Butternut Squash Pudding
It really is a good thing that Valentine’s day is right around the corner. No not because I have some amazing Valentine date. I will actually be serving everybody their Valentine’s day dinners at Morimoto. The reason it is a good thing, is it gives me validation for eating so many sweets and blogging about them! =) I promise I have a whole bunch of savory dishes up my sleeve for the near future, but for now feed your inner fat kid with me.
Maple & Squash Oatmeal
If any of you have worked night shifts for your job, you understand how my schedule works. I have the morning/early afternoon to cook or do whatever else I want. I have been waiting for my surfboard to be fixed, so lately I haven’t been going to the beach before work. Instead, I have been eating lots of breakfast food. It is kind of nice because I only have to buy food for breakfast, but then get free “family meal” at work and lunch/dinner and snack throughout the night. It has definitely been saving me money.
Featured Foodie Friday: Go Bake Yourself
I have had a serious sweet tooth lately, I don’t know what it is! I have always been the salt lover, the potato chip snacker, the second appetizer eater but dessert skipper… but now something strange has been happpening. I have been craving sweets all the time! I have recently become addicted to fudge popsicles and have found myself eating up to three in a night. Along with my new sweet addiction I have none other than the Choc Chip Uru from Go Bake Yourself, here with a sinfully sweet coffee, brown butter, dark chocolate chip cookie cake.
Coffee, Brown Butter, Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Miso Soup {My Guest Post on Cooking With Michele}
Another exciting update on my job at Morimoto. Last night I worked grill for the first time, it was awesome! I am so excited to be moving up in the kitchen. Things went really smoothly luckily, but I do think that it wouldn’t have been as smooth if I didn’t have another grill cook, Kalani, there to help out. But, you got to start somewhere and I think that I will catch on quick. I didn’t even have anybody send back a steak for being cooked to the wrong temp, score! On the home cooking front, I am happy to announce that I am guest blogging today over at my own mom’s blog, Cooking With Michele. The menu? A flavorful, healthy Chicken Miso Soup. I know you are probably saying, “Miso soup doesn’t have chicken!” but you have to try it, it goes so well with it!
Deviled Eggs
Honolulu was the place to be this weekend. With the Pro Bowl coming into town, everything was buzzing. Friday night, I worked a buy out at Morimoto that was hosted by the NFL! Dave Mathews from DMB was even there! Even though I was in the kitchen all night, I felt very cool and important. In the spirit of football and the super bowl, I have a Super Bowl party recipe for you today.
Featured Foodie Friday: Oblique Rays
It is Friday, the weekend right?! For me, that doesn’t mean relaxing, far from. It means two crazy nights at work. I have been working mostly nights at Morimoto Waikiki, with the exception of a couple morning shift this week. It amazes me the difference in the type of shift I have when I work a lunch versus a night. Lunch shifts at Morimoto are mostly about setting up and prepping out food. Night shift are about putting out food, and lots of it. I am excited to be working nights after working lunches all fall at SALT, but it is a pretty crazy experience. Morimoto is a high-volume fine dining restaurant, which means go time all the time at night. The good thing is, I am LOVING it! The kitchen at Morimoto runs much more smoothly than my last job, which makes busy nights feel less chaotic. I love the excitement of the kitchen at night, not to mention the fact that time flies by when you are busy. What are your weekend plans? If you have some free time I have just the recipe for you. Rujuta over at Oblique Rays is our featured blogger for today with a delicious recipe for you to make on your days off! I know you are going to love this one. Have a great weekend!
Tiramisu Cupcakes
Wild Rice & Vegetable Stew
I know it may seem weird, but I have still eaten quite a bit of soup here in Hawaii. I love making soups and stews because I feel like it gives me room to be creative. I can throw whatever I want into a soup/stew and whip it up pretty quickly. Because of that, soups are a great way to use up leftover ingredients in your kitchen. Also, they are great if you don’t have time to stand over your stove while making dinner. You can be getting ready, taking care of the kids or just kicking back watching Top Chef while your soup works its magic.
Pear, Goat Cheese & Pistachio Pizza
Do any of you have that one (or two or three) food that you crave CONSTANTLY?! I have two, pizza and cheese. I could eat pizza anytime, anywhere. Lately all I have been thinking about it pizza, but for some odd reason I went a really long time without having any. As you could imagine, I was stoked when I walked into Morimoto a few days ago for work to find out that staff meal that day was focaccia pizza! Even after eating more than my fair share of staff meal, I still am craving pizza, so naturally I want to share one of my newest pizza creations with you to feed my craving.
Chocolate Brownie Oatmeal by The Picky Eater
Do you ever stop and think about how it is kind of absurd how much your life revolves around food? For me, every single thing I do pretty much has to do with food. I work in a kitchen, I cook at home, I eat ALL the time, I am going to culinary school, I write a food blog, I constantly read food blogs, I look at food porn, I am constantly thinking about food. But even the people who are not as immersed in the food world as me have a special spot for food. What is it about food that is so enticing?
Yeah it tastes good, that is a given… well I guess most of the time (I would hope). What I think it is is the memories and atmosphere that can be created by food. Food can take to back to your home growing up or into a completely different place you have never visited. That is one thing I think that I love most about food (not to mention eating it). Our guest blogger today really hits home for me with this subject because I grew up eating oatmeal, but always ate the exact same kind as a kid- maple and brown sugar instant packets. Now as an adult (ha) I love trying “fancier” versions of my childhood favorites, which is why I love this recipe. Though I have to say kids would love this too! With that I give you Anjali from The Picky Eater:
Chocolate Brownie Oatmeal
Detox Green Machine Soup
I got rained on for the first time the other day riding my bike to the beach. Definitely the first of many I think. I guess there are prices to pay when you live in Paradise! I only have a bike, so I ride it everywhere, including to and from work. Luckily I work in a kitchen with a bunch of sweaty guys anyway so it is OK that I show up drenched in sweat… Riding my bike has been a great workout for me though! I forces me to workout, which is perfect for my type of personality… 🙂 I know if that is not your case, it can be hard to find time or motivation to workout, I had the same problem. If that is how you feel, this is a recipe for you!
