Spice Up Your Life With a Taste of Japan

*Fun Bento Box**Cute and Natural Food From California*

7/24/2011

Avocado Sesame Cookies



Got a bag of 10 organic avocados for only $3 at a farmers market!
I was searching for avocado recipes and found this one...Avocado Cookies!
Avocado is known as butter fruit... so I thought why not try this...I know it sounds bad, but it turned out good:) My co-workers loved it!

I basically followed the recipe from Chewy & Gooey Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies, but I skipped chocolate chips and replaced Earth Balance with Sesame paste(Tahini) to add a Japanese twist to it;)

Avocado Sesame Cookies

1 3/4 c whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp tahini
1/4 - 1/3 c mashed avocado (no chunks)
3/4 c brown sugar
3 tbsp agave
2 tsp vanilla

-Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl
-In a separate bowl combine the tahini and avocado to make a smooth buttery mixture, then add the sugars and vanilla to combine until the ingredients are well incorporated
-Add the dry ingredients and mix well, then refrigerate the cookie dough overnight

Preheat the oven to 350ยบ F

-Scoop the cookie dough and place evenly on a baking sheet, flattening them slightly with your hand
-Bake for 10-15 minutes (more or less) depending on your desired consistency - if you bake them too long, they only stay chewy for a bit before becoming crunchy

Sake Peach Jam



Peaches are in season. Yay!
Found a nice bourbon peach jam recipe online, but I didn't have bourbon at home...
So I replaced bourbon with sake. It turned out yummy:)

Sake Peach Jam
inspired by The Sweets Life

Ingredients:
-1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
-2 shallots, finely diced
-1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
-3 large firm peaches, blanched, skinned, and diced (or 1 small package of frozen peaches)
-1/4 cup beet sugar
-1/4 cup sake
-1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
-salt & white pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil, shallots, and jalapeno. Season with salt and cook for 2-3 minutes, until tender. Add peaches and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
2. Stir in sugar before deglazing the pan with sake.
3. Reduce heat to low, add vinegar, and allow liquids to reduce (5-10 minutes).
4. After thickened, adjust seasonings (salt & pepper) as needed before removing from heat

7/03/2011

Yuzu Pepper Veggie Pizza



Spice up your pizza with a Japanese unique spice, YUZU PEPPER!
Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit known for its characteristic aroma.
Yuzu pepper is the hot rage in Japan right now and more and more food companies have started making it.
It's spicy paste made from Yuzu zest, green chili peppers and salt.
Look for it in Japanese grocery stores.

I mixed Yuzu pepper with tomato sauce to add a spice for the pizzza.
About 1/4tsp yuzu pepper for 3TBS tomato sauce.
Yummy!!