dinner planning

[big_pear]

One of my goals for the new year was to start having meals from different cultures. Next week end i'm planning on a japanese dinner.

But at this point i'm at a loss of what to have. Any ideas? I'm sure after staying over in japan for more than a month, one learns how to eat the local food. Let alone how to make it home just to save money.

Simply meals would be a plus. As 14 hour day are my norm, and to be honest sometimes you don't feel like cooking anything but you know you need to eat.

Stuck here in Illinios waiting for the trees to bud, gods i hate winter, Tdora

[gomichild]

Google is your friend big_pear! This site http://www.bento.com/tf-recp.html has recipes in English that have ingredients which you can usually get anywhere. Not all Japanese food is time consuming to prepare - have fun!

[big_pear]

Thank you for the link. Have you cooked any of the items from there?
Some of these sound as if, it is better to have all of the stuff prepared before you even start.

[Big Booger]

I am a fan of okonomiyaki.

It is one of the easiest recipes in the world and it is very tasty. The ingredients can be found in just about any grocery store.
http://www.japan-guide.com/r/e100.html



The only thing you might have a hard time finding is the okonomiyaki sauce.

Got the recipe for that right below:
MOROMI-STYLE SAUCE

INGREDIENTS:

4 TBSP SOY SAUCE
2 TBSP KETCHUP
2 TBSP WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE
2 TSP SUGAR
2 TSP MIRIN (SWEET SAKE)
A LITTLE PEPPER

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Combine everything except pepper in a saucepan and bring just to a
boil.

2. Remove from heat and add pepper to taste.


Excellent taste. Truly Japanese.
A bit on the history:
Okonomiyaki is one of the most popular foods in Japan. Its origin was "Funoyaki" which was a variety of desert in the Edo Era(1603-1867). It was simply a pancake made out of flour and water topped with some "Miso" soybean paste. After the Meiji Era(1867-1912), "Funoyaki" was became "Don Don Yaki". As Japanese cuisine advanced, "Don Don Yaki" was finally evolved into "Okonomiyaki". Today "Okonomiyaki" is most popular in 3 different styles -Kansai (Osaka style), Hiroshima, and Monjayaki (Tokyo style).
BB

[big_pear]

This looks like something even I could do as long as its not ez to burn. By the way BB your avatar pic is very daunting to be staring out at me from the screen.

[Big Booger]

That is Bob Sapp. He is famous in Japan because he scares the hell out of all the Japanese. He is a K-1 fighter.
Try the okonomiyaki. I like it as do many many Japanese.
BB