Jinxed

My BFF Leslie just came back from Japan.  Guess what happened to her.  SSSS!!  She said that I jinxed her.  🤪

Magical Jam Jar

 Click on the photo to see a self-closing jam jar in action.  And the jam is yummy too.

Favorite and Least Favorite

 Eating toro at Kuromon Market was the favorite part of the trip for Wendell.

 

Click on the picture below to see a video of Wendell's least favorite thing about the trip . . .  the crowd at Dotonbori.

  

Omiyage

Small-kine omiyage giveaway for you!   Just leave a comment here or email me at JalnaA@aol.com and I'll enter your name into the drawing.

I'll announce the winner in one week on 3/1/24.  Good luck!

SSSS

Guess what, peoples . . . I went to Japan and am back already.  

It had occurred to me that it wouldn't be wise to announce to potential burglars when exactly we'd be gone so I had a few blogs scheduled to post while we were away.

We just got back yesterday, and I wanted to share what happened to me at the airport in Japan.  

In the photo below you can see that the boarding pass that was given to me after we checked in our baggage showed SSSS on the bottom, highlighted in pink for extra measure.  I looked at Wendell's pass and his didn't have it.  I suspected that something wasn't quite right so I took the photo.

It turns out that SSSS means Secondary Security Screening Selection.  

When it came time to board the plane I handed my pass to the gal at the gate, she took one look at it and announced "QUAD S!" Right away another gal appeared from behind a curtained area and said to me, "random screening; follow me."

I sat on a chair behind the curtain.  She asked me to take off my shoes.  She quickly swabbed both of my palms, the area around my pockets, under my socks, and around the zipper and handle of my carry on. She then stuffed the swab into an opening in some kind of machine.

She asked if she could check the contents of my carry on.  I said, "sure". 

The whole process took just 2 or 3 minutes max . . . really fast.  Not an inconvenience at all. 

But I still felt a bit annoyed.  Did the check-in gal flag me because I looked suspicious?  Did I look like I might be carrying drugs?   Did she mistake my sleep-deprived glassy eyes for my being stoned?  Or was she just mad at me because I couldn't understand a word she was saying and she kept having to repeat herself.  

I did notice that she was striking her keyboard pretty hard as she typed what I assume was "S!" "S!" "S!" "S!".

Mitch's Sushi

Awhile back we went to Mitch's to celebrate Wendell's birthday.  

I ordered the Cali roll, salmon skin roll and soup.  The guys ordered all the other stuff.  Was ono.

 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

Cy's Breakfast

 Oxtail soup from Asahi Grill.  $22.

Dd's Pan-Seared Pork Chop

 Didi says that this is a keeper and is probably great for chicken or fish too.

PAN-SEARED PORK CHOP

 

4 pork loin chops, fat trimmed

1/3 c. flour, as needed

Rub:

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper

1 tsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. ginger powder

½ tsp. dry mustard

 

In a small mixing bowl combine rub ingredients. Sprinkle onto pork chops.  Add flour to remaining rub mixture. Dredge pork chops in mixture. 

In a skillet over medium heat brown pork chops in oil. Turn pork chops as needed to prevent over browning (you will need to do this several times, due to the addition of brown sugar in the rub….worth the trouble). 

Serves 2-4.

Barrio Cafe

After their sakura viewing excursion, Cleta and her family had lunch at Barrio Cafe in Wahiawa.  I've never been there before.  I think I would want to order all of what they got!

 

   

 

Wahiawa Sakura

Earlier this month Cleta and her family went on an excursion to view the sakura in Wahiawa.

Thanks for sharing your photos, Cleta!  So beautiful!

 

   

 

Dd's Thai Basil Beef

This sure looks yummy, especially along with the Pad Thai noodles.

THAI BASIL BEEF

 

12 oz. sukiyaki-style beef, very thinly sliced

1 tsp. vegetable oil

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 ½ tsp. chili paste

1 TB soy sauce

1 ½ tsp. fish sauce

1 ½ tsp. agave nectar

1 TB fresh lime juice

1 ½ tsp. + 1 ½ tsp. vegetable oil

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 large shallot, thinly sliced

2 Thai chiles, thinly sliced

2 kaffir lime leaves, stems removed, minced

1 ½ c. loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves

Garnish: fresh cilantro

 

In a medium mixing bowl combine beef with oil and cornstarch.  Mix well, allow to sit 15 minutes. In a small bowl combine chili paste, soy sauce, fish sauce, agave nectar and lime juice. Mix well to combine; set aside. 

In a separate bowl combine garlic, bell pepper, shallot, chiles and lime leaves, set aside. 

In a large skillet or wok over medium high heat warm half of oil until smoking. Add beef and sear just until browned, about 1 minute. Remove; set aside. 

Into wok, heat remaining oil. Stir fry vegetable mixture stirring constantly. Stir fry until vegetables have softened, about 1 minute.  Return beef to skillet along with reserved sauce mixture. Stir fry, stirring constantly until sauce has reduced and mixture is slightly caramelized. Immediately add basil tossing well to combine. Serve immediately. Garnish with cilantro.

Serves 3-4.

Ross Score

I got this nifty drain hair unclogger thing from Ross yesterday.  In fact, I got five 'cause gotta share with the siblings too, right?  It was $2.99 for the 2-pack, plus senior discount.

What Happened, Yama's?

I got this beef stew from Yama's for Landon the other day.  It was $14.35.  

I swear I didn't spill any of it.  That's how much they gave.  And only had little bit meat and the rice was mooshy. 

When Landon opened the container he said, "What da fudge!"  Or something like that.  Kinda sad 'cause I usually like Yama's.  

Dekopon!

It's that time again!  Dekopon season!  Sale price at Whole Foods until 2/6.

Dd's Hamachi Collar Sinigang

Didi says:  Easy kine……throw in pot….boom !!

HAMACHI COLLAR SINIGANG

 

4-5 cups water

1 small onion, 1-inch stew chunks

3 thick slices ginger, crushed

2-3 cloves, peeled, crushed

1 stalk lemon grass, cleaned, trimmed, crushed

1 Thai chili pepper, stem removed, sliced lengthwise, seeded

1 hamachi collar, thawed

1 small zucchini, 1-inch stew chunks

1 medium tomato, 1-inch stew chunks

2 stalks green onion, chopped

2 TB fish sauce

freshly ground black pepper

 

In a medium saucepot over medium high heat combine water, onion, ginger, garlic, lemon grass and chili pepper. Bring to a rapid boil. Immediately reduce heat to low.

Add remaining ingredients; simmer 10 minutes. Gently remove hamachi from bones. Remove bones, ginger, lemon grass. Serves 2-3.