Archive for April, 2013

One of my favorite Japanese foods is sashimi. Think of it as sushi without the rice. Japanese food is more than a way to fill one’s stomach. It is art and balance too. If you are in Houston,  the place to shop for Japanese groceries is Nippan Daido. You can learn to create your own Japanese food for 75% less than restaurant prices. Which is a great thing for those of us who do not have deep pockets.

The following plate I put together  has:

Amaebi- Sweet Shrimp, Tai- Red Snapper, Saki-Salmon, Maguro-Tuna, Saba-Mackeral, Tako-Octopus, Ika-Cuttlefish, Fried Quail Egg, Radish, Carrot, Cucumber, and Avocado.

Top left bowl- Miso Soup

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Have you ever wondered how all those beautiful, tasty, spicy, succulent, crawfish make it to your table? Well, here is the scoop. A flat bottom boat paddles through a shallow pond. The crawfish farmer picks up baited baskets each day, culling the crawfish,  letting the small ones slide back into the water (see slide in photo on side of boat), while the larger ones go to processing for tail meat, or whole in burlap sack to be boiled at some festival, restaurant, or home boil. It’s hot, muddy, dirty work, but rewarding, especially if your are eating the crawfish.

I took this photo in Eunice, Louisiana

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I took this photo at Bogue Chitto State Park in Louisiana. I do not know the flowers name, but it is beautiful. Perhaps someone can comment and  identify it.

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I have always loved the name of this bird.  Tufted Titmouse at Houston Arboretum.

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Last summer, I visited San Pedro Springs  in San Antonio, Texas, because I was intrigued that it has lasted so long. This park was opened in 1852, making it the oldest park in Texas. On a hot summers day, the shallow water pool is a blessing. The spring water is no longer coming from the spring, because the spring has dried up. The water is now pumped in to the pool, but don’t let that be a detraction. Experience the history, the culture, grab a churro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churro from a vendor, and enjoy the day. For information about Texas’s oldest park click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pedro_Springs_Park

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I took this photo at the Houston Arboretum and have no idea what this flower is, but it is an amazing beauty. Please comment and share the name if you know it.

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This photo was taken from a canoe while paddling Buffalo Bayou in Houston.

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This macro photo was taken at Brazos Bend State Park Needville, Texas.

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To start, gather your ingredients. Which are 2 lbs chicken breast, one onion, one jalapeno, four zucchini or calabacita, a bag of carrots, 15 cloves of garlic crushed, soy sauce, oyster sauce (Lee Kum Kee preferred to avoid MSG), and black pepper. This meal will feed eight people easily(I like leftovers), and takes about 40 minutes to prepare. For the Vegetarians and Vegans, add some soy based meat product or stick with veggies and rice.

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Chop zucchini, onion, and chicken breast. Slice jalapeno and carrots with a mandolin or food processor. I prefer a mandolin. It’s great hand exercise. Watch your fingers!

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Stir fry meat first with half the crushed garlic and about one tablespoon canola oil, because you will not have room for 2 lbs of chicken, and all the vegetables in a wok. Add about a tablespoon of soy sauce and two tablespoons of oyster sauce to meat. Also, season liberally with black pepper. Cook, drain, and add to large bowl. Then stir fry vegetables separately with other half crushed garlic, one tablespoon canola oil, and two tablespoons of soy sauce, and liberally add crushed black pepper. Cook the vegetables long enough to be warm and crunchy. Mix chicken and vegetables together. Cook two cups of white rice following package instructions.  Serve up and enjoy!

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Chicken Vegetable Stir Fry with Oyster Sauce

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Sweet Tooth

Lollipop sweetness

Leaves me so breathless

Midget sweet flavorful roll

Tootsie you pleasure my soul

Kit Kat scrumptious

Skittles fruity sweet

Kisses can’t be beat

Snickers caramel peanut

The Almond Joy coconut

M & M’s a treat

Peanut Butter Cups

Candy I worship

The stars are up Milky Way

Whopper malt balls save the day

Sweet tooths they gossip