Innie or Outie

These are a little something hubby picked-up for the holidays. Since we enjoy vanilla-flavored coffee, I thought I’d give a try to doing the marshmallow thing. It didn’t work out too well though. Even though the item is basically meringue, the additional ingredients needed to produce the cookie version kept it from completely disentigrating in the steeping liquid.

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This is another of the local oba-style bentos similar to Bento #55 with daikon, hamburger, rice, sunny-side up egg, umeboshi, konyaku and seaweed mix, kabocha, deep-fried shrimp, and karashina-fu mix.

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This is another unique and tasty meal that makes use of holiday leftovers, Red & Green Delight:

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Equipment and All Ingredients Needed

2 Frying pans 1 Medium pot 3 Stovetop Burners 1 Can opener

1 Colander 1 Knife 1 Cutting board

300 Grams beef

2 Whole wheat dinner rolls

2 Pitted black olives

3 Large cherry tomatoes

¼ Broccoli flower

½ Cup sour cream

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon white pepper

1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 Tablespoon powdered sage

1 Tablespoon almond slivers

1 Teaspoon powdered thyme

1 Teaspoon bleu cheese

5 Fresh basil leaves

4 Fresh mint leaves

4 Extra-thin slices cranberry sauce

150 Grams pasta of choice

Fresh arugula leaves

Nutmeg

Cracked black sesame seeds

View video with details.

This is a simple way to create a new flavor for leftovers, Papa’s Herb-Chicken Curry:

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Hubby was feeling a little experimental again, for the meal he simply add chopped onion, dried curry powder, and (believe it or not) leftover mushroom gravy to the last of the Creamy Herb-Chicken Stew; then ladled it over a bed of rice. As a garnish, I added zasai and cracked black sesame seeds.

For some this is a very busy time of year, this is a quick and simple 10 step holiday meal anyone can put together in a matter of minutes, Holiday Ham Dinner:

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1) Simply rinse and scrub new potatoes, place in the microwave in a covered container for 7 – 8 minutes.
2) Meanwhile, rinse and chop brocolli flowerettes, sprinkle with Italian herb seasoning, and place in another microwaveable covered container.
3) Open can of mushroom gravy and place in a third microwavable container.
4) Slice and begin sautéing ham steaks in frying pan on medium low.
5) Once potatoes are tender to a fork pierce, place in a frying pan and brown in olive oil on medium heat.
6) Place brocolli in microwave for approximately 4 minutes.
7) Open and plate olives and cranberry sauce. (If you didn’t have time to chill ahead of time, just place in freezer at the same time you begin preparing the meal.)
8) Remove broccoli and place gravy in microwave for approximately 2 minutes.
9) Plate brocolli, potatoes, and ham steak.
10) Drizzle gravy over ham steak and serve meal with remaining gravy, olives, and cranberry sauce on the side.

This more traditional cuisine meal is similar to Bento #36 with okara, konyaku, konbu, fu and carrot mix, split sanma, tofu, rice and umeboshi.

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This is a simple and tasty meal hubby created using leftovers, Papa’s Creamy Herb-Chicken Stew:

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For the meal, hubby used boiled chopped potatoes, carrots, and fresh broccoli; added leftover Crockpot Herb-Chicken with stock, cream, and flour for thickening; and served over rice.

This is another of the tasty local bentos, similar to Bento#38, with yakisoba, grilled hamburger, egg, rice, daikon, umeboshi, a fu and veggie mix, chicken, and pork luncheon meat.

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This is a simple and tasty meal with a twist on the traditional version, Tuna Hash:

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Equipment and All Ingredients Needed

2 Frying pans 1 Microwave 2 Stovetop Burners 1 Can opener

1 Microwaveable container with lid 1 Knife 1 Cutting board

2 Small potatoes

1 Small bell pepper

1 /4 White onion

1 Can tuna with oil

2 Tablespoons scallions

1 Tablespoon fresh basil leaves

1 Tablespoon julienned pickled ginger

1 Tablespoon white pepper

1 Tablespoon butter

2 Teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1 Teaspoon dried tarragon flakes

1 Teaspoon minced garlic paste

Whole wheat dinner rolls

Minced garlic paste

Eggs (optional)

Cracked black sesame seeds

View brief video with further details.

With the weather changing, hubby thought he’d give the crockpot a go and did some experimenting with overnight cooking, Papa’s Crockpot Herb-Chicken Wraps:

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For the meal, hubby mixed chopped fresh basil and rosemary, olive oil, dried tarragon flakes, white pepper, minced garlic paste, freshly-squeezed shikwasa juice, and chicken broth granules; poured the mixture over frozen chicken wings placed in the bottom of a crockpot; and cooked on low for 16 hours. Once done, the chicken meat literally fell off the bones. Hubby drained the liquid (sort of) from the chicken with a spoon; seperated the meat from the bones; and placed the meat in heated tortillas lined with iceberg lettuce and cheddar cheese. As an accompaniment, he added whole cherry tomatoes.