Aurora in May, over North America.

I'm following "Astro_Soichi" on Twitter.
He took this picture from the International Space Station.

Just amazing.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL "KA"

I saw "KA" in Las Vegas last week.
It was just amazing, spectacular, awesome!!
There are no words.

It took 6 hours to drive from San Diego. That was my first long car trip.

Potluck party!

I had a potluck BBQ party today. It was my friend's son's 100 day cerebration. It was such a beautiful day. We had a great time at Presidio Park in San Diego.
I brought my sweet Kabocha and my special BBQ pork. Every body loved it. I think I chose good kabocha at Japanese market :)

Here is my sweet Kabocha recipe.

about 2 lb kabocha
2 tbs butter
1/2 cup pecan nuts
1/2 cup raisin
1 tbs brown sugar

Cut the kabocha into about 1 inch cubes. Boil it for about 10 minutes. Drain the water and mix with butter, pecan nuts, raisins and brown sugar.

I will post my special BBQ pork later :)

Sushi Vinegar Bean Salad

I want to introduce you to another way to use sushi vinegar. It can be a very good vinaigrette.It's not only for making sushi rice :)

I made a colorful bean salad. This is a good carbohydrate and protein balanced dish.








2 cups white beans
1/2 cup green peas
2 diced tomatoes
1/4 sliced onion
2 stalks chopped celery
2 tbs roasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup sushi vinegar
pinch of salt and pepper

Combine all the ingredients.

Amish Friendship Banana Nut Bread

Yes I am still baking....

This was my first time baking banana bread. It turned out great and tasted awesome!!


* 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
* 1/3 cup vegetable oil, butter, or Crisco
* 1 rounded cup all-purpose flour
* 1/3 cup light brown or white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 tablespoon buttermilk powder (optional)
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons Myer's rum or Banana liqueur (optional)
* 1 cup Amish Friendship Starter
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, or macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine all ingredients. Turn out into a well greased and floured bread loaf pan, flattening the center slightly. When a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean (about 50 minutes later) remove from oven. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and run a butter knife along side of pan to free cake. Remove from pan and spread butter on the top of cake, if desired.

Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread

I am continuing to bake....

According to the Amish Friendship Bread rule...usually I have to measure out 4 separate batches of the starter batter and keep one for myself and give the other 3 to friends.

But I didn't. I'm using them all :)

I found an Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread recipe but I used less sugar then add cinnamon and pecan nuts.


Ingredients

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1 (4 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
* 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 1/2 cup milk
* 3 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup roasted pecan nuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, chocolate pudding. Make a well in the center of this mixture. Add Amish friendship bread starter, vegetable oil, milk, eggs, vanilla extract; pecan nuts and cinnamon mix well. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Amish Friendship Bread Pancakes!!

My friend gave me Amish Friendship Bread Starter about 10 days ago. I took care of the Amish Friendship Bread Starter... squash-squash-squash-squash....and mush mush mush the bag...10 days!

Finally today was baking day!

The pancakes were soooooo good! They were fluffy and had a nice flavor. This is much better than store bought pancake mix. I cooked many pancakes. I put them into Ziploc bags and froze them.


Makes 8~10 pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 tbs vegetable oil