Recipe: Goma Miso Dressing

Grind the toasted sesame seeds (white or black). Add honey, stock, miso and soy sauce and mix well.

You can toss any steamed vegetable in this dressing/paste, add to the stir fry like I did tonight or salad. It's also great brushed over meat or fish. You can adjust the amount of stock you add to make it more pasty or dressing like.

Parmesan & Herb Panko Crusted Fish Fillet On A Bed of Spinach, and Veggie Stir Fry With Goma Miso :)

 Fact:

100-200 "Belly Laughs" a day is
the equivalent of a high impact workout,
burning off up to "500" calories!*

Have you laughed today? Do you laugh everyday?
I smile and giggle, but honestly... I can't remember when was the last time I did the BIG Belly Laugh...
If I can laugh and burn those calories (from all the sweets I eat), I gotta do this more often!!!!!

Not only for keeping shape, Laughing out loud is the way to HAPPINESS.
When I took my kids to the Oriental medicine doctor a few years ago,
he handed me the prescription after the evaluation. It read,
"Tickle your children; Make them laugh."
Our family was going through so much at the time and kids were stressed trying to cope.
Although they were getting physically ill as well from the stress,
the wise doctor reminded me of the best priceless medicine of all.

"The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze.
When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy.
In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter also triggers healthy physical changes
in the body. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster
or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh.

Laughter relaxes the whole body.
Laughter boosts the immune system.
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins.
Laughter protects the heart.
Laughter strengthens relationships.

It lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded,
focused, and alert. With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently
is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships,
and supporting both physical and emotional health. (www.HelpGuide.org) "

Laugh Often, Love More, Live Well ♥

Garlic Chicken, Fresh Tomato, Kabocha Pumpkin, Sweet Snap Peas, Kinoko Takikomi Gohan :)

Recipe: Takikomi Gohan (Japanese Mixed Rice)

Cook various kinoko (mushrooms), carrots, konnyaku (traditional Japanese health food made from konnyaku potato) in soup stock, soy sauce, sake, and mirin until tender. Wash rice and drain the water. Cook the rice with the stock & vegetables instead of water. You can also add chicken or salmon and edamame. Sprinkle sesame seeds and seaweed before serving.

Valentine's Day, in another words - Sugar Day!
I've been all sugared up all day today ;) Donuts, cup cakes, cookies, chocolates, many many more!!
Thank you everyone for sweeten me up ♥ I can always use more sweetness in my life (^-^*
One day full of BAD (lol) sugar's not gonna kill me, right? So I'm just gonna so enjoy it ;)

I hear some people say "It's over overrated" and "It's to promote candy & flower business" etc...
So what?
Valentine's day is a sweet occasion and reminder how wondrous LOVE is.
Let us savor the romantic moments with our lovers, spoiling each other in special ways.

Enjoy the Sweet-As-You-Are-Day ♥ (Thank You Ms. Dear Helene Weiner Hill for naming the day!)
BIG Hugs & SOFT Kisses

Chocolate Truffles

1/3 cup & 2 Tbsp Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 Tbsp sweet cream butter (for MILK)
6 Tbsp sweet cream butter (for DARK)
1 Tbsp sweet cream butter (for White)
2 cups chocolate
Dash of pure vanilla extract
(for Grown-Ups, add Rum or Kahlúa ;)

For Coating: Unsweetened cocoa powder, Chopped nuts or Shredded coconut...

1. Bring the cream to a simmer with low heat
2. Add butter and stir until melted
3. Add chocolate
4. Stir until completely melted and smooth
5. Remove from heat
6. Cool, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hrs until firm
7. Make balls and roll into coating
   

Seafood Chowder & Biscuit :)

Soy Milk Chowder Recipe:

1. Saute onion, carrots, sweet potatoes, daikon radish, shitake mushroom with butter & olive oil until they are tender. Pour soy milk & broth. Add salt, black pepper & garlic powder. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer.
2. Stir in frozen seafood mix, broccoli, edamame beans, red bell pepper, and creamed corn. Cook until heated through.

Relationships are simple when you spend every moment cherishing the other person with love and respect.
More you give, you realize, more you receive.
So many people get caught up in keeping the score or counting the other person's contribution, per se...
Then they focus on getting even with each other and the relationship gets complicated.

Yes, it's true.
Sometimes you get hurt and end up feeling used.
People take advantage of the GOOD, the GIVING, and the LOVELY.
I must say, I've been there - Many countless times...

But I still choose to love fearlessly, giving every part of me ♥

And one day, you will meet "THE ONE" who lives for your happiness ^-^
Two people who go beyond for each other. All you think about is how you can make her/him smile.
The world, your love has no limit. Your heart beats peacefully. Your life solid rock content.

If you have someone who gives you bliss & makes you feel special, Take a chance.

Yours truly,
          Sweetheart

Ribs, Garlic Bread, Sweet Potato Fries, Daikon Salad, Mikan Juice (Japanese Tangerine), and Chocolate Brownies (Not in the photo because they're in the oven, baking :)

Recipes:
Ribs - from Fresh & Easy's shelf...
Garlic Bread & Sweet Potato Fries - from Trader Joe's Freezer...

He he he They're all as wonderfully delicious as Yoko's own ♥

I like my skin ;) Sure it's not like when I was in my teen years or 20's, but still very TOUCHABLE ♥

Many ask me what I do. Here are the basic rules:

1. Rest your skin by having No Make-up Days
2. Wear Sun Screen
3. Nourish from INSIDE

And all natural organic skin care*

Use Olive Oil to take off make-up and wash with Honey Oatmeal Soap. Pat dry with soft face towel.
Spray Rose Water and gently press in with palms of your hands. (Flower Waters at Mountain Rose Herbs)

Take a MILK Bath. Yes, pour the whole one gallon in. Soy Milk is the best, but regular milk is fine too.
Also SAKE Bath. Add 2~3 cups of sake into hot bath for healthy, extra smooth silky skin ;)

Drink Apple Cider Vinegar:
Add 2 teaspoons vinegar to water (8 oz). Drink it 3 times a day, Everyday. I like making it with natural sparkling mineral water & add little bit of honey. Not only it helps acne, wonderful remedy for fatigue too!

Quality of your skin will keep you DARLING, young and beautiful forever ♥

"You can try hard or you can try soft. Soft will get him every time. ~ ad for Love's Baby Soft"

Miso marinated cod, Brown rice with daikon seeds, Tofu steak with root veggies, Steamed spinach with black sesame dressing, Stewed shirataki noodles, and Nappa cabbage kimchee :)

Recipe: White Miso Marinade

Mix White Miso (6 tablespoon), Mirin (3 tablespoon), Sake (3 tablespoon), and Honey. Place miso mixture in the bottom of a shallow tupperware, put fish/pork/chicken of your choice, cover them with the miso mixture (like a sandwich ;). Put lid and refrigerate for 2~3 days. Wash the miso off before you cook.