Omiyage!

The trip was fun.  The trip was tiring.  10-hour plane ride going.  I no can handle.  But it was a success 'cause I got lots of omiyage, and as usual I'm having a giveaway!

On the left is a fave mochi treat of mine.  It's a 5 pack.  Each pack has mochi, kinako and a bit of syrup that you pour over.  So good.  Next to it is a Guiness World Record setting manju which set a world record for most sales of bean paste-filled confectionary in a calendar year.  You can read about it here.

To enter the giveaway just leave a comment here or email me at JalnaA@aol.com.  Maybe instead of Wendell, Kai will pick the winner this time.  I'll announce the winner in one week on June 6.  

Blog Break

Going Japan!  Be back to blogging in maybe couple weeks.

Sprout Sandwich Shop

Dinner the other night was from Sprout Sandwich Shop in Kaimuki.  Always a fave at our house, but ho da $$$$$.  A previous blog post of mine shows that back in 2019, a Big Kahtuna was "only" $9.50.

The BIG KAHTUNA ($16.50) - House tuna salad with hints of havarti cheese and jalapeño, local tomatoes, cucumbers, Waialua clover sprouts and house mayo.

 

The FONZ ($15) - Fresh prosciutto, pastrami, salami, house olive tapenade, pickled red onion and house mayo.  Sprouts (+$2.50)

 

The Duke ($15) - Roast turkey, bacon, Maui butter lettuce, local tomato, house pickled red onion and house mayo.

  

Cy's Breakfast

Goat Stew!  

This was from one year ago, but I never posted it.  I think he said it was gamey and not really to his liking.  I give him credit for trying.

With 10 BBQ pork sticks and 6 banana lumpia.  $42.

From Destiny and Lee's Eatery 

 

Just Kai

 

Dd's Stuffed Italian Meatloaf

The stuffing is mozzarella cheese!  Uuuuu!

STUFFED ITALIAN MEATLOAF

 

½# Italian sausage, casing removed, crumbled

¼ c. breadcrumbs, oatmeal or panko

¼ c. milk

1 large clove garlic, minced

1 large egg

3 TB marinara sauce

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

½ pkg. onion soup mix

½ tsp. Italian seasoning

¼ tsp. dried basil

Dash tabasco

½ # ground beef

Stuffing:  ½ c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

 

Optional:  Additional 3 TB marinara sauce for topping

In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients well. Allow to sit 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Transfer half of mixture into a 9-inch loaf pan or shape as desired onto baking dish. Sprinkle cheese in center of meatloaf. Top with remaining mixture. Optional to top with additional marinara sauce. 

Bake 40 minutes. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes. Serves 4-6.

Kyle Quilausing

Almost an hour long.  It's a story about a kid from Hilo with the potential to become great who lost it all in the blink of an eye.  It's a story about the man he became who climbed up from the depths of hell and returned so that he could tell his story.  It's a story about choices and survival and hope.

Chicken with Shiitake Mushrooms

My nephew Jason bought too much shiitake mushrooms for his onolicious mochi rice dish so he shared some with the aunties. 

I used mine to make this chicken dish. It was super easy to make. The recipe is from the Oh Snap! Let's Eat! site.  You can tell it came out good because Landon took the leftovers for lunch the next day. 🥳

Ingredients

Marinade:

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 2 tablespoon rice wine (michiu)
• 2 teaspoon brown sugar

Stir Fry

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 2 tablespoon vegetable oil, separated
• 8 oz fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• ½ medium onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• Salt, to taste
• Chopped green onions (optional/garnish)

Instructions

1. Combine chicken with marinade ingredients and set aside. Let it marinade for at the very least 15 minutes. You can marinate up to overnight, but place in fridge if marinating over 30 mins.
2. While you wait for the marinade, you can sliced the onion and shiitake mushrooms.
3. When ready to cook, in a wok or cooking pan, heat up 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. When oil is hot, add sliced onions and stir fry about a minute, and then add chicken. Stir fry together until the meat is slightly browned (about 2-3 mins). Remove from heat and set aside.
4. If the pan is not oily enough, you can add another tablespoon of oil. Add shiitake mushrooms in to cooking pan or wok. Stir fry for a couple of minutes or until mushrooms soften.
5. Return chicken back in to wok or pan. Add oyster sauce and stir fry to mix well until chicken is cooked thoroughly.
6. Remove from heat and optionally sprinkle with chopped green onions and serve!

Fred's Back

Click on the photo below to watch a video of Fred getting a sip of water.

Mastering Small Talk

Me and Kai have been going to the dog park kinda regularly lately.  

Kai's socializing skills are good.  He likes to meet and greet at the gate.  He perks up when he sees new dogs entering.  He holds up his chest and makes himself big and confident.  Mostly, he'll run around with them and will even snarl at the pushy ones.

Kai makes up for my social ineptitude.  I try to make an effort to talk to the other humans.  At least we have our dogs to talk about, but sometimes I feel like I'm just babbling.

Maybe this video will help me.