I had the best time preparing my first Foodbuzz 24×24 meal. I submitted a proposal to host a Japanese themed dinner. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to make sushi after I took a class and I knew this was the time to put my skills to the test. I have never worked so hard in the kitchen in my life! I made things I would have never thought I had the capactiy to make. I rounded up my friends and fed them until they could eat no more! So without further ado: Turning Japanese!
When I set out planning my menu I wanted to make a few DC themed rolls. Had to root for the home team, the Redskins. I made a roll with Krab, red peppers and mango (the red and yellow for the ‘Skins!). I also made a crab cake roll and a “be green” roll 
I finished rolling the sushi just in time for my guests to arrive. My kitchen has never been so disheveled.
The spring rolls might have been a tad harder than the sushi because I have never dealt with the rice paper before. Luckily the Novice Chef has a great video tutorial that I used. The sauce I made was a combination of a few recipes that I’ve passed on the interwebs tweaked to what I like. I found myself adding a few drops of hot sesame oil to everything. Who knew I liked so much spice? Not me!
My favorite recipe of the night was the sesame noodles. I used my mom’s recipe that she made a ton when we found ourselves with a fridge full of food and nothing to eat. The noodles have a very simple sauce that can also be messed around with to fit your taste. (Recipe at the end of the post)
I’m pretty sure I saved the best for last. My favorite part of any meal is always dessert. When I was in San Francisco for a work trip last August my friend and I went to a sushi restaurant that changed my life! Everything was heaven. I ripped my dessert sushi from them because it was too good not to share. Are you ready? COOKIE DOUGH ROLL! Oh my lanta! This was really fun for me because it actually took a second for me to say, “Um Rachel, did you take an extra dose of crazy pills today? How in the heck are you going to get the ice cream wrapped in the dough?” Well friends, I managed. I used my resourcefulness and five-year-old sensibility. First, I rolled out the dough on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper and cut two rectangles equal sized. Then I scooped about a half a cup of ice cream onto a sheet of saran wrap. I rolled it up and squeezed the ice cream until it molded into a log the length of the rectangles. I rolled the ice cream onto a rectangle, and like the sushi, used the parchment paper to guide the rolling. I then wrapped up the individual logs of cookie dough stuffed ice cream in saran wrap and froze them until it was time to devour. This was definitely the show-stopper of the evening.
I also made some cupcakes, because what party isn’t complete without cupcakes!? I made regular old chocolate cupcakes and topped them with a green tea frosting. The frosting proved a bit challenging for reasons I can’t figure out yet. Usually when I make frosting, the mix stiffens up with the powdered sugar. That didn’t really happen this time and they had to stay in the fridge to prevent from melting. Could be the cream cheese. If you know why, please teach me! They came out great and tasted delicious.
Nothing like a food party to get friends together. I didn’t have to ask anyone twice whether they would show up
I’ll be posting more in depth recipes and techniques in the future and I have linked to the other blogs where I got my inspiration. Thank you Foodbuzz for this great opportunity and I hope to do it again! But maybe with a less stressful menu!
Sesame Noodles Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 box spaghetti or linguine
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1-2 Tbs peanut butter
- 1 Tbs Chinese five spice
- 3 Tbs rice vinegar
- few drops of hot oil to your taste
- 1 Tbs toasted sesame seeds
- thinly sliced green onions
- grated carrots
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain.
- Mix all the sauce ingredients together in a bowl.
- Toss the noodles in the mix stirring to get the noodles to soak up the sauce.
- Garnish with carrots and green onions.
Anonymous Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
thanks!