Sushi Candy Kit

 

Sushi Candy Making Kit by Popin Cookin is AMAZING. The box has a bunch of cute illustrated instructions in Japanese, but it's also pretty easy to Google it if you're not that good at Pictionary. With a dozen little packets of dry powder and a plastic tray with different textured wells, you drop water, stir, mix, "micropipette" liquid to watch it become solid once it hits water, and roll out little sushi! And the best part? It's all edible. The roe pop in your mouth. The rice is gummy, the raw fish is fruity jello. No wait...the best part? The sushi are adorable!!!!!! So adorable, I couldn't eat them. They stayed on my desk for unrestrained admiration until they melted into adorable puddles of color. Awwwwwwww...

 

Spring Home's Roti Paratha

 

I have no idea why this kind of product is sold in H-Mart (I guess parathas are technically "asian" too), but I'm thankful it is! I have not had paratha that cooks up this nicely before. You don't have to oil the pan. All you do is heat a nice cast iron skillet and throw one of these frozen babies in there and you get these perfect, intricately flakey, chewy parathas. Mmm...What's that? I have drool on my chin? That's right. I do. Thank you, H-Mart and Spring Home.

I Love You, Whole Foods Chocolate Cupcake

Whole Foods' cupcakes are sold in packs of 6 and come in a variety of flavors but Vicky thinks the chocolate one is best. Oh my goodness. Looking at this photo reminds me of how delicious they are. My heart is racing. My mouth is salivating. Is this what some call, "love"? I can almost taste it now--moist, fluffy and full of flavor. The frosting is smooth like silk, melts on your tongue light, and creamy (it tastes like real cream!) unlike the greasy, heavy, sugar packed paste most cupcakes have. Come to me, cupcake!

Green Tea, Red Bean, Mochi Pancakes

It's a "just add water" kind of mix but it's one of the best mixes (better than Bisquick's!). Sure, it has a slight boxed mix aftertaste but the texture is awesome (fluffier than Walmart's extreme fluffy one!). It's also a convenient base for all sorts of other creative combinations.

Follow the directions on Walmart's Buttermilk Pancakes. Add 2 tsp green tea powder and chunks of mochi/rice cakes. Pour 1/4 C of batter onto a heated skillet. While it's heating up on one side, dollop little spoonfuls of red bean. Cook till the batter bubbles, then flip.

Wei-I Fish Fu

Just like that fluffy beef stuff! Except...fluffy fish.
The real selling point? It's made without preservatives or MSG!

TJ’s Pumpkin Bread + Buttermilk

Dear Trader Joe,
Why, oh why do you make such delicious food? Just look at this pumpkin bread made from a box! Buttermilk (instead of milk), eggs, and oil make it so delicately moist, so full of flavor, so perfect...I should just throw in the apron now.

I hate you.
And I love you.
Diana

I love Rancho Gordo Beans

This may seem like a paid advertisement for Rancho Gordo, but I love everything about Rancho Gordo--their vintage graphics, Steve Sando's genuine story behind the bean, and especially the adorable beans themselves! I am no bean expert, but BAHH!!! So cute!!! Just look:

Vaquero Beans
Little cow beans! What more do I have to say?!

Firm interior and holds shape even after cooked. Cooked up a little red onion, carrots and garlic and boiled with the presoaked beans for a light soup. Ok. Now I don't have anything more to say about these beans.

Good Mother Stallard Beans
Beautiful mottled burgundy and cream. A creamier, sweeter bean and still oh so lovely in its cooked brownish pink stage.

I first used these in making a fakey feijoiada. I think better on its own without the sausage. I also made a bean salad out of them too!

Russian Dark Chocolate

I have no idea what this says, but this chocolate is really good. Dark, floral and flavorful without the overwhelming richness and bite. I like! Thank you, Choigana!

Nestle Nescau 2.0 do Brasil

I didn't get a chance to buy souvenirs from Brazil, BUT! I did find a grocery store in Anaheim that sells South American groceries for all my gift giving needs. The selection is limited, but for a small place it had most of what I was looking for: Mandioca flour, South American sausages, guava, coffee (outrageously priced in the states, by the way), chocolate bon bons, and something I wasn't looking for but was surprised to see...Nestle's Nescau 2.0.

I drank this occasionally with coffee as my morning "mocha", but frequently saw it in homes in NW Brazil, in restaurants and hotels. I thought I'd re-create my breakfast drink sans coffee, but with milk as it's suggested. Pronouncedly and heavily sweet like condensed milk (nothing new as far as Brazilian sweets go) with a slight lingering vitamin aftertaste. Like a Brazilian Ovaltine. Not something I would buy again for the taste, but definitely for the memories. Ahh...Brazil.

Meinong Dried Flat Noodle

Does not look like the packaging at all--mushrooms, garlic and beefy bits are nowhere to be found inside. BUT when you cook up your own minced onion, garlic and mushrooms with the sauce mix, it magically transforms into a tasty meal!

Marinated Bean Salad from TJ's

Not too shabby at all...gooey "marinade" that definitely needs to be drained. But after that, the flavor is quite light. Add a few sprigs of minced mint, 1/4 C minced onion (red), and 1 medium bell pepper diced, toss with salt and pepper and you've got a quick, tasty 3 bean salad. If you want, you can also add 1 tsp vinegar and sugar to taste.

PS: yes, that's Vicky in the background grabbing some raisins.

