I love my Zoji, Japan’s leading rice cooker brand. Fuzzy logic and induction heating produce great rice. However, the fuzzy logic doesn’t detect the type of rice and I forgot to change the setting from (short-grain) brown to sushi. It was edible, but rather aggressively cooked.
Category: Home Living
No Special Occasion
It always seems like a special occasion when we have paella. Made veggie paella for no particular reason. I’m still working on getting a good socarrat (deep fond), but this one tasted pretty good and delaminated from the pan nicely. Recipe.
Asian Supermarket
The things I wish I’d known when I was young; e.g., there’s so much good stuff in Asian supermarkets. On my walk, popped into my favorite Asian supermarket for chicken parts westerners generally eschew, Chinese broccoli, and (an impulse purchase) frozen pork steamed buns.
Spam Musubi
The things I wish I’d known when I was young; e.g., Spam musubi is good. Fry Spam slices, coat with shoyu/mirin/brown sugar glaze.Stack in a musubi mold (or Spam can lined with plastic wrap): —Spam slice—Sushi rice mixed with a few drops of vinegar —Optional furikakeWrap with nori.
Mono-Layer Sauté
The things I wish I’d known when I was young; e.g. sauté mushrooms in a mono-layer, don’t be afraid of heat, and deglaze the pan with wine. And so much still to learn: I’ve yet to master the pan flip; Dwight can do it, but I’m afraid of sending the meal across the kitchen.
Digital Rug
Digital became physical: a rug arrived today from India. A few months ago we chose a template online, specified the size, yarn colors to key off paint colors, materials (wool, some cotton), and construction (knotted). We previewed the design in simulated room settings.
Kale Is Good
Today, one of my favorite weeknight meals: roasted white sweet potatoes with steamed then stir-fried kale. Bacon, garlic, and toasted walnuts fill the room with wonderful aromas. A squeeze of lemon, shoyu, and black pepper finish the kale.
“OK Google, Play Pink”
Today’s morning shower: “OK Google, play Pink.” Sometimes I summon Lady Gaga or Cher.
A Month of Mail
Retrieved one month of mail. There would’ve been more mail without: —E-billing. —PaperKarma to cancel unwanted commercial mail. —Catalog Choice to cancel catalogs. —OptOutPreScreen to opt out of credit card and insurance offers. Most of the mail still went straight to recycling.
Shelf-Stable Ingredients
When in doubt, I can always make risotto from preserved ingredients. Previously frozen before our trip: sautéed onion, Parmesan, butter, stock. Shelf stable: Arborio rice, splash of wine, dried mushrooms (I usually prefer dried to fresh). So that’s what I’m making.