Secret Chef: Sushi Joint on Oahu

I was not always the sushi craving gal until 2010 New Year then realized I was missing out! I am very much obsessed with the sushi joint, Kuru Kuru Sushi right across our Pearlridge Shopping Center in Aiea. If you are ever down here, it's a must place to go, cheap and really delish. It's always pack but I recommend around 1-2 pm because it is less busy. Dinner time is when they have most of their menus out on their belt and also when it is super crowded. The long wait is worth it thought I promise. These are my MUST to have once I am seated, I never go in without ever eating these dish at least once. I like their staff because they constantly ask "More tea? More water? How are you doing? You need anything?" It's making me giggle talking about these sushi.

Clockwise: Spicy tuna, Oyster Fry, and Shrimp fry

Spicy salmon with onions

Ebi (prawns with skin peeled)

Very sweet and melt in your mouth, Ahi poke.

I love eating everything with pickled ginger and I can't ever eat anything without my wasabi with shoyu. YUMMY. If you enjoy sushi, then you know my sushi high and how HIGH I get when I know I'm headed to my favorite joint :)

Secret Chef: Shoyu Chicken with pineapple

I made these bad boys for dinner along with some toss salad and home made peach ice tea, YUMMY :)
Everyone has their own version of the shoyu chicken and this happens to be my first time making them since I always make oven baked chicken adobo.

Recipes-
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup soy sauce (I used Kikkoman)
1/4 cup mirin (a sweet cooking sake)
1/2 tablespoon chopped ginger
2 cloves garlic
1 cup pineapple juice (I used canned delmonte. You can use the chunks or chopped, don't matter)
1/2 sugar
6-8 chicken thighs (with bones and skin)
Green onions for garnish and sesame seeds (OPTIONAL)

Direction-

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and poor over chicken.

Marinate for 2 hours to overnight if desire.

Flip over chicken every hour to let the chicken absorb mixture.

Place chicken in a foil lined pan.

Preheat over 350 degrees.

Cook for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked thru. Flip over every 30 minutes.

Sprinkle with garnish and serve over hot rice.

Peach ice tea-
5 bags of lipton tea bag
1 1/2 quarts of water
1 can Del Monte peach in a can
1/2 cup sugar or as desire to taste

Bring water to boil and turn off. Move it off the heat and put in tea bags. Let is soak for 15 minutes; remove bags. Let water cool completely before putting in a pitcher. Once cool, put in pitcher, can of peaches even juice and sugar. Mix and serve chill.

ENJOY EVERYONE.

Furry Babies: Happy Mother's Day Event

I was super excited today just because I wanted to see my mom's face when I bring in her new puppy. Her reaction was what I expected once I walked through the door haha, denial and giggles.
She keeps pushing me away telling me to return the puppy and all these other excuses only to have her heart melt after 10 minutes and couldn't stop looking at the puppy.

I woke up pretty early this morning to bake and prep all the goodies that I baked for her, my grandma, and my mother-in-law. I made them cake pops and some potted brownies. YUMMY. (I'll add the recipe and how I made it on my chef blog, so go and check it out)

It all started with a hallmark card for my madre and grandma :)

I made this for my mother-in-law

This was part of MY mom's cake pop bunch but one could not stand the humid heat after a strong rain and a few flash flood warning today and it totally POPPED down the stick >:|

Always have a plan B, I decided to present the cake pops upside down with the pots of brownies in a pan haha.

I saved the best for last, my mother gushing out to my sister about the new tiny puppy I got her for mother's day and how YES IT IS REAL! haha

Overall, today was a great day and I won't change anything about it. I LOVE YOU, MOM.

Furry Babies: Mother's Day Present

To be honest, I haven't bought anything massive like this for my mother.... EVER!
I searched high and lows for the past week for the perfect puppy. My mother is not really the type to want a dog; in general.

Here's the story:
A week ago, I took my mom out for a mother-daughter day. I took her lunch and a few shopping just us two. We passed by this pet store and we seen puppies everywhere, then she noticed the tiniest puppy ever about a one-pound 2 months old chihuahua. She instant;y melted like a butter in a pot. That's when she confessed she always wanted to own a dog and to have a purse dog haha.

I called my dad right away and ask permission if he will allow having a dog in their home and guess what? YES! Once I asked my mom if she was serious about wanting a dog, she totally blushed and started giggling over the phone.

I checked shelters all over Oahu to see if they have a 5 pounder little barking machine and no luck. I even tried to adopt from local people on Craigslist and none. I found a local ad by the store for $200 chihuahua puppies with no shots whatsoever. A bit too much but thank God, I checked craigslist once again today and BAM, a 10 weeks old pomchi male with his first shot given and a puppy patch, dog food, and a bed all together for $175! I talked with his owner for awhile and she told me she only had him for 3 days and her allergies worsen. She did not know she was allergic to dogs until that pass 3 days :( I met the little guy and my heart sank to the bottom, he was a precious little thing.

Perfect puppy I would say. As an adult he will only be 5 lbs. since his mom is a purebred 6 lbs. chihuahua and father is a 5 lbs. purebred pomeranian. Another bonus; he is so well potty trained with the puppy patch! I just hope I don't get too attached since I know he will be at my mother's by this Sunday :( More reason to bring my other two dogs to my mom's house on the weekends, right?

Right now, I am in the process of thinking of a name for this little guy. Few of the names I came up with:
Satsuki- Fifth month (of the year. I got him today on the month of May)
Yukio- Gets what he wants
Michio- Man with strength
Naoko- Honest
Sachio- Fortunately born
Taro- First born male (my mom only has 2 girls, and this little guy would be her first "son")
Yuki- Snow or Lucky (Because I was lucky enough to find him on time, lucky that my mom will be with him)

HELP!!! But here he is, his little online debut. He is currently 2.4 lbs and 10 weeks old. Born on February 20, 2011.