A Tasty Asian Summer

Welcome To A Tasty Asian Summer

I want to make this page about fun, and tasty foods that have an Asian flair to them.

Nothing complicated, but the kinds of foods you would expect to eat in the summer.

I hope to add on to this as time goes by.

Koko Ni Kitekurete Arigato

(Thank you for being here.)

Julie

Our Backyard Shiso Leaves Plant

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Cindy and Panda

by Benson Shum

I was shopping at the base exchange in Tampa and I found this book, and many other great books, in the sale bin. I recognized it’s importance immediately and fished it out. (I’ve discovered that the best children’s books are always overlooked and in the sale bin.)

Cindy and Panda’s Blueberry Pie

This is just a cute book for any toddler about friendship, and cooking. The book even ends with a nice recipe for making a Blueberry Pie.

I placed this here because Isabelle and I just might have a go at making this recipe someday.

The author and illustrator, Benson Shum, has also written books of Little Seed, Anzu the Great Kaiju, Anzu the Great Listener, and Alex’s Good Fortune, and he is the illustrator of Sloth Went by Adam Lehrhaupt. He is also an animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios and has worked on such films as Frozen, Big Hero 6, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Encanto.

He is originally from Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Wasabi Salt

My Seaweed Dip/Spread, with Shiso Leaves

(Shiso Leaves are the original leaves that were placed in the containers of Sushi that you would buy in restaurants, and stores that would sell sushi products. They eventually replaced the real leaves with the plastic ones. Which is what you are familiar with now. These are those real leaves. We have them growing in our backyard. They are very healthy for you. They aid in digestion. They were also used to wrap around meats and other foods that had gone a bit bad, and they helped to prevent you from getting sick when eating such meats.)

Served with Seaweed and Onion Crackers

(I purchased the crackers at the Asian Supermarket.

They are some of the best crackers I’ve ever eaten!)

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Also, Served With Seaweed and Snap Peas

Over Every Cracker Sprinkle Some Tuxedo Sesame Seeds and Some Wasabi Salt

I made some extra for my daughter and her family. But, I never told her what it was because I figured that she would reject it if I told her it was made out of seaweed. So, when she came over the following day to pick up Isabelle, I asked her if she liked it? She said, “Yes, it was really good. But, what was it?” 🙂

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This also makes a nice little on-the-go snack as you run out the door!

The Seaweed and Onion Crackers are individually wrapped in the gold wrapping, above.

(Recipe Down Below)

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Soft Dried Mango with Chili Salt

(Formed into a Flower, purchased at the Asian Supermarket)

This is a favorite of ours. I buy this a lot. It is not only beautiful, but it is so delicious! It has this excellent Chili Salt on it. I would love to find that salt sold separately. I can think of so many things that it would taste so good on.

I just unravel it, and eat it that way.

As the flower gets smaller, and smaller.

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Taro Bun

This is another favorite of mine from the Asian Supermarket.

I love their ready made treats!

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Recipes Start Here

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My Seaweed Dip/Spread, with Shiso Leaves

I Snipped These From The Backyard, and Washed Them

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Ingredients:

Prepared Seaweed, 1-2 Containers, Drained, Squeezed of Liquid, and Chopped

(You can buy this at any grocery store or Asian Supermarket, already prepared for you.)

1 Medium Onion, Chopped

3/4 Cup Stick Carrots, Chopped

3, 8 oz. Blocks Cream Cheese, Softened

2 T. Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce ( or less if you desire)

1 – 2 T. Toasted Sesame Oil

Tuxedo Sesame Seeds (Black and White) As a Garnish

Wasabi Salt To Taste

Garnish with Shiso Leaves, or any Edible Leaf, if possible.

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This is the tasty Seaweed that I purchased from our Sushi guys at the Commissary on base.

It is actually quite tasty! For those that are a bit put off by it, at least try it. You just might find that you will like it.

The first thing that I did was to soften all of my Cream Cheese, and then place it into a mixing bowl.

I chopped up a medium sized Onion….

…and then chopped some Carrot Sticks, even smaller.

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The Seaweed

I drained the Seaweed into a small colander….

then I squeezed it dry into some paper towels.

The then placed it onto a cutting board and chopped it finely.

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In the Meantime….

My Cream Cheese had softened, I had added the Onion, Carrots, and the Seaweed…

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With Everything Mixed Together, It’s Time To Add My Flavors

Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce and Toasted Sesame Oil

I added as much as I wanted to. This is a ‘per-your-personal-tastes’, by the way.

I Then Molded Everything Into 2 Balls.

(One for me, and one to give away.)

It was at this point that I did refrigerate the Cheese Balls for at least a few hours.

Allowing the flavors to meld together. You can also do this the night before.

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Time To Plate the Cheese Ball

The container that you see above that is housing my cheeseball, is actually two small bowls that I hot glued together.

I loved the bowls when I saw them at the Asian Supermarket. I would have loved them to have a larger bowl in that set, they didn’t, so I improvised.

I did add my Shiso Leaves around the Cheeseball, and sprinkled some Tuxedo Sesame Seeds on top.

Adding a Few Spring Onions, and Some Snap Peas, Along with my Seaweed and Onion Crackers.

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Whenever I think of the Asian cultures, I always think of birds.

It was while I was making the dip/spread above, that this beauty paid a visit to the backyard.

It even ate a few lizards before flying off.

I love it when I get backyard visitors. Just leave the lizards alone.

They live here, you don’t!

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Julie

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If you would like to view our other Asian pages:

Click Here For: Whann Way Asian

AND,

Click Here For: Whann Way Asian, E Ho ‘Omau (Continues)

AND,

Click Here For: Julie Loves Asian

AND,

Click Here For: Asian Edible Gifts

AND,

Edible Gifts of the Asian Variety

(Note: Edible Gifts of the Asian Variety is the same post as Asian Edible Gifts. I have both listed here for accuracy, but one is a Page and the other is considered a Post. Confusing, I know.)

AND,

Click Here For: Our Asian Easter