On Da Sidewalk

Taken at 6:11 p.m. yesterday with my iPhone in portrait mode after a shower (created by me).

Dyson V15 Detect

I'd been thinking about getting a new vacuum cleaner for awhile, and this Dyson was $140 off at Costco so I decided to get it, especially since we're getting a new fur baby soon.

I like that it's cordless and can easily reach under the beds and sofas.  It's top heavy so if you have a weak grip strength you might not be able to handle it.  Oh, and one more thing . . . you gotta keep pressing the trigger.  Once you let it go, it goes off.  They say it's to conserve the battery. 

The work-around is a trigger lock mechanism that you can buy on Amazon for $10.  I ordered it, but maybe won't need it.  I kinda got used to holding down the trigger. 

 

This is my old vacuum cleaner.  It's a small Dyson and could be at least 20 years old.  It still sucks up stuff good, but it's starting to get really loud, and the hose has gotten sticky. 

   

The new vacuum cleaner came with several attachments, and this laser-light head is my favorite.  It helps you to see all the dust on the floor.

You can click on the photo below to see a video of it in action.  

 

Geri's Chicken Anchovy Olio

 This is my sister Geri's version of our fave Chicken Anchovy Olio.  

Magical Jam Jar Update

The jam at Kaheka Don Q looks like this and is found on aisle 82.  Thanks for the scoops, Honolulu Aunty!

You can click on the photo below to see it in action.

Stonehenge Tofu

I fried some tofu yesterday and they ended up looking like this so I thought I'd share.  'Cause I thought was funny. 

Wendell's Crispy Ono

Wendell made this for pupu for his softball team.  He used ono (wahoo).  I think he served it with tartar sauce.  He said it was a hit.  The recipe is from the Momsdish site.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs white fish
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs 
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• oil for frying

Instructions

• Combine parmesan, flour, panko bread crumbs, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. 
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and milk together. 
• Slice the fish into big chunks. Dip the fish fillets into the egg mixture, followed by a dunk in the panko mixture. 
• Preheat a skillet to medium-high heat with a bit of oil. Fry the fish for about 2 1/2 minutes per side or until it turns golden brown. Between each round of frying, remove the loose panko left behind in the oil. 

NEWS FLASH: Magical Jam Jar Found at Kaheka Don Q!!

One of my readers said this:

"Guess what? I found it at Kaheka Don Quixote! Regular price is $3.99, so not as good a price as what you got. Had strawberry, orange marmalade, apricot, apple, and a couple blueberry."

Go get it!!

Meet Kai

Kai is 6 weeks old and not quite ours yet, but we did get to spend a half day with him while we took him to the vet yesterday.  We'll actually get to bring him home in a couple weeks when he's 8 weeks old.  🤗

Kai's dad's name is Yume.  Yume's owners were influenced into getting a golden retriever by my blog posts about Kona.  And now Yume's son will help to fill the void left by Kona's passing.  Thank you so much R and S.   ❤️

 

   

 

You can click on the photo below to watch a short video.

Dry Feet

My feet are getting drier and drier.  And I have calluses.  Even on my toes.  How is that possible when I don't even wear shoes? 

I do moisturize every night.  Imagine if I didn't. 

 

I researched online and found out about this, so ordered it from Amazon.  They recommend using it twice a day at first until you see an improvement. Then you can cut it down to once a day.

  

Some people recommended putting it on at night before going to bed and then covering your feet with socks.  BTW, Wendell's feet are worse than mine so he's gonna give it a try too.  

 

Cy's Broccoli and Cauliflower Stir Fry

Cy said that he steamed some cauliflower and broccoli, then stir fried them in butter, garlic and sliced bacon and finally, sprinkled with parmesan and cheddar cheese.

Good idea!

Dd's Beer-Braised Beef Shank

I think Landon would like this.  With the beer and simmering for 2 hours, it must be tender.  It looks fairly easy to make too.  Maybe I'll try.  Wish me luck!

 

BEER BRAISED BEEF SHANK

 

1 large beef shank 10-12 oz. or 2 small 4-6 oz. 

garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper

flour, for dusting

2 TB olive oil, divided

1 small onion, stew chunks

1 stalk celery, stew chunks

1 small carrot, stew chunks

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 heaping TB tomato paste

12 oz. dark beer

Water as needed

1 TB apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. dried rosemary

1 large bay leaf

1 TB butter

 

Lightly season shanks with garlic salt and pepper; dredge in flour. In a saucepot over medium high heat, brown shanks in 1 TB of olive oil. Remove. Add remaining oil into saucepot; sauté vegetables and garlic. Add tomato paste stirring to blend well. 

Return shanks to saucepot. Add beer, vinegar, rosemary, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Add water as needed to cover shanks in liquid. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat.  Cover; simmer 1½-2 hours, turning shanks every 30 minutes. 

Transfer shanks to serving platter. Bring sauce mixture to a boil. Add butter and allow to reduce. Season to taste. Optional to process sauce with emersion blender until smooth.  Spoon sauce over shanks. 

Serves 2.

Cy's Breakfast

Duck Noodle from Meimei in Maunakea Market $15.  Roast Pork from Fong's Meat Market $17/pound.  Dipping sauce is Cy's brought from home. 😁  Shoyu, vinegar, onion, chili.

 

Duck Noodle is from here.   

Roast Pork is from here.   

Fred's Breakfast

I bought mealworms from Petco for Fred.  I got the large-sized worms and they're kinda too big, but so far he's okay with that.  In fact, he seems to like them a lot.

My Best Miso Butterfish

I've blogged about making miso butterfish before, but I just wanted to tell you that I made my best one yet the other day.  What made the difference was the brand of miso that I used.

You can find the original recipe here, but I've also included it below. 

 

This is the one that I used and what I'll be using from now on.  The local one! 

Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup mirin and 1/4 cup sake and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and add 1 tablespoon shoyu and 1 cup miso.

Marinate the fish for 2 to 3 days.

Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes, then broil for a few minutes.

Japan Knife

For some reason I always like to come home from Japan with a Made in Japan knife.  It doesn't have to be one that's hundreds of dollars.  I just like the quality of knives from Japan, even inexpensive ones.  So far, all the ones that I've brought back are my go-to's. 

I kept my eyes open at the Doguyasuji kitchenware street.

 

This knife was displayed at the front of a pottery store called Kyoya.  Seemed like a good deal. 

  

But the challenge was maneuvering through this obstacle course to the register without knocking over a pile of dishes.  I side stepped my way through.

   

This kitchen scissors was also at the front of the store.  I bought a similar one from a Tsubame Sanjo store in Niigata around 10 years ago for $30.  Glad I bought it back then.  It's still "da best eva kitchen scissors" per Landon.  

 

U Arts in Osaka

U Arts is an art supply store located in the Doguyasuji Shopping Street area in Osaka.  The "street" is actually a covered arcade, and is where people usually go for kitchen and restaurant supplies.

I lucked out because it was really close to our hotel.  I also lucked out because it carries cute cat things, and one of my sisters has recently become a Cat Lady.  

Cy's Breakfast

 Won Ton Min with Beef Brisket and Tendon.  $19.88 from Lam's.

Umbrella Wrapper Machine

Dunno if you ever saw an umbrella wrapper contraption before, but I wanted to share.  

You can find them in front of some stores in Japan.  It contains long skinny plastic bags for you to put your wet umbrellas into so you don't go dripping water all over the store floor.   So clever!