Mochiko Chicken

2 TBSP mochiko flour
2 TBSP cornstarch
2 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
2 TBSP thinly sliced green onions
1 egg, beaten
1 lb boneless chicken thighs
oil for frying

Combine all ingredients except chicken thighs and oil for frying. Mix until smooth (should be the consistency of pancake batter). Cut chicken thighs into 1-2 inch cubes/pieces. Allow chicken to marinate in batter for 4 hours (or overnight). Heat oil (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep) in frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in small batches until deep golden brown on both sides.

Japanese Fried Chicken (Karaage)

1 lb boneless chicken thighs
3 TBSP soy sauce
1 TBSP sake
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
about 1/2 c potato starch
oil for frying
couple drops of sesame oil, optional

Cut chicken thighs into 1-2 inch cubes/pieces. Mix chicken, soy sauce, sake and ginger, and marinate for about 30 minutes. Heat oil in frying pan over medium high heat (or heat in deep fryer to 350 degrees) - add a couple of drops of sesame oil to add extra flavor, if desired. Toss potato starch with the chicken (use enough potato starch to coat the chicken). Fry in small batches until deep golden brown.

TIP: Can substitute corn starch for the potato starch.
TIP: If marinating more than 30 minutes, use less soy sauce (about 2 TBSP).

Roasted Broccoli

2 heads of broccoli, cut into small/medium florets
olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
2-3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Drizzle olive oil over broccoli and sprinkle with salt/pepper. Mix until broccoli is well coated. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, stirring 1-2 times. If using garlic, add it in for the last 5 minutes of baking.

TIP: This is also good with 1/2 lemon squeezed over top after it is roasted, and then 1/4 c shredded parmesan mixed in at the end. Could add 1/4 c roasted pine nuts as well.

Banana Muffins

1/4 c packed brown sugar
1/3 c oil
2 eggs
3 mashed ripe bananas
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine brown sugar, oil, eggs until well mixed. Stir in bananas and vanilla. Mix in flour, baking powder, and baking soda, just until moistened (do not overmix). Gently stir in chocolate chips. Pour into 12 muffin cups and bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

TIP: I use a 1/4 cup dry measuring cup to divide the mixture into the muffin cups.
TIP: Can be used to make mini muffins - reduce baking time to 20 minutes or so.
TIP: Can be used to make banana bread - increase baking time to about 1 hour. Can also later slice the bread and make sticks, then bake sticks in oven at 150 deg for 1 hour to make teething biscuits (similar to biscotti).

Japanese Braised Pork Belly (Buta no kakuni)

1 lb pork belly (or boneless country-style ribs)
2 TBSP sugar
1" piece of fresh ginger, grated
1 star anise (optional)
3 TBSP soy sauce
3 TBSP sake
2 c water

Heat heavy sauce pan over medium high heat. Cut pork belly into 1-2 inch cubes. Brown pork belly cubes on all sides (no need for oil). Once all sides are brown, add sugar and stir to coat meat with sugar and allow the sugar to caramelize. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for about 3 hours, turning occasionally, until pork is very tender.

Easy Eggplant Pizza

1 medium eggplant, thinly sliced
1 TBSP olive oil
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
1/3 c shredded parmesan cheese
1/3 c tomato sauce (or pizza sauce)
1/2 c shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 1-2 baking sheets. Lightly coat eggplant slices with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes. Flip the eggplant slices over and top with parmesan cheese. Bake an additional 5 minutes. Spread a small spoonful of tomato sauce on each eggplant slice and then top with mozzarella cheese. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

TIP: Slice the eggplant about 1/8-1/4 inch thick
TIP: If you want to get the cheese golden brown, you can broil on high for 1-2 minutes at the end.

Asian Crispy Dry-Fried Chicken Wings (San Tung attempt)

For the wings:
Oil for deep frying
2 c corn starch
1 1/2 c water
3 lbs chicken wings (about 24)
salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Heat oil to 350 degrees in deep fryer or dutch oven. Rinse wings and pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. Place 1/2 c cornstarch in a bowl. In another bowl mix together remaining 1 1/2 c cornstarch with 1 1/2 c water.  Dredge 6-8 wings at a time into the cornstarch and then into the water/cornstarch mixture (be sure to stir the water/cornstarch mixture before dipping because the cornstarch will settle to the bottom of the bowl). Fry the first batch of 6-8 wings for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove wings and let sit on wire rack (put paper towels under the rack) for 5 minutes. While the first batch rests, prepare and fry the second batch of 6-8 wings. After the second batch has been fried, return the first batch to the fryer for 5 more minutes. Drain on wire rack and then place pan in the oven to stay warm.  Return the second batch to the fryer for 5 more minutes. Repeat until all wings have been cooked. Each batch will be fried for a total of 10 minutes with a 5 minute rest period in the middle.

For the sauce:
3 TBSP soy sauce
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c water
3 cloves garlic
1 TBSP rice vinegar
1 tsp fish sauce
1/4 tsp siracha (or more if you like it spicy)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
Dash black or white pepper
Cilantro and green onions to garnish

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients (except cilantro and green onions) and cook over medium heat until thickened. Toss the wings in sauce and garnish with cilantro and green onions.