Exciting Goodies from the 35th Winter Fancy Food Show

Golden Star Tea Co.
White Jasmine Sparkling Tea. I was shocked because the flavor was so unique--cool, light, refreshing, barely sweet, complex flavors, bright, hints of flowers. Basically awesome. Reminiscent of champagne, but virtually non-alcoholic. Its packaging is classy and clean. Beautiful for a nice dinner party or as a gift for someone.

GreeNoodle
Instant noodles that aren't deep fried but steamed and then dried. Made with Moroheiya, a super vegetable. Pretty tasty. Connected to a cafe/restaurant called Eon Coffee that's around the area. I want to go sometime.

Black Garlic
So unique. Still leaves the garlic breath in you, but is fermented to produce a mellow, round flavor a lot like what roasting would do, but with a dramatic blackness, a molasses flavor and a little more bite to it than roasting. Very interesting. They gave us samples of their black garlic in liquid form that they say is great for marinating. I'm going to try it!

TCHO
John Kehoe--I will definitely remember you and TCHO when I start my business. This man was so kind, warm and approachable. My first impressions were uplifted even higher after going to their site and learning more about their goals to develop technology for the perfect cacao bean by starting with the source of the beans with the local farmers. There was so much behind this company beyond their super cool techie themed graphics and designs. Two chocolate covered thumbs up to you all.

Pearl River Pastry and Chocolate
2" chocolate truffle cake was velvety smooth and rich and the 6" Florentine Tart, chewy and caramel-y with hearty whole walnuts and a chocolate drizzle. So good, no wonder they were on the Fancy Food Show's segment on Organic foods. Their website is not very inviting, but their products are excellent, at least the two that I tried.

East & West Gourmet Afghan Food
Bolani, kind of like a thin wheat lavosh bread sandwiching spinach. Much, much better when heated on the pan. Mmm...I've never had Afghan food, but now I want to eat much much more of it. The gentlemen were very nice and generous. I hope they do well in the future.

Brix
Chocolate paired with wine is no new thing, but this company makes it so easy for beginners to experience it on their own! Little descriptions, wine suggestions, even a lovely gift set with a chocolate cutting board (much like for cheeses). Also very wonderful and kind people here.

J&D's Bacon Flavored Everything
HAHAHA They had everything in bacon, from their mayo, salt, popcorn, ranch, to envelopes! Vegetarian and Kosher...Bacon flavor? Love it.

ChaCheer Peanuts

These peanuts are intensely sweet and salty with the best crunch as if deep fried. It really is deep fried. It has to be deep fried to taste this good and be this addicting. I was introduced to these by Wela who, during a trip home, had eaten bags of these peanuts with her dad. When he found out that she liked them, he tried to pass almost 20 bags of this stuff in her luggage to bring to Anaheim. I'm glad he failed at that otherwise, I would have eaten them all.

BlueSkies Corned Beef Crackers

Corned beef in cracker form? A lot like those chicken in a biscuit crackers, but...beefy!! Little flecks of savory beef in a buttery ritz like cracker. Ah, Annie Uy: lover of meat.

Dragon Fruit

This was my first time attempting dragon fruit at home. Cross between a kiwi and pear with crunchy black sesame looking seeds on the inside. I should have done some research on how to cut it and how to pick it, as from this site:

Look for bright, even-colored skin. If the fruit has a lot of blotches, it may be over-ripe (a few is normal). Another sign of over-ripe dragon fruit is a very dry, brittle brown stem, or brown on the tips of the "leaves".

Hold the dragon fruit in your palm and try pressing the skin with your thumb or fingers - it should give a little, but shouldn't be too soft or mushy. If it's very firm, it will need to ripen for a few days. It should have a slight fragrant scent too, not like mold.

When you cut it up, you can spoon it out (it comes out really easily), making sure you cut all the pink off (all the pink is inedible). Then you can cube it and serve.

Cherimoya

Almost like a custardy pina colada in fruit form.

Suggested seasons are November-May. Pick one that is yellow green without blemishes. Ripen it at home in a paper bag or on the counter for a couple of days. It should be ready when it yields to gentle pressure (like avocado) and emits a fragrance.

Cut in half and enjoy with a spoon, sucking the flesh (ew, that sounds gross) off the seed and spitting out the seeds.

Some people suggest freezing it before spooning it out. Never tried it, but sounds good!

Jericho's Garlic Spread

How did I live before knowing about this garlic spread? Ever since Carolyn Chu bought it at Altaybaat, and after I had it all the different ethnic restaurants around Anaheim, I've had cravings for it with pita bread. Spread it on your choice of bread, serve it with roasted chicken or grilled meat. It's creamy, yet not buttery with a canola oil base and lots and lots of garlic punch. It's got that kick but no heart burn here! Just a lot of bad breath. Can be purchased at Altaybat and Super King for less than $4.00.

Mizkan's Sushi Rice

Jenny Kim brought this over for a dinner once at my house. She cooked the rice and brought her own seaweed (laver) sheets and rolled them up and sliced them like sushi. I don't know what this product is supposed to be (a rice bowl?) but it tasted just like sushi rice, vinegar and all, and it had little tidbits inside too! Shrimp and veggies not included.

Romeo & Juliet from Brasil

A guava paste/jelly that is soft, sticky and syrupy sweet brought home by Wela after a trip to Brasil. Like Membrillo, except with guava instead of quince. Serve thinly sliced with cheese and drizzled with a thick, thick, thick cream. A perfect combo--like Romeo and Juliet, so they say in Brasil.

Milk Green Tea from Japan

I don't know what brand this is or what it says, but I got it straight from Mika in Japan. It's a sweet green tea latte that dissolves in hot or cold water. Perfect shaken and on the rocks.