How to Make Pusheen Dango 胖吉貓糰子

Recently, I’ve fallen in love with Dango 糰子.  Dango is a type of Japanese Wagashi 和菓子.  What are Wagashi?  They are traditional Japanese confections that are usually made of mochi and served with tea.  They could be elaborated with designs and fillings or as simple as these sesame dango, which are slightly sweetened but not filled.  Do you like these Pusheen dangos?  Aren’t they the most kawaii treats you’ve seen lately?   If you haven’t seen my Bunny Dango yet, you should click here to check them out and let me know which one you like better.



My Baby Girls and some of her friends are crazy about Pusheen lately!  I don't blame them!  This chubby little kitten is certainly super adorable!  If you’re not familiar with this cute Japanese Character, you can check out her own website here!



My version of dango are made with just a few simple ingredients.  I don’t use water to mix the dough but only used the moisture from the silken tofu.  The tofu not only added a hint of flavor to these dango, but also more nutritious.  It keeps the dango dough soft and smooth and quite easy to handle.  To achieve the grey color of Pusheen, I added some black sesame powder to the dango dough.  You can taste the sesame but not too strong.  Just keep in mind that if you add more sesame powder, the end product might turn out even darker.  As you can see, they do darken quite a bit after they’re cooked.  



To maintain the gorgeous figure of Pusheen, she has to consume quite a bit of yummy food every day!  Apparently, doughnuts are one of her favorites as you can see from the many pictures that she always seems to be holding one wherever she goes!  



These sesame Pusheen Dangos are delicious as the way they are, but you can also put them on other dessert as an edible decoration.  I made these strawberry pudding dessert cups with Pusheen Dango on top for a good friend’s daughter’s birthday party because Pusheen was the theme! 




This recipe is quite fun and easy to make and I hope you’ll give it a try soon!  Check out the list below for all the ingredients and special tools that I used for this recipe.  Stay tuned for more fun and yummy recipe soon!


Tools and Ingredients Used:
Edible Color Markers (Click here for more information)
Skimmer Strainer (Click here for more information)
Glutenous Rice Flour (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cups Set (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Bamboo Picks (Click here for more information)
Black Sesame Powder (Click here for more information)
Doughnut Shape Cereal (Click here for more information)
White Chocolate chips (Click here for more information)
Red Candy Melt (Click here for more information)
Wilton Rainbow Nonpareils (Click here for more information)
Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)
Parchment Paper (Click here for more information)



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How to Make Chinese MahJong Coconut Osmanthus Jello 麻雀(麻將)椰汁桂花糕

Have you heard of one of the most popular Chinese card game called MahJong (麻雀 or 麻將 in Chinese)?  It’s one of my In-Law’s favorite game to play with friends and family.  I made these Chinese MahJong Coconut Osmanthus Jello 麻雀(麻將)椰汁桂花糕 to celebrate my Mother-In-Law’s birthday.  They were fun to make and absolutely fun to eat as well, especially if you’re eating the winning set of “tiles”!



When I was a little kid, I remember sitting next to my parents and watch them play MahJong during the Chinese New Year.   That was how I learned the rules for the game.  Back then, I was secretly hoping that they need to take a bathroom break so that I can sit-in as a substitute!  Those were some fun memories.



I got the MahJong Silicone Mold to make these Coconut Osmanthus Jello and the mold is super easy to use.  I’ll list the product link as well as the required ingredients at the end of this post for your convenience.  To mimic the actual MahJong tiles, I make these jello in 2 layers.  The bottom layer is made with coconut milk and the top layer is made with dried Osmanthus. 



For this recipe, I tested out a few times to get the perfect flavor and consistency.   My kids love the version with milk mixed with coconut milk.  I personally love a stronger coconut milk version.  I’ll list both of them in details in the recipe below so that you can choose for yourself. To color the wordings of the “MJ tiles”, I used my homemade beet root red food coloring (red), matcha green tea powder(green), and homemade red cabbage blue food coloring (blue).  I’ll list the links to the tutorial below for your reference.  Otherwise, you can use store-bought natural food coloring as well.



This plate above is the famous winning hand called 十三么.  Which is considered a rare hand to win because it’s not easy to collect all these tiles in a game.  But it’s a challenge that many MJ players would dream to get this hand in the game. 



These Coconut Osmanthus Jello not only look whimsical and realistic, they are also very refreshing and delicious!  If you know someone who love to play MahJong, you’ve got to try this recipe out!  Wish you all good luck in the game and have fun making this treat.  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy!  Thank you for stopping by and I’ll see you all next week!



Below is a picture consists of (one of each of) all the tiles in the MahJong Game.  You can look at this picture and reference back where to add the colored gelatin mixture when you make the recipe!  Have fun!




