Nikujaga

Nikujaga
recipe from yahoo

4 potatoes
1 onion
I package shirataki
1/2 pound beef, thinly sliced
2 carrots
3 tablespoons salad oil
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons sake
2 tablespoons mirin
4 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cups water

cut beef into 3-4 cm long pieces. cut the onion into two lengthwise, then remove the core and cut into thirds. peel the potatoes and chop. boil the shirataki for three minutes, then skim the top off and chop up roughly. heat the salad oil and fry the onions on medium heat until they become transparent and soft. add in beef, shirataki, and potatoes, and fry. when the meat changes color, add in the water (until it is submerged) and two tablespoons each of the sugar, sake, mirin, and soy sauce. cover and bring to a boil over high heat. when it comes to a boil, lower the heat and skim off the top. when reduced by half, add in the remaining sugar and soy sauce; cover and bring to a boil, and flip when reduced by a third. when there is almost no liquid left, turn up the heat to glaze.

Butter Spritz Cookies

Butter Spritz Cookies
recipe from food network

1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups sifted flour
sprinkles and toasted coconut for garnish

preheat oven to 350. mix butter and sugar in a mixer until fluffy. add in egg, vanilla, and almond, and mix well. stir together flour and baking soda, and then add in. drop by rounded tablespoon onto a greased cookie sheet. bake for six minutes, and remove to a wire cooling rack.

Icing
1/2 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons whipping cream
3 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
dash of vanilla extract

melt butter in a medium bowl. add in milk and whipping cream; stir well. stir in the confectioners' sugar, adding more or less to change the consistency. when well-stirred, add the vanilla extract. stir and whip with the spoon - the icing will get somewhat fluffy with some work.

Raspberry Chipotle Chicken with White Corn and Mojito

today I kind of cheated, and used all pre-made ingredients for dinner, haha.
I actually did make a salad this time, but didn't take a picture

Raspberry Chipotle Chicken with White Corn


Mojito
recipe (unintentionally) modified from food network

Ice
2 ounces light rum
3 roughly broken apart fresh mint sprigs
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3/4 tablespoons sugar

place ice in beverage shaker then add in the rum, mint sprigs, lime juice and sugar. shake well and serve. garnish with slice of lime and mint sprig.

improvements: I forgot to add in the club soda, which would have given it a bit more kick, but didn't affect the flavor too much when I added it in later. I might add in more sugar the next time - it was a little too dry.

Mascarpone and Dark Chocolate Cream in White Chocolate Cups

Mascarpone and Dark Chocolate Cream in White Chocolate Cups
recipe modified from food network

8 ounces white chocolate, chopped
5 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons sugar
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

line 8 muffin cups with paper liners. melt white chocolate, and brush melted chocolate on the bottom and sides of the liners. freeze until the chocolate sets (about half an hour). melt 4 ounces of the semisweet chocolate until smooth, then set aside to cool. beat the cream and sugar with a mixer until soft peaks form. in another bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese, melted chocolate, and vanilla until smooth (about thirty seconds). fold whipped cream into the mixture. put into a pastry bag and pipe into the white chocolate cups. melt the remaining one ounce of semisweet chocolate until smooth, then drizzle over the completed cups.

improvements: the cups turned out much too big. a bite-sized form would have been much better.

Spicy Honey Pork Chops and Cheese Potatoes

Spicy Honey Pork Chops
recipe modified from food network

1 cup soy sauce
1 cup sake
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
6 tablespoons olive oil
pork chops

mix together all ingredients. place pork in a dish with about half of the mixture and let pork marinade for several hours. cook on grill, about seven minutes per each side. place the rest of the mixture in a saucepan; bring to a boil and simmer on low heat until reduced. add about a teaspoon of cornstarch to thicken; serve warm.

Cheese Potatoes
6-7 red potatoes
1/2 block extra sharp chedder cheese, grated
3 tablespoons whipped topping
1 tablespoon butter
salt and pepper

wash potatoes and cut into wedges, leaving skins intact, and place into a pot of boiling water with a little salt. cook until tender. strain out water and place potatoes into a bowl. mash either by hand or with a mixture until smooth, adding in butter and whipped topping. add salt and pepper to taste. when smooth, stir in cheese and allow to melt.