation of the delicious ume boshi.
A necessary book for anyone serious about cooking authentic Japanese meals.

Quick & Easy Tsukemono: Japanese Pickling Recipes Overview



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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Best 50 Sushi Rolls Review & Ratings

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The Best 50 Sushi Rolls Review

. . .And really that's the only way I can imagine the reasoning behind this book; as a joke, or maybe on a dare. the author did her very best to put together a list of sushi rolls that might be found appealing to the westerner. . . With little success. Peanut butter and Jelly? I won't even justify that with the much deserved "PUHHHLEEEEEEEASE"!
The book is short of facts, shorter on technique and devoid of any history whatsoever.
Well over half the rolls are either western concoctions or creations straight from the author's imagination. Some of my fav's being the "Eggs McSushi Roll" (Tamago), the "Anchovy and Sun dried Tomato Roll", the "Mussel Shoals Roll" and what Japanese cookbook would be complete without the "Prosciutto and Cantaloupe Roll". . . There's always the "Blackened Catfish Roll" for those of you with a taste for Cajun Sushi. And for you Brit's, how about the "Tomato and Cucumber Roll". . . Try it with beans.
Did I really spend 4 bucks on this?

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Friday, July 27, 2012

Save 32% Off: Japanese Cooking: Contemporary & Traditional Review & Ratings

Japanese Cooking: Contemporary and TraditionalAre you looking to buy Japanese Cooking: Contemporary & Traditional? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Japanese Cooking: Contemporary & Traditional. Check out the link below:

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Japanese Cooking: Contemporary & Traditional Review

This is a great cookbook. As a Japanese-American and a vegan, this is by far the best vegetarian japanese cookbook I've come across.
The veg-anized recipies in this book mimic the real thing--the Japanese curry out of this cookbook tastes the same as I remember the beef/pork/chicken version tasting. The ramen recipe is as close to the real thing as I can imagine, and I'm not referring to the 6 for a dollar insta-packs from the supermarket.
The author includes traditional and modern foods, and recipes which are tradionally vegetarian and not. Most of the ingredients can be bought at your local supermarket. This is the book to get for healthy, completely vegetarian Japanse food.

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Save 21% Off: Quick & Easy Sushi Cookbook (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series) Review & Ratings

Quick and Easy Sushi Cookbook (Quick and Easy Cookbooks Series)Are you looking to buy Quick & Easy Sushi Cookbook (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Quick & Easy Sushi Cookbook (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series). Check out the link below:

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Quick & Easy Sushi Cookbook (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series) Review

I bought this book in a bookshop here in Tokyo actually after reading through it, I worked in Japanese resturants both in Australia and Japan for about 4 years and after making a change in my line of work I wanted a reference book on some of the areas that I didn't get time to learn in full. I'd made Sushi professionally but wasn't doing it long enough to rotate through all of the different areas of prep
There are very good step by step picture (glossy photos) instructions for how to cut fish and prepare different types of fish plus there are some great novelty chirashi items for kids too.
The proof in the pudding for me though was the part on Shari (sushi rice), if that more fundumental part isn't good then it calls the quality of the whole book into question. It was certainly not lacking!
In the end, with the sushi rice in this book so good the fact that there are lots of imaginative recipes in here that you might get in a japanese home but never in a resturant on top of the standard stuff really makes this book worth while. All the fundamentals are here, plus a lot of fun stuff so you get to involve yourself to a level that suits you.

Quick & Easy Sushi Cookbook (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series) Overview



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Monday, May 14, 2012

Save 32% Off: Quick & Easy Japanese Cuisine for Everyone (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series) Review & Ratings

Quick and Easy Japanese Cuisine for Everyone (Quick and Easy Cookbooks Series)Are you looking to buy Quick & Easy Japanese Cuisine for Everyone (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Quick & Easy Japanese Cuisine for Everyone (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series). Check out the link below:

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Quick & Easy Japanese Cuisine for Everyone (Quick & Easy Cookbooks Series) Review

I bought this book from a Japanese bookstore in "Japan Town" in San Francisco on vacation. I am online now buying more for my friends. I compared this book with every other english language Japanese cookbooks in the store (and there were MANY). I found this one to be superior to the rest as it contained everything I would need to prepare meals. I should mention I have lived in Japan for 5 years and have a good feel for what is authentic. This book has allowed me to create some very nice meals at home approaching resturant quality of those found in Japan. I expecially like the pictures that show all the steps of the preparation including pictures of the ingredients. Also included is a section that shows how food is served (presentation on table).
Honestly, I don't see how you can go wrong buying this book. Its inexpensive and contains EVERY aspect you need to be sucessful: tools and utensils, knife skills, ingredients, recipies, and presentation.
Now I just wish I could find similar books for Greek, Italian, Thai, and so on...
-Steve Maercklein
Austin, Texas

