How to Press and Drain Tofu

I used tofu a lot for cooking.
Most of recipes call for drained tofu. It tastes better too!
There are many ways to press and drain tofu, but this is what I usually do.

Use a Pickle Maker!

It works really well and super easy.
I got this at Daiso (http://www.daisojapan.com/)

Step
1. Open a package and wrap tofu with paper towel.
2. Place in a pickle maker and press,

That's it!
Drain water from time to time.
It's done when no more water coming out from tofu.
It depends, but it takes only an hour or two.


Or if you are in hurry, just cut tofu into big cubes and put them into boiling water.
Cook for about 5 mins and drain. Let them cool and use for cooking!

Father's Day Lunch Box

I will teach how to make Father's Day Bento this month!!!
I should have named this bento "kids doodle" or "drawing" bento!?
Anyway, how about give this bento to your dad on father's day his year!?

Class is at Tokyo Central West Covina

1420 S Azusa Ave., West Covina, CA 91791
http://www.tokyocentral.com/t-westcovina.aspx

Spring Picnic Bento

 My husband and I try to have a date night (or a day) at least once a week.
It was a couple of weeks ago that I made this bento for our beach picnic date day.
It was soooo windy out that ended up eating at a park though...

I got salt pickled cherry blossom when I went to Japan last February.
I mixed it with rice and made rice balls.
(You need to wash off salt well. Otherwise so salty)


I made some spring theme animals and flowers with vegetables.
Clover& bees: Green & yellow peppers pickled with shio koji (what is shio koji )
Ladybug: Cherry tomatoes

If you have a seaweed puncher, you can make these characters without spending a lot of time!
You can find them at some Japanese grocery stores or Daiso,