Beef Broccoli and Cake Noodles

Thursday was eat at home night.  I decided to make some beef broccoli with cake noodles.  It was the first time making it.  Nothing like a home cooked meal. 

Marinate Beef

Marinate the beef with 2 TBSP shoyu and 1 tsp grated ginger.  Marinate it for 30 minutes.

Saute Broccoli

Saute broccoli in some vegetable oil only for about 1 minute.  Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Brown Beef and onions

Saute the beef and onions in some oil until browned.

Add gravy mixture, Broccoli, and green onions

Add gravy mixture, broccoli, and green onions.  Cook until sauce thickens.  You might have to turn fire down to low for sauce to thicken.

Boil Noodles

Boil noodles according to package.

Pan Fry Noodles

Pan fry in oil.  Do not mix or stir.  Let noodles cook until crispy, then turn over to cook other side.

Beef Broccoli and Cake Noodles

Once noodles are done serve beef broccoli over hot noodles and ENJOY.



INGREDIENTS:
3/4lb beef sliced thin
1 tsp finely grated ginger
2 TBSP shoyu
2 TBSP vegetable oil
2 cups sliced broccoli
1 medium onion sliced
4 stalks green onion

GRAVY MIXTURE:
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper
1 TBSP cornstarch
2 cups chicken broth
Crispy or soft-fried noodles




Beef broccoli and cake noodles is a popular chinese dish. For the first time it took making this dish, it was fairly simple and fast.  It was also pretty good that there was hardly any left overs. Try it out and let me know how it is.

Overall- the ease of making the dish and taste, this beef broccoli and cake noodle dish  is worth 3 1/2 stars.

Kunio Restaurant

We spent the day at Waikele Shopping Outlet yesterday.  We haven't eaten here in a long time so here is what we had for lunch.  Kunio Restaurant is located in the Waikele Shopping Outlet in Waipahu.  They are located next to Party City.  They are open Sun-Sat 10:30am-10:00pm.  They serve a variety of Japanese dishes.  They have a sushi bar which I haven't tried yet.  They don't take reservations and they do get crowded fast so if you go late, expect to be put on a waiting list for a table.  The prices are resonable and the service is pretty good. 

TenDon

I wasn't that hungry so I ordered their TenDon.  As you can see, it comes in a bento box.  A thin layer of rice on the bottom topped with 2 pieces of shrimp, 2 pieces green bean, 2 pieces carrot, and 2 pieces eggplant.  I was surprisingly full.  The shrimp was not overcooked as well as the vegetables.  A little crunch but yet cooked enough.  They could add a little more rice but other than that, this dish was satisfying.





Combination Teriyaki Beef & Squid Tempura

My wife had a combination meal.  She chose the Teriyaki beef and squid tempura combo.  This was the first time she ordered this combo.  She said that the beef was soft and tender and not chewy.  The squid tempura was just right also, not too chewy and not overcooked.  She was very happy with her meal.    


Wakame Udon

As usual, our son had his wakame udon.  There was lots of noodles and wakame but that didn't stop him from almost eating the whole bowl.




Kunio Restaurant is a small place but very popular.  There is almost always a waiting line but if you are ever in Waikele doing some shopping and find yourself hungry, stop on by for some good ol' Japanese food.  Check out their website  http://www.kuniorestaurant.com/


Overall I give Kunio Restaurant 4 stars.

Macaroni and Cheese

Hey Y'all I'm back.  Tonight I decided to make Macaroni and Cheese for dinner.  Not just a mac and cheese from a box but one from our Everyday Food Magazine subscription.  I thought maybe since I haven't eaten macaroni and cheese in a LONG time, I would try it out.  Here goes......

Cook your Pasta

 Fisrt to start, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  In the meantime, cook your pasta and drain; reserve.




Melting butter

Melt butter over medium heat. 



Adding onions

Add onion.  Cook stirring occasionally, until softened (about 3-5 minutes).




Adding the flour

Whisk in flour to coat onion.


Whisking in milk

In a slow steady stream, whisk in milk until there are no lumps.  Cook whisking often until mixture is thick and bubbly and coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 6-8 minutes.

Adding Cheese

Stir in Cayenne, if using, and 1 cup each of yellow and white cheddar cheese.  Season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.


Adding Pasta and Ham

Toss pasta with the cheese mixture; then fold in ham.  


Adding to baking pan

Transfer to a 9-by-13 inch baking dish.

