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Monday, September 30, 2013

SWEET ONION TERIYAKI CHICKEN - PRESSURE COOKER RECIPE

SWEET ONOIN TERIYAKI CHICKEN
PRESSURE COOKER RECIPE
DINNER AT HOME

Trying hard to keep it healthy and drop some pounds before the Holidays.  Wanted to use ingredients that we had in the house without going to the store.  Found another quick and easy recipe in the Bob Warden "Great Food Fast" Cookbook.  If you have a Pressure Cooker and want some great recipes I highly recommend you check Amazon for this cookbook.  Pretty much every recipe that I have prepared from Bob Warden's book have been really good and super fast and easy.  This recipe was no exception.  The Sweet Onion Teriyaki Chicken was sweet and delicious.  Loved the sauce and so did my daughter.  She finished her entire plate with a smile.  I placed the chicken under the broiler after pressure cooking.  This may have dried the chicken out a bit.  Other than that no complaints.
You may buy the Bob Warden cookbook on Amazon via the link below:
http://www.amazon.com/Presents-Wardens-Ultimate-Pressure-Recipes/dp/1934193798

SWEET ONION TERIYAKI CHICKEN COOKED IN PRESSURE COOKER

SWEET ONION TERIYAKI CHICKEN RECIPE FROM BOB WARDEN'S
GREAT FOOD FAST COOKBOOK.  HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS THAT WE HAD IN THE HOUSE.  4 CHICKEN BREASTS (THAWED), CHICKEN BROTH, TERIYAKI SAUCE (I SUBSTITUTED YAKITORI SAUCE), TWO ONIONS, GARLIC, ONION POWDER, BROWN SUGAR AND CORN STARCH
HEAT 2 TABLESPOONS OF VEGETABLE OIL UNTIL SIZZLING
ADD ONIONS TO OIL AND COOK UNTIL CARAMELIZED
COOKED ONIONS FOR 8-10 MINUTES
PLACE CHICKEN BREASTS ON TOP OF ONIONS
ADD IN CHICKEN BROTH, TERIYAKI SAUCE, GARLIC AND ONION POWDER.  MIX THOROUGHLY 

PRESSURE COOK ON HIGH FOR 8 MINUTES AND THEN DO A QUICK RELEASE
MIX 2 TABLESPOONS WATER WITH BROWN SUGAR AND CORN STARCH
POUR MIXTURE INTO COOKED CHICKEN AND MIX.   HEAT FOR 2 MINUTES UNTIL THICKENED
COOKED CHICKEN WITH CORN STARCH AND BROWN SUGAR MIXTURE
PER INSTRUCTIONS I PLACED CHICKEN UNDER BROILER FOR TWO MINUTES.
KIND OF DRIED OUT THE CHICKEN.
SWEET ONION TERIYAKI CHICKEN COOKED IN PRESSURE COOKER

Sunday, September 29, 2013

GYU-KAKU - JAPANESE BBQ DINING

GYU-KAKU
HONOLULU, HAWAII

GYU-KAKU
1221 KAPIOLANI BLVD, #105
HONOLULU, HI  96814
808-589-2989
HOURS:  11:30 AM - 3:30 PM LUNCH
                 3:30 PM - 11:30 PM DINNER
                 11:30 AM - 6:30 PM HAPPY HOUR
                 8:30 PM - 11:30 PM HAPPY HOUR
PARKING: Free parking on first and second floor of building.  Enter on Hopaka Strett.

Finally made it to Gyu-Kaku on Kapiolani after many of my friends suggested we dine there.  We entered to find a smiling young staff eager to greet and seat us.  While most of the seating here is comfortable private booths, we were seated at a table for four next to a table for six.  The tables come complete with your own BBQ where you cook an assortment of beef, seafood and vegetables.  You can also order cooked and prepared dishes that do not require you to cook them.  I started with an ice cold Asahi Japanese Beer ($3.95) that really went well with the BBQ items.  We ordered Edamame ($1.95) that was pretty basic.  The Ahi Poke ($5.95) was served with tons of onions.  Super fresh Ahi Tuna that was delicious.  The Crispy Seaweed ($1.95) was gone in two minutes.  My daughter devoured the Seaweed before anyone else could sample it.  I had to try the Steamed Chili Dumplings ($4.95) because I wanted some heat.  Unfortunately, they were not hot at all.  The Chili's were mild.  Loved the dish even without the heat.  The dumplings melted in my mouth.  The Gyu-Kaku Salad ($6.95) was enough for two people.  The salad was topped with fresh Daikon and a Ginger/Mayo type dressing.  The hard boiled egg was a nice touch that added another dimension to the otherwise standard salad.  The Assorted Vegetables ($6.95) were good once grilled on the BBQ.  The corn steamed in a small container that was loaded with butter and delicious when eaten with a little rice. The Harami Skirt Steak ($9.45) and the Nakauchi Ribeye ($4.95) tasted the same after cooking them on the BBQ.  Great marinade and flavor.  The Garlic Shrimp ($5.95) had a light garlic flavor but really did not impress.  
The Sukiyaki Bibimbap ($7.95) was served in very hot pot and mixed by the waitress at the table.  Filled with rice, teriyaki beef and a lot of onions.  Not a bad dish.  For dessert we tried the Taiyaki with Ice Cream ($4.50).  This is a fish shaped waffle filled with Japanese Sweet Beans.  Simply heat it on the grill and eat with vanilla ice cream topped with honey.  Loved the waffle, ice cream and honey.  The beans were not my favorite.  The Smores ($3.95) consist of marshmallow, chocolate and a grahm cracker.  The crackers did not taste fresh but the chocolate and marshmallow were enough to satisfy me.  Overall this was a really good meal plus it was fun to cook on the BBQ.  We all liked the food and experience at Gyu-Kaku.  The Happy Hour prices are great too.  The menu has two prices for every item.  The prices in red are Happy Hour prices.  Most are really good deals for Honolulu eating and I would not hesitate this Happy Hour to anyone who loves grilled meats.  Service was excellent with our waitress named Mel.  The Manager came by to check on us and greeted and thanked us as we left.