Link to Homemade Beet Root Red Food Coloring Tutorial
https://goo.gl/v7G49A
Link to Homemade Blue Food Coloring Tutorial
https://goo.gl/K6BDHM

Ingredients and Tools Used:
Chinese MahJong Silicone Molds (Click here for more information)
Calphalon Baking Pan (Click here for more information)
All Natural Food Colorings (Click here for more information)
Organic Coconut Milk (Click here for more information)
Unflavored Gelatin Powder (Click here for more information)
Dried Osmanthus (Click here for more information)
Large Measuring Cup (Click here for more information)
Strainers Set (Click here for more information)
Matcha Powder (Click here for more information)
Flat Top Wooden Spatula (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup Set (Click here for more information)



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Sumikko Gurashi Sushi Rice Balls 角落公仔壽司飯糰

Have you seen these cutie critters before?  They are called Sumikko Gurashi!  Aren’t they super adorable?  Today, I’m sharing a recipe with you that’s inspired by these super adorable characters from Japan: Sumikko Gurashi Sushi Rice Balls 角落公仔壽司飯糰.  If you’ve checked out my video tutorial above, you’ll also see the tools and ingredients that I used to make them.



It all started not long ago with a super soft and squishy plush toys that I got for my daughter from a Japanese store.  Ever since that day, we all fell in love with these cute little creatures!

Image from the web

Image from the web

What does Sumikko Gurashi means?  “Sumikko” means corner, and “Gurashi” means life.  Together, they can be translated to 'living in a corner,' as that’s what these little critters like to do.



From time to time when I see cute little Sumikko Gurashi products, I couldn’t resist but to take them home with me! 

Picture from web

In today’s recipe, I’m making these sushi rice balls stuffed with a creamy and smoked salmon filling.  The rice itself is seasoned with different ingredients for their natural colors and flavors.

First off, we have Neko Cat.  The rice is seasoned with cod powder for the umami flavor and gorgeous pink color.  It compliment the salmon fillings really well.



Next is Polar Bear.  I leave the rice plain on this one for the white color.  Its ears are decorated with pink Soy Wrappers that are so much fun and easy to use!  It’s mouth and legs are stamped out cheddar cheese and it’s eyes and hands are stamped out seaweeds.



Up next is Penguin!  The green color is from matcha green tea powder.  You can also substitute with spinach puree or other dark green vegetable puree if you have those on hand.  But the earthy green tea flavor truly balanced well with the smoky salmon inside these rice balls.



Last but not least, Tonkatsu!  Remember I shared my homemade Tonkatsu recipe with you not long ago?  It’s Japanese style pork cutlets!  See the resemblance?   For this one, I seasoned the rice with a little bit of light soy sauce for flavor and color.  They all turned out super yummy!

Image from web

How well did I I in in shaping and decorating these characters against the picture sample above?  Not bad, isn’t it?  I can’t wait to make “tail of fried shrimp”, “tapioca”, and “sparrow” next time!  They are all super duper cute!



I hope you enjoyed today’s video and recipe as much as we do.  My daughter and I had a fun time creating them together!  Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for more fun and kawaii recipe next week!  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy! 




Products, ingredients, and tools used in this post:
Sumikko Gurashi Cat Plush Toy (Click here for more information)Sumikko Gurashi Rice Ball Mold  (Click here for more information)
Soy Wrappers  (Click here for more information)Matcha Green Tea Powder (Click here for more information)
Sumikko Gurashi Chopsticks (Click here for more information)
Sumikko Gurashi Cup (Click here for more information)
Roasted Seaweed (Click here for more information)
Honey Smoked Salmon (Click here for more information)
Organic Soy Sauce (Click here for more information)
Japanese Sushi Rice (Click here for more information)
Japanese Mayo (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)



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Hello Kitty Red Bean Dumplings (凱蒂貓紅豆湯丸) for Chinese New Year

Do you enjoy Asian Style dessert dumplings (湯丸)?  Eating dessert dumplings is one of the “must-have” Chinese New Year tradition as the pronunciation of dumplings in Chinese represent the whole of the family, or the united of the family (團圓).  Many traditional Chinese New Year dishes represent good luck or some types of well wishes.  That’s because we all wanted to kick off the new year with a great start, don’t we?   



As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I want to pass on as many of the Chinese cultures and traditions to my kids as possible.  One of my favorite ways to pass on the traditions is through food.  To get them more interested, I often get them into the kitchen to cook with me.  As I was testing recipes last week, My Baby Girl joined me in the kitchen to create these adorable Hello Kitty Dumplings together.  If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my “recipe testing video”.   You might have noticed that the Kitties on the Instagram video had much bigger noses, and they looked more like piggies!  So, I made some adjustments for this week’s video tutorial to reclaim Kitty’s beauty!   