Breadcrumbs and Cheese mixture

I don't have a food processor so I just used a ziplock bag and broke up the bread into large crumbs.  But if you have a food processor, pulse the bread until large crumbs form.  Then add 1/4 cup each of white and yellow cheddar cheese and 1/4 tps. salt and top pasta with the breadcrumb mixture.

Finished product

Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes.  Then enjoy.





Ingredients:
1 lb. elbow macaroni pasta, cooked and drained
4 TBSP butter
1 small onion
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups milk
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded yellow cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded white cheddar cheese
8 ounces ham, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
2 slices white sandwich bread





This was my first attempt at making Macaroni and Cheese from scratch.  It was pretty good too.  It wasn't as creamy as I thought it would be but it was still good for a first try.


I give my first attempt at Macaroni and Cheese 3 1/2 stars.

Enchilada Casserole

Here's another home cooked meal play-by-play.  This dish is easy to make and is very good too.  All right let's get cooking.

Cooking Onions

First, pre-heat oven to 300 degrees F.  Next, chop 1 medium onion.  In a pot or pan, heat 1TBSP oil over medium heat and cook onion till tender.

Adding Hamburger

Once onion is tender, add 1lb hamburger and brown hamburger.




Adding Enchilada Suace

After the hamburger is browned, add 1 28oz. can of Enchilada Sauce and stir mixing hamburger and sauce.  Reduce heat and cook to reduce sauce a little. 

Adding Corn Tortilla

After the sauce has reduced a little, add 1 pkg. corn tortilla (cut into 1in. squares).  Stir until tortilla is coated with the sauce.  Do not overcook tortilla.

Putting into Pan

Once the tortilla is all mixed and coated with the sauce, pour all contents into a 9x13 baking pan.


Adding Cheese, Olives, & Green onion

Add grated cheese, sliced olives, and green onions over the tortilla mixture.  Place in oven and bake for 20-30 minutes or until cheese melts.

Finished product

Once cheese has melted, take out of oven and enjoy.  We usually eat this dish with salsa.  You can add sour cream and/or jalapeno peppers if you choose (as condiments).





Ingredients:
1lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 28 oz. can enchilada sauce or 2 14oz. cans of enchilada sauce
1 package corn tortilla (cut into 1 inch squares)
1 package grated cheese (mexican blend)
1 small can sliced olives
chopped green onions



This is an easy fast mexican dish that the whole family would enjoy.  Try it out and let me know what you think. 

Overall, I give this Enchilada Casserole dish 4 stars.

Skillet Chicken w/Broccoli, Ziti, and Asiago Cheese

Tonight we're having one of our favorites.  This dish is easy to make and it is always delicious.  My wife cooked tonight.  This is one of her many dishes that she has enjoyed making.  Tonight's blog will be a play-by-play on how to cook this dish.  So if it looks good, you can try and make it yourself.  



Cooking Chicken

First cut 1lb skinless,boneless, chicken breast into 1" squares.  Season with salt and pepper.  Heat 1T. oil in a non stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 1 minute without stirring.  After your minute is over, stir chicken and cook until lightly browned around the edges.  Transfer chicken to a clean bowl and set aside.  


Cooking onions, garlic, and Italian seasoning

Add 1T. oil , 1 medium onion to the skillet.  Return fire to medium-high heat and cook, stirring often until onion is soft (2-5 minutes).  Stir in 3 garlic cloves (minced), and  1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  


Adding Ziti

Add 8oz. of Ziti pasta or any short pasta, 2 cups of water, and 1 can (14oz) low sodium chicken broth. 




Pasta boiling

Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the liquid is very thick and syrupy and almost completely absorbed, about 12-15 minutes.


Adding Broccoli and sundried tomatoes

Add 12oz. of broccoli florets and 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes(oil packed, rinsed and chopped) and 3/4 cup water.  Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the broccoli turns bright green and is almost tender, about 3-5 minutes.  


Adding cream and Asiago cheese

Uncover and return the heat to high.  Stir in 1/2 cup Heavy Cream, 1/2 cup Asiago Cheese, and reserved chicken with any accumulated juices and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened and the chicken is cooked and heated through, about 1-2 minutes.  Off the heat, stir in 1T. lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.   





Finished product

Serve and add more grated Asiago Cheese is desired.  ENJOY!!!!!