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Friday, April 27, 2012

Soymilk Desserts Review & Ratings

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Soymilk Desserts Review

I've tried a few recipes from this book, and besides the coffee drinks (can't seem to get the soy milk foaming technique down) they have been good. The desserts range from traditional cakes and ice creams to even some breads and scones. Many of these desserts are light and not overly sweet. The book comes from a Japanese publishing company, so there are a few traditional Japanese desserts as well as some recipes which call for Japanese ingredients, but a trip to an Asian grocery store will help you find those things.
One thing I should add is that this book is not vegetarian or vegan. Most of the recipes include other dairy products, which I would assume one should find substitutions for themselves if they are following any food restrictions. Other than that it is a fun book, and the recipes usually yield a small batch, which is just enough for me and can be easily doubled by others.

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Thursday, April 26, 2012

501 Bento Lunches: 501 Unique Recipes for Brilliant Bento Review & Ratings

501 Bento Lunches: 501 Unique Recipes for Brilliant BentoAre you looking to buy 501 Bento Lunches: 501 Unique Recipes for Brilliant Bento? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on 501 Bento Lunches: 501 Unique Recipes for Brilliant Bento. Check out the link below:

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501 Bento Lunches: 501 Unique Recipes for Brilliant Bento Review

Before I start my review, I'd like to mention that I'm one of the contributors for this book.
That being said, I am not happy at all with the way the book turned out. I was approached by the publisher and was so excited to be published that I didn't think through things carefully. When I sent my images in, I believe I stated that all of them had been touched up with Photoshop for my blog. When they were published, however, they were published as is.
When I first started my bento blog I knew absolutely nothing about lighting. I took my photos in my kitchen with a point and shoot while standing over my bento blocking the light. I had hoped that a book publisher would recognize that the second they looked at the images, so I don't know if they had a new graphic artist or they simply didn't have the time to touch them all up, but my dark and sometimes blurry photos are now printed on paper for the world to see.
Don't be fooled by the title, there are very few recipes in here. The "recipes" are actually instructions for putting the bento together, which are useful, but probably not what people were imagining. The format of the instructions is very compacted and difficult to read. If there is a recipe in there, it's very difficult to find because the ingredients list is all in one paragraph instead of a list.
Since these were obtained with permission from bento bloggers, you can find all of these online. It makes a decent coffee book due to its volume, but as other people mention, it's physical size is very small. The cover is bright and inviting, but the images inside are completely different.

501 Bento Lunches: 501 Unique Recipes for Brilliant Bento Overview



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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Save 32% Off: Japanese Foods That Heal: Using Traditional Japanese Ingredients to Promote Health, Longevity, & Well-Being Review & Ratings

Japanese Foods That Heal: Using Traditional Japanese Ingredients to Promote Health, Longevity, and Well-BeingAre you looking to buy Japanese Foods That Heal: Using Traditional Japanese Ingredients to Promote Health, Longevity, & Well-Being? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Japanese Foods That Heal: Using Traditional Japanese Ingredients to Promote Health, Longevity, & Well-Being. Check out the link below:

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Japanese Foods That Heal: Using Traditional Japanese Ingredients to Promote Health, Longevity, & Well-Being Review

I tend to be highly skeptical about this kind of book, mainly because they usually present some sort of idealized fantasy of a health-conscious and simple Japan where everyone is deeply in tune with the rhythms of nature, whilst I know from many years of experience living in Japan that your average Japanese person is much more likely to sit down to a steaming pile of fried chicken, reconstituted ramen and a few cans of beer rather than ocean-harvested kombu and mountain vegetables gently simmered followed by a sweet cup of amazake. However I was pleasantly surprised when the authors stated up front that "Japanese people don't eat this way", and acknowledged that many of these foods will be more readily available in an American health food store than in a Japanese supermarket.
With that fresh start, I was able to enjoy "Japanese Foods that Heal" for what it is, a brilliant guide to eighteen traditional Japanese ingredients that are powerhouses of health, with medicinal properties that strengthen the human body and provide resources and defenses against all manner of illnesses. Each ingredient is considered in-depth, talking about the traditional harvesting/creation methods, the known medicinal properties of that ingredient, and the traditional healing powers associated with it. The authors are careful to state what is a proven effect of the food and what is only a "potential" effect. Some of the foods, such as miso and green tea, are quite familiar and well-known for their health value. Others, such as soy sauce and the sweetener mirin, were more of a surprise, as I had not thought of them as having any particular value other than as a flavoring agent. Some of the ingredients I had never heard of, such as seitan and mizu ame, which the author admits you would need to either make yourself or find at a specialized store.
While there are recipes for each ingredient included, "Japaneses Foods that Heal" cannot really be considered a cookbook. About five or six simple recipes with no photographs are all you get for each item, and the bulk of the text is educating you about the food itself. While the recipes are easy to make and delicious, I was more intrigued by the concept put forward of using these foods in regular recipes replacing items of little nutritional value, such as refined salt or white sugar, with more nutritious substitutes like mirin or the salty picked-plum umeboshi. Definitely something to give a try.
The only drawback to this book is that the authors reinforce the stereotype that eating healthy means eating expensive. When they talk about soy sauce, they are quick to distinguish between the mass-produced condiment available anywhere, and the healthy, hand-processed variety only made in few places and only available at specialty stores for quite a bit more than you would expect to pay. The cheap stuff, they say, isn't worth your time. The same story is told for almost every food, with a lengthy description of its traditional, healthy processing method followed by a disclaimer saying how the majority is now chemically produced in factories, and you will have to search out and be prepared to pay for the good stuff.