These dumplings turned out so adorable and delicious.  It was so much fun to make them together with my Kids.  If you haven’t done so, check out the video tutorial above for the step-by-step instructions.  In respond to many of my Dear Readers’ requests, I did a voice over on this video instructions instead of the usual captions-only format.  But by all mean, click on the “cc” button on lower right corner of the YouTube video for Close Captioning if you prefer.   



In my video tutorial, I included a few tips to make these cute dumplings.  So, be sure to turn up the volume and follow along! 



Last year, I shared with you the Black Sesame Dumplings with Ginger Syrup post.  (Please click here to get the recipe).  For these Hello Kitty Dumplings, I filled some with my homemade Red Bean Paste and left the remaining dumplings as plain.  I’ll post the homemade Red Bean Paste recipe below for your reference.  Or, you can also use canned/ready-made red bean paste from the Asian Supermarkets. 



I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and tutorial, stay tuned for more fun Chinese New Year Recipe next week!

Tools and Ingredients used:
Glutinous Rice Flour (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Organic Dried Red Beans (Click here for more information)
Ready Made Red Bean Filling (Click here for more information)
Wilton Edible Candy Marker (Click here for more information)

 

Wish Upon A Star - Rilakkuma Bear Bento

If my memory serves me right, playing with food was one of the big “no no” when I was young!  Maybe because of culture?  Or maybe different generations?  I don’t know.  Probably because my parents don’t want us to ended up wasting food.  How about you?  Were you allowed to play with food when you were young?  Well, I’m just glad that I can play with my food everyday in the kitchen now!  Oh, and of course, my kids are encouraged to do so as well!  After all, I think that’s a great learning and bonding time for us as a family.  Plus, the kiddos are definitely enjoying the food more if they prepare it themselves.  If you haven’t watch the video above, go ahead and check it out.  My kids and I had a good laugh after they urged me to add on the sound effects!   



We enjoyed this Rilakkuma Bear dinner so much!  And the great news is that you can easily pack it into a bento box for lunch as well.  The Rilakkuma Bear was made with rice and a little soy sauce (for the brown color).  You can use brown rice instead and omit the soy sauce if you prefer.  You’ve got to watch the video to find out how to make the eggy blanky though.  It’s easier to make than you think.  Isn’t it super adorable with the flower and heart shape patterns?  I served the rice on a bed of lettuce, some grape tomatoes, and a Sweet and Savory Chicken Drumstick on the side.  Chick here for the Chicken Drumstick recipe.  These chicken drumsticks are one of my family’s favorites and I make them quite often.   
 

Tucking this little bear in reminded me of tucking my kiddos in every night!  They are equally adorable!  Don’t forget to make a wish upon the star and have a sweet dream!  May all your wishes come true!  Have a Funny and fascinated Friday!

Ingredients and Tools used:
Light Soy Sauce (Click here for product information)
Nori (seaweed) (Click here for product information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for product information)
Zojirushi Rice Cooker (Click here for product information)
Japanese Short Grain Rice (Click here for product information)
Small Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for product information)
Bento Cutter and Tongs Set (Click here for product information)

Hello Kitty Rice with Tomato and Egg Stir Fry 吉蒂貓飯配蕃茄炒蛋

Can’t believe we’re stepping into the month of July already!  Despite the soaring hot temperature in Southern California, July also means celebrating birthdays in our family.  There are a couple of birthdays happening this month and one of them is my Baby Girl’s.  



The Birthday Girl gets to pick her favorite birthday cake and this one is her choice for this year.  It’s perfect for birthday celebration during the summer because it’s a gorgeous "no-bake" cake.  Like Mother like Daughter, you have very good taste, Baby!  For this special occasion, Mommy is also making Baby Girl’s favorite dish, Tomato and Egg Stir Fry (蕃茄炒蛋).  It’s a very refreshing and appetizing dish to enjoy especially in the summer months.  This dish is slightly sweet, a little bit tart, and perfectly savory at the same time.  Like most Asian recipes, this dish has a well balanced flavors.  It’s a very popular everyday homemade dish from Hong Kong.  As you can see, I didn’t just stop there, I paired it with the super adorable Hello Kitty Rice, another favorite of my Little Girl.  Although Mommy herself is not really a Hello Kitty fan, she did enjoy making this dish as she knows how much the Birthday Girl loves it.  I am secretly wishing the boys in the house are as easy to please as Baby Girl does! Shhh….   



If you haven’t done so, remember to check out the YouTube video tutorial with step-by-step instruction on how to prepare this dish (the link is at the top of this post).  It’s easier to make than it looks, especially the shaped rice.  Best of all, you don’t need any mold or special equipment to make it, except for a pair of kitchen scissors and a few minutes of your time, and your love of course.  If you have a Hello Kitty fan in your house like I do, you’ve got to check this out! Everything is edible in this dish, all natural and really healthy as well.  You can also make this dish with your kids together.  My Baby Girl always enjoy creating fun dishes with me in the kitchen and this is definitely one of her favorite ones to make.    