GYU-KAKU

GYU-KAKU ON KAPIOLANI BOULEVARD
ENTRANCE IS SMALL AND TIGHT
LARGE TABLE FOR GROUPS PLUS LOTS OF SMALL BOOTHS
GREAT HAPPY HOUR PRICES FROM 11:30 AM TO 6:30 PM
SPECIAL LUNCH SETS INCLUDE RICE, EDAMAME AND SOUP OR SALAD
APPETIZERS - SALADS AND SOUPS
LOTS OF BBQ MEAT SELECTIONS
LIMITED SEAFOOD AND A FEW VEGETABLES PLUS RICE AND NOODLE DISHES
DESSERT MENU
NICE JAPANESE ASAHI BEER GOES GREAT WITH THIS FOOD
WAITRESS WILL LIGHT UP YOUR PERSONAL GRILL AT YOUR TABLE
CRISPY SEAWEED
GYU-KAKU SALAD
EDAMAME
FRESH AHI POKE
STEAMED CHILI DUMPLINGS
SUKIYAKI BIBIMBAP
ASSORTED VEGETABLES
PLACED VEGETABLES ON THE GRILL AND LET THEM COOK AWAY
TURN OVER AND COOK ON OPPOSITE SIDE UNTIL DONE
NAKAOUCHI RIBEYE STEAK
GARLIC SHRIMP
HARAMI SKIRT STEAK
PLACE EVERYTHING ON THE GRILL UNTIL COOKED THE WAY YOU LIKE IT
LOVED THE GRILLED STEAK AND SHRIMP
TAIYAKI WITH ICE CREAM
THE CHEF COOKING UP SOME GREAT DESSERTS
TAIYAKI IS WAFFLE FILLED WITH SWEET RED BEANS
SMORES
CHOCOLATE, MARSHMALLOW AND GRAHM CRACKERS


HUEVOS RANCHEROS - BREAKFAST AT HOME

HUEVOS RANCHEROS 
BREAKFAST AT HOME

I can eat good Mexican food any time of the day or night.  When I opened the refrigerator one morning and saw fresh salsa leftover from tacos the night before.  Next to the salsa lay some corn tortillas and on the side were eggs.  Huevos Rancheros came to my mind in an instant.  I checked the pantry and found a 15 ounce can of Black Beans (Frijoles Negros).  Rinsed the beans and added them to a pan heating on the stove.  Added 1/2 cup of warm water to the beans and heated.  As the beans heated I crushed them using a wooden spoon and added a few pinches of salt.  I cooked an egg sunny side up and then heated a small corn tortilla in just a bit of oil.  Everything came together in just a few minutes.  Placed the tortilla on the plate then covered the tortilla with the beans and topped with egg, fresh salsa and some jalapeno for kick.  This was a very simple and delicious breakfast.  

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

Saturday, September 21, 2013

STRAWBERRY FARMS GOLF CLUB - IRVINE, CALIFORNIA

STRAWBERRY FARMS GOLF CLUB
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA

STRAWBERRY FARMS GOLF CLUB
11 STRAWBERRY FARMS ROAD
IRVINE, CA  92612
949-551-1811

Enjoyed a round of golf at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine, California.  This course is pretty nice and not too difficult.  Liked the convertible Ferrari that zoomed into the parking lot while a group of about 10 college girls were practicing on the putting green.  Every single one of them turned their heads and looked.  Maybe I need one of those cars.  The golf here was fun and relaxing.  Not too crowded and beautiful weather.  I did order a Breakfast Burrito from the restaurant prior to heading out for 18 holes.  Probably the worst burrito I have ever tasted.  Absolutely no seasoning, flavor or taste.  A bunch of potatoes and some egg in a tortilla.  You would think that you would get a good burrito in Orange County where Mexican food is available just about everywhere.  The bartender however who was of Mexican decent made a fabulous Bloody Mary.

STRAWBERRY FARMS REALLY IS LOCATED IN A STRAWBERRY FARM

A LITTLE INFO ON STRAWBERRY FARMS GOLF CLUB IN IRVINE, CALIFORNIA
CLUBHOUSE, PRO SHOP AND RESTAURANT
COUNTRY FEELING IN A BIG CITY
DINING ROOM AND BAR WITH FIREPLACE
OUTDOOR SEATING 
LONG NARROW FAIRWAYS
NOT A BAD BLOODY MARY TO START THE ROUND
BACK NINE STARTS NEXT TO RESERVOIR
LOVED THIS HOLE AND PUT A BALL IN BUSHES ON THE RIGHT 
OVER THIS BRIDGE AND ONTO THE FAIRWAY IS WHERE I HIT IT!
18TH HOLE WITH WATERFALL IS BEAUTIFUL
I JUST MAY HAVE PUT A BALL IN THE WATER HERE