Category Archives: Contemporary Recipes

Easy Cucumber Salad

Hellooooo there. I ate these cucumbers at a potluck a few years ago. It was salty, crunchy, garlicky, and sweet. I asked for the recipe and permission to post it here. Then I planned, shot (with my daughter), and edited a video, and then guess what. I joined a preschool co-op! …and it sat in my queue […]

Also posted in Favorites, Pickles, Recipes, Salads, Uncategorized, Vegetables | Tagged , , , | 8 Responses

Coconut Almond Matcha Crunch

Growing up, my mom didn’t allow me to eat: Capri Sun and sugary cereals. So it comes as no surprise I recently became obsessed with a cereal recipe called Cocoa Crunch. It has cocoa, melted chocolate, coconut flakes, and coconut oil. Really, the makings of a dessert but the oats and crispy brown rice cereal […]

Also posted in Appetizers + Snacks, Sweets | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Responses

Black Sesame Pear Tea Cake

5 days, 5 new breakfasts. I think we should celebrate with cake. And this cake—from the archives of my breakfast partner-in-crime—is the way I want to end the week. The sight of this dramatic black loaf may be unappetizing to some but I’m a sucker for black sesame. Besides, I had this bookmarked for a […]

Also posted in Sweets | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Responses

Rice with Okra and a Poached Egg

Rice, egg, shoyu: mix. That was my favorite breakfast growing up. Sometimes it was a raw egg, other times it was a hardboiled egg steeped in the juices of a sweet oden broth. These days my stepdaughter continues the tradition with her go-to afternoon snack: rice, scrambled egg, shoyu, and mirin. But I feel better […]

Also posted in Rice Dishes, Tofu + Egg, Vegetables | 6 Responses

Caramelized Onion Muffins

You can’t go wrong with caramelized onions, even in muffin form—even in muffin form with no eggs (!). The recipe is from an (almost) vegan Japanese cookbook titled, “Meal-like Cakes and Muffins You’ll Want to Eat Everyday,” which is very wordy when loosely translated by me. Despite the skepticism I had about the lack of […]

Also posted in Appetizers + Snacks, Sweets, Vegetables | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Responses

Shiitake and Shimeji Mushroom Okayu

First, I want to say the 5-DAY BREAKFAST CHALLENGE is going down this week. Today’s recipe is: Shiitake and Shimeji Mushroom Okayu. Second, I want to quickly introduce you to Noelle and tell you about the challenge. Her blog, xobreakfast is crisp, funny, and packed with thoughtful, purposeful recipes. I see her every week because […]

Also posted in Rice Dishes, Vegetables | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Responses

Pan-Tossed Green Beans and Pork

As you can imagine, a lot has changed since I had my daughter a year and a half ago. I used to enjoy the challenge of recipes that took a bit of time, skill, and rapt attention and thought the extra work and care gave it the made-with-love charm. I’ve since revised that opinion and […]

Also posted in Favorites, Meat, Vegetables | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Responses

Beer Beef Stew with Bacon and Shimeji

When we have dinner guests, this Beer Beef Stew with Bacon and Shimeji is often on the menu. I didn’t think twice about including it in this month of recipes until my husband pointed out that he didn’t know it was Japanese. What makes a recipe Japanese? The source? The technique? The ingredients? The cook? […]

Also posted in Favorites, Meat, Rice Dishes | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Responses

Pickled Smashed Cucumbers

These pickles are quick and they balance the salty, sweet, and sour flavors beautifully. There’s also something gratifying about smashing cucumbers with a rolling pin, so if you have some aggression to let out, here’s your chance! The result is a more rustic pickle, crunchy, refreshing, and delicious.

Also posted in Appetizers + Snacks, Favorites, Pickles, Vegetables | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Responses

Matcha Roll Cake

To change things up, I baked this Matcha Roll Cake. I don’t post many sweets, but my friend Christy very casually made a similar cake and thought it was one of those easy, but impressive desserts. Impressive—yes. Light, airy, and delicious—yes. But it took me a few tries to get it right. Each time I […]

Also posted in Favorites, Sweets | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Responses
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