I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and tutorial.  Stay tuned for more fun and easy recipe next week.  Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published.

Tools and Ingredients used:
Nori (seaweed): (Click here for more information)
Whole Kernel Corn: (Click here for more information)
Corn starch: (Click here for more information)
Serrated Knife for cutting tomato: (Click here for more information)
Vegetable oil: (Click here for more information)
Zojirushi Rice Cooker: (Click here for more information)
Japanese Short Grain Rice: (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers: (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Cupcake Plush: (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Flatware Set: (Click here for more information)
 

Home Sweet Home 3D Sugar Cookies – For Valentine’s Day!

Another Valentine’s Day treat?  Why not?  Especially when they are as adorable as these Home Sweet Home 3D Sugar Cookies!  Check out the step-by-step video tutorial above and find out how to make them. They are super easy and you can decorate them however you like it.  I’ll list the tools that I used at the bottom of this post for your reference.

This post is actually a dedication to my Hubby for Valentine’s Day!  I might not have said it often enough, but I sure hope that he knows how much I appreciate and feel grateful for everything that he did for the family.  He is always very supportive and encouraging, especially when it comes to my work.  He taught me by example to be patience and have faith with the kids.  He works hard to provide for the family so I can work part-time from home and do what I love.  Because of him, we have this place that we feel loved and secured, a place that we can called home….a Home Sweet Home, in deed!  Now, you see why I created these cookies for Valentine’s Day! 

I actually used a 3D gingerbread house cookie cutter for these sugar cookies.  But who said I have to make gingerbread cookies in February, right?  I love that I can use the cookie cutter for more than just one thing!  

 

There are many ways you can decorate these cookies too.  Besides using the 3D gingerbread house cookie cutter, I also used a mini flower and heart shaped cookie cutters to decorate these houses.  You can also use sprinkles (see the 1st picture above), or colored sugar to garnish them as well.

Serve it hanging over the tea cup (see the picture above) with rich and smooth hot chocolate and you're all set for a great afternoon tea!  (Click here for an easy and decadent homemade cocoa mix recipe.)

And of course, you can put them in treat bags and give them out to your Valentines!  They made wonderful homemade treats for sure.  Be prepared to hear oohs and aahs when you hand them out.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoy today’s post, recipe and video tutorial.  Stay tuned for more fun recipes in the near future.

Tools and Ingredients List:

3D Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter (Click Here for more information)
Mini Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter (Click Here for more information)
Mini Flower Shaped Cookie Cutter (Click Here for more information)
10-Inch Ribbon Cake Stand (Click her for more information)
Pastry Bag (Click Here for more information)
Wilton Decorating Tip No.2 Round (Click Here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click Here for more information)
Silpat (Click Here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click Here for more information)
Cooling Rack (Click Here for more information)
Vanilla Extract (Click Here for more information)

Piggy Chinese Steamed Buns (ManTou) 小猪猪饅頭 – Made with All Natural Food Coloring

Did you have a chance to check out my recent post "How to Make the All Natural and Organic Red Food Coloring"?  If not, click here for a quick recap.  Otherwise, let's talk about these super adorable Piggy Chinese Steamed Buns.  Let's start by watching the YouTube video tutorial above for a step-by-step instructions on how to make these piggies, from start to finish.  By the way, I always post the complete written recipe at the end of each post for your reference.

These little piggies are inspired by the Hello Kitty Dim Sum we had when we visited Hong Kong last summer.  This cute character simply makes any food a lot more fun to eat and enjoy.  We have had our fair share of the plain Chinese Stem Buns (Mantou or 饅頭 in Chinese) in the past.  They are soft and slightly dense buns with a hint of sweetness.  People usually eat them as is or with savory dishes, similar to dinner rolls in American cuisine.  Or, you can dip them in sweetened condensed milk as a light dessert.  Either way, they are just as good and very versatile.

Don’t you love these super adorable little piggies?  They are almost too cute to eat, almost!  My kids love them so much, especially my little girl.  I can’t wait to create some other characters for them to enjoy.  And I think I’ll add some fillings to these buns next time.  Chinese BBQ pork would be a great option for savory, and red bean paste or custard would be nice options as sweet versions.

I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and video tutorial.  Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  You’ll be the first to know when I have new video tutorials published.   Stay tuned for more fun and scrumptious recipes in the near future.

Tools used:

Bamboo Steamers (Click here for more information)
3-Tier Steamer (Click here for more information)
Mixing Bowls (Click here for more information)
Dough Scraper (Click here for more information)
Tolling Pin (Click here for more information)
Bamboo Skewers (Click here for more information)
Measuring Spoons (Click here for more information)

Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)