by : Reiko Breakfast, Vegan, Vegetarian

Valentine’s Savory Waffles
バレンタインワッフルプレート

Celebrating Valentine’s Day a bit early this weekend.

I wanted everything red and pink, and the shocking pink color from beets was added to the waffle batter.

When they were cooked, however, the color somewhat faded, and I ended up with this light pink.

They were still pretty though.

I could have easily go with sweet waffle plate, with fruits and chocolate, but I wanted our breakfast savory.

So the pink waffles were served with beautiful veggies.

Then, it was served with mustard-balsamic glaze drizzle and paprika butter.

Super delicious!!

How are you going to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

by : Reiko Dessert, Vegan, Vegetarian

Sesame Balls
胡麻団子

Sesame ball is one of my favorite things I tried while we visited China Town in Yokohama, Japan.

We had lunch at a nice sit-down restaurant.

But we soon regretted because we found out that there were so many delicious street-food options.

We were already so full, but I had to try freshly-made sesame balls that were being sold on the street.

For a long time I thought I couldn’t get the particular flour that is needed to make this type of Asian sweets, but then recently I discovered that “glutenous rice flour” would work.

Glutenous rice flour is easily found at the Thai food section in almost any large Asian grocery store.

So I decided to try; I used glutenous rice flour and all purpose flour both, 1:1.

I made two different kinds: plain and matcha.

Both were stuffed with sweet red bean paste.

I learned this little trick, cooking in an octopus ball pan, instead of deep-frying, online, so it was super easy to make these.

Turned out great, and these were so delicious!

I will definitely make these again.

But maybe fewer, because I overeat!

by : Reiko Vegan, Vegetarian

Savory Kabocha Oatmeal
かぼちゃオートミール

It looks like a Christmas meal with the bright green and red colors.

It can be a good meal for Christmas, but it really is a tasty meal any time of the year.

I recently started enjoying oatmeal more regularly.

I usually eat it for breakfast, but I like it so much that I now eat it for lunch and even dinner sometimes as well.

I don’t like to make my oatmeal too sweet, and even for breakfast I usually do not add anything sweet other than maybe a few dry cranberries.

This particular dish was made for lunch and created like risotto rather than a breakfast food.

The Kabocha puree was combined with cooked oatmeal and prepared as a savory dish.

The Kabocha oatmeal was then served with fresh kale, dressed with mustard dressing, fresh pomegranate seeds, and crunchy friend onion.

It was certainly a bit unusual oatmeal bowl for my husband.

He looked somewhat confused when I told him what was in the bowl, but after a few bites, he told me that he surprisingly liked it.

This was definitely a hit for me, and my love for oatmeal continues…

by : Reiko Vegan, Vegetarian

2018 Super Bowl
２０１８年スーパーボウル

This is the last post for the Super Bowl food series.

It was not supposed to be this long, but I got carried away.

I don’t think I’ve ever posted four posts in a day!

Well, enjoy the game everyone.

2018 Super Bowl
– Tempeh Veggie Pizza Rolls, served with fresh basil, cashew/tofu cheesy cream, and tomato sauce (for dipping)
– Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, oven baked
– Veggie Lentil Chili
– MN Wild Rice Cookies, crunchy and savory

by : Reiko Dessert, Vegan, Vegetarian

Wild Rice Cookies
ワイルドライスクッキー

I had to do this.

Yes, our state is proudly hosting this year’s Super Bowl!

I have no idea when I’ll be able to use this newly-purchased Minnesota cookie cutter if I don’t use it today.

I called these “cookies”, but they are rather a cookie-cracker crossover.

These are crunchy and savory.

You ask what are the black pieces?

Well, they are wild rice.

Wild rice is one of the (or really THE only thing I could think of) Minnesota foods.

Here is a little geography lesson.

Where the heart is found is where the Twin Cities are located, and Super Bowl is happening there right now.

Officially, I should say Super Bowl is happening in Minneapolis, one of the twins.

We live in the other twin, St. Paul, and you can see Minneapolis in the back, left to the cookie, in this picture.

I’m planning to post one more before the game ends tonight.

Come back to check it out.

Note to myself…

Wild Rice Cookies: Bake at 400F for 10 min, and then 375 for another 5~8 minutes
1 and 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/1 – 1/2 cup cooked wild rice
garlic powder
paprika
4~6 tablespoon refined coconut oil
1/4~1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
salt

by : Reiko Bread, Vegan, Vegetarian

Tempeh Veggie Pizza Rolls
テンペべジピザロール

Okay.

Here is another Super Bowl snack I made.

Initially I was thinking of making pizza, but then I thought it would be more fun to make something that we can eat with hands.

Tempeh was marinated and then cooked in the oven.

On whole-wheat pizza dough, spread tomato sauce, and then cooked tempeh, olive salad, and cooked broccoli.

The broccoli gives the nice bright green color.

Roll them up.

This is what they looked like when placed on a sheet pan.

Just out of the oven.

They were so good as they were.

But they were dressed up a little bit on the plate.

They were served with cashew/tofu cream and tomato sauce for dipping.

I have a few more posts to go.