Here is a list of the ingredients:
1lb. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (cut into 1" squares)
1 medium onion, minced
3 medium cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. dried oregano or italian seasoning
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
8oz. Ziti or Penne pasta
2 3/4 cups water
1 T. lemon juice
14oz. can low sodium chicken broth
12oz broccoli florets
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes (oil packed, rinsed and chopped)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Asiago cheese or Parmesan cheese





If you like what you saw and read, try the recipe out.  You will not be disappointed.


I give this Skillet Chicken w/Broccoli, Ziti, and Asiago Cheese 4 stars.

Gyotaku Niu Valley

It was another night eating out.  We decided to go to one of our frequent dining places, Gyotaku in Niu Valley.  They are located in the Niu Valley Center on Kalanianaole Hwy.  There is a lot of parking.  They are open Mon-Thu, Sun 11am-9pm and Fri-Sat 11am-10pm.  The service is very good and the ambiance is better than their other two locations. 

Flying Dragon Roll



Close up view

My wife had the Flying Dragon Roll.  She says it was almost like a crabcake wrapped in lettuce in the sushi and on top was a peice of spicy ahi along with a sauce drizzled over.  She says it was a good combination of tastes.  What made the dish was the sauce.  It made it tasty.  She says she wishes that they would have a combination of rolls you could choose from rather than eating all eight pieces of the same thing.  These sushi rolls are good to share as an appetizer.

Keiki Saimin w/tempura

Sorry about the picture but the flash wasn't cooperating.  This was what my son ate.  He just loves his saimin and sweet potato tempura.  He practically ate it all.  The saimin noodles aren't overcooked and the potatoes are a hit or miss.  Sometimes they are perfect and sometimes they are undercooked.  What he really like about the keiki meal is that it comes with shave ice for dessert.  I forgot to take a picture of the shave ice.  It's ok because the shave ice is course and not finely shaved.  Course or not he devours it all.

Close up of Potato Tempura

My son wanted to take a picture of his food so here it is.  Can you see the texture of the tempura?



Pokedon and Tempura



Pokedon

This is what I usually get when we eat here.  You can choose from the fish poke or mixed poke.  I get the mixed pokedon.  It comes with fish, tako, shrimp, ogo, cucumber, and sprouts.  It is very good.  Sometimes if they can, I ask them for a hot sauce so I can add some kick to it.  There is just enough rice to go with the poke and adding the tempura, it makes the meal just right.  Not too filling to make you too full but yet enough to feel just right.  The seafood ingredients are always tender and not chewy.  The tempura comes with 2 pieces of green bean, one piece sweet potato, one pice eggplant, and one piece shrimp.  This meal always satisfies. 




If you are ever in the Niu Valley area stop by and have some lunch or dinner.  They do have lunch specials that are pretty good also.  They have a variety of Japanese dishes to choose from. 

Overall- I give Gyotaku Niu Valley 3 1/2 stars.

Big City Diner Breakfast

This morning was a lazy morning.  We were too lazy to cook breakfast so we went out.  We went to Big City Diner in Kaimuki.  It's a great place to go for breakfast, they are pretty fast and the service is great.
It's located in Kaimuki on Waialae Ave. across from Larry's Napa Auto Parts.  They are open 7 days a weekand a great place to have a meal and catch some sports on TV.  Parking is behind the building in the public parking area.  It is paid parking and is fairly cheap although the parking lot can get filled pretty fast.  You may have to go around the parking lot a few times but once you find a parking stall, it will be worth it.

Healthy Big Breakfast

I usually try to eat a somewhat healthy breakfast but this morning was a really healthy breakfast.  I've never tried it but it was pretty good.  The healthy big breakfast consists of scrambled egg whites, a grilled gardenburger, steamed brown rice, and whole wheat toast.  The gardenburger had a grainy texture and was a bit dry but I guess it was expected for something healthy.  It was good though.  The egg whites were fluffy and quite filling. 






Famous Big Breakfast

This meal is quite big so my wife and son shared it.  This is their usual breakfast here.  It comes with 3 locally grown eggs any way you choose with a choice of link sausage, bacon or country-style ham for one price or your choice of homemade corned beef hash, hamburger patty, spam, or portuguese sausage for another price.  This is the Big Breakfast with corned beef hash.  The corned beef hash was great.  It had big pieces of corned beef and potatoes.  There's nothing like homemade corned beef hash.  It was very filling because they both couldnt finish it all. 




Big City Diner Kaimuki is a great place to have a meal anytime of the day, even late at night.  There are lots to choose from on the menu and the service is great and friendly. 

Overall, I give Big City Diner Kaimuki 3 3/4 stars.