July 2013

Goya Chanpuru or Champuru - Okinawan Stir Fry With Bitter Gourd

IMG: Goya champuru

About bitter gourd or bitter melon, called nigauri in Japanese and goya or go-ya- in Okinawan. Plus, a recipe for the most homey of Okinawan dishes, goya chanpuru or champuru.

Filed under:  japanese tofu summer pork okinawa eggs
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Fresh shiso leaf tea

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Fresh shiso leaf tea for hot summer days.

Filed under:  japanese tea herbs
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Is sushi "healthy"?

Food model: Sushi (about 500 calories)

More about sushi.

Filed under:  japanese sushi fish health and weight loss sashimi
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From what age it safe to give sushi or sashimi to kids?

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As we enter midsummer in the Northern hemisphere, chances are you're going out for sushi more than in the winter since it's relatively light on the stomach. But summer heat also means you need to be a bit more careful about food safety. While sushi does not just mean raw fish, a lot of it is raw; plus, sashimi does involve slices of raw fish So, how safe is it to give raw fish sushi an sashimi to small children? At what age should you start? This is what Japanese sources recommend.

Filed under:  sushi kids health and weight loss sashimi food safety
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Red, White and Blue Dessert

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(From the archives. If you're planning a big Fourth of July party, consider this very colorful, cool dessert, which I made for a party several years ago. There are a lot of steps involved, but you can cut corners with storebought meringue and sugar cookies if you prefer. Originally published in July 2006 (!))

I love outdoor parties in the summer, especially when it means a barbeque. July the 4th barbeque parties are the best, and I miss them sorely when I am not in the U.S. This year though, we are going to have a July the 4th party on Sunday (since the 4th is not a holiday here), complete with grilled hamburgers, wurst, and chicken. Someone else is going to do all that grilling, so I am making the dessert.

Filed under:  dessert fruit party food weekend project summer
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