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Monday, March 5, 2012

Save 32% Off: Japanese Home Cooking with Master Chef Murata: Sixty Quick and Healthy Recipes Review & Ratings

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Japanese Home Cooking with Master Chef Murata: Sixty Quick and Healthy Recipes Review

When it comes to Japanese recipe books, especially from a notable chef, part of me usually gets very excited and the other half me feels a bit of skepticism.
Having reviewed many Japanese culinary books from notable chef's to at-home mothers who wanted to share their own recipes, when it comes to chef's, you usually get beautiful coffee table books with beautiful photography but when it comes to the actual recipe and ingredients, these books are tailored to those who are practicing chef's and have the cutlery to partake in the dish, those with access to Japanese ingredients.
But for some, they are so world renown, especially from traveling the globe that they use the finest ingredients that they have come in contact with and it's how they create their dishes for their well-known restaurant typically reserved for the haute bourgeoisie and those that are looking for delicious food with the best ingredients.
And it's great to read how some chef's accomplish such dishes, may they get the spice from India, Malaysia, or somewhere in Japan that even local chef's have no access to. But that's how things are and the fact they are willing to share their culinary secrets is wonderful but for those of us living in the United States without access to a Japan Town, China Town let alone an Asian store that specializes in spices, cooking these dishes may prove to be too difficult.
So, when I finished going through "Japanese Home Cooking with Master Chef Murata", needless to say, I had a smile on my face. A smile because here is a book from a master chef from Japan, very well known and yet, he doesn't feel the need to make things difficult for the reader and those wanting to learn how to cook Japanese home cooking. He keeps things simple, basic and there is no request for one to have access to hard-to-find spices. All he asks is for one to have access to soy sauce, chicken broth, corn starch, possibly sake, peanut butter and other ingredients that you can find at your local supermarket.
Although not hardbound, you get clear instructions to the dish along with full color photos. Although some may have been used to hardbound Japanese cook books, "Japanese Home Cooking" is still a wonderful book from the master chef. Want to learn how to prepare seared rice balls with bacon soy sauce? No problem. He teaches you how to make the marinated sauce (2 tbsp of soy sauce, 4 tbsp of sake, 1 tbsp sugar) and mix this with the bacon in a pan over low heat and stirring until all liquid is gone. Then add the lemon peel, lemon juice and toasted sesame seeds. Then you get your rice and put 1/4 of rice on an 8 inch plastic wrap and place the bacon mixture to the center of the rice, shape the rice to a ball and create a patty. Then unwrap the rice ball and place on a pan and sear until well brown on both sides. So, easy to do!
And this goes for plenty of the recipes featured throughout this book. There are plenty of Japanese home cooked meals featured in this book. May it be a salad, sauteed dish, deep-fried dish, steamed dish, simmered dish, hot pots, rice and noodles and soups. From tempura to sukiyaki, tofu recipes to supplemental recipes on how to make your own rice to making a dashi stock and sauces.
I have to say that this is one Japanese cook book that I absolutely loved because Chef Murata kept things simple. No need to make things complicated and I like it when chefs can at least put themselves in the shoes of the consumer and knowing that not everyone, especially around the world have access to the best spices or access to hard-to-find vegetables in America or the other country that typically found in East Asia or other countries. And personally, I respect that a master chef is willing to take his time to reach out to that consumer for home cooking, even though they are so used to making extravagant dishes for their own customers at their restaurants.
"Japanese Home Cooking with Master Chef Murata" is clearly for those of us who are passionate about Japanese food, but food done easily with clear and concise recipes and easy-to-find ingredients in which anyone can find at a local supermarket.
You rarely find these type of cookbooks, especially coming from a well-renown master chef from Japan, created and tailored for a person regardless of cooking experience and location. He breaks things down simply and makes sure that eating Japanese food doesn't have to be so difficult. Murata wants you to experience, experiment and the better you get, try your own variations from the recipes he has provided in this cookbook.
A magnificent, user-friendly Japanese cookbook and easily deserving of five stars!
Highly recommended!

Japanese Home Cooking with Master Chef Murata: Sixty Quick and Healthy Recipes Overview



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