100/356: Leaving A Review

Day 100. 

Time for a little review I think. Some days it was hard to find something new, some days it was not so exciting. Other days it really challenged my comfort zone any yet other times it got me to do really exciting stuff. 

All in all I am really happy how my project is turning out. I think I have done many things that I would not have done or not for quite some time, if not for this. I feel like I am more open to new things in general. Since I got into the groove of choosing new things, I pick different things at the supermarket all the time. It might seem like a little change but before I usually stuck with the things I knew. 

Also when I get asked to go on a little adventure or go somewhere, I am now more open to it. One hundred days ago I would always find a reason to tell myself to do not something or to go somewhere just because I didn't feel like it. Now I am looking for those actively opportunities. Of course I still have moments where I fall into my old patterns but on the one hand I still have over two thirds of a year to go and on the other, just falling deep into your comfort zone isn't all that wrong all the time. 

So to keep with the review theme, that's exactly what I did yesterday. 

I have been a regular costumer on Amazon for a few years but never bothered to leave a review for any of the books I bought. As a matter of fact, I have never left a review for anyhting, anywhere. Yesterday when looking for something to do that did not involve food or drink, I decided to leave a review for the book that I use most often. Of course it is an eBook with Japanese recipes. There, now I got food involved again. 

It is my most used source for Japanese recipes. I also use the internet a lot but I keep coming back to this little gem. The recipes are easy to make, well described and authentic. The last point is probably the most important to me. I loved the food over in Japan but had a really hard time finding authentic food at a fair price in Europe. So of course making it myself was the next logical step. This eBook really helped me. 

Leaving the review in itself wasn't a big deal. It was easy and fast to do. I still think it's pretty significant that it took me so long to do. I have bought some pretty awesome books over the years. I doubt that it will become a regular thing though. We will see.

On to the next 100 days. 

87/356: Gyoza

I am taking a break from all the hiking so I decided to cook something new last night.

I went for Gyoza. They are Japanese ravioli that are either filled with minced beef or minced pork. I really love them, but it always seemed like it is very time consuming to make them so I didn't bother. Yesterday I did make them and I was right, I did need a lot of time to make them. I guess that if you make them on regular basis it doesn't take that much time.

Luckily I had to make only one compromise with the ingredients. I didn't find any Gyoza wrappers (dough) so instead I had to go for Won Ton wrappers. These are probably just as good but they are square as where Gyoza wrappers are round. This did present a little challenge. In the end it worked out fine but they looked a little misshapen.

They were very tasty and I guess that is all that matters! Don't you love it when you cook something for the first time and it tastes even better than expected? I sure do!

I added a few pictures of when I made them, just to prove that I actually did make them myself ;)

 Let's get this started..

 Add up all the ingredients..

 Mash em all together and cut the wrapper into something that resembles a circle...

 Lay them all out so you can admire them.. then fry..

Last but not least, dig in... YUMM!

27/356: Japanese all around

Today was a grand day. I got to cook Japanese food for a Japanese guy. Best of all; he actually liked it!
Hideki is surfing my couch for one night and requested to have some Japanese food, of course I was more than willing to fulfill that request. I could do a first and at the same time see how a Japanese person rates my food. Next time around when he visits I will have to make something Swiss though. I promised.

Another pin on the wall.

2/356: Katsu-karē.. sort of

My second day and for the second time it involves food.

This time though I actually prepared it myself. I made Katsu-karē (カツカレー) sort of anyhow. I cheated on the meat. It was actually beef. I still count it as a new experience because it's the first time I prepared a Japanese curry. 

I love Japanese food but due to a lack of good Japanese restaurants (at a decent price) around where I live, I decided to start making it myself. I order the ingredients online and love the "japanese food delivery" days. I have have a thing for good Ramen so that's what I usually go for but I also mix in the occasional other dish. I ordered the base for Curry a while ago but never got around to use it. Until today. 

The ingredients: 

 The finished dish:

 The plate of a happy costumer:

Never forget, the basis for a great Japanese meal is to prepare the rice the right way. makes a world of a difference.

....so what tomorrow?