Polly's KUROMAME ANMITSU Wannabe

I get inspired while watching a TV show involving food.  There is a funny TV series on NetFlix called KANTARO and this is one of the wannabe. Just by looking at the actor's facial expression of deliciousness when he take a bite of the food you want to try it yourself.  This is the KUROMAME ANMITSU that I want to try it myself.   If you grew up in Japan you know what ANMITSU is.  The most memorable item in the bowl has always been the red cherry although that is not the main component of the dessert in ANMITSU.  But every 'kid' in our heart remember the red cherry the most.
Clean Agar Agar and Soak Agar Agar.  Normally the KANTEN (Jello) is clear type.  I chose to mix MATCHA - heaping 1 tsp of Green Tea powder in mine.  I added some liquid that agar agar is being dissolved over the heat to mix with Matcha.  Then, added it back to Kanten mixture (agar agar)
1 Agar Agar stick = 2 tsp powdered agar agar + 2 C water/500 ml
I purchased agar agar thread.  My apology, but I can't remember how I measured mine.  I will have to find my notes, but depending on how much you want to make, dissolve 1 agar agar stick in 2 C water over heat.
Or, even better, follow this site's instruction:  https://www.japancentre.com/en/recipes/1424-matcha-anmitsu-gelatin-dessert
Or https://www.justonecookbook.com/pantry_items/agar-agar-kanten/
4 g of Agar Agar thread + 250 ml, so double it to 8 g of Agar Agar thread for 500 ml of water
and definitely is the site that I followed for its advised recipe.  https://www.justonecookbook.com/pantry_items/agar-agar-kanten/
Clean and soak red beans overnight or beans of your choice.  I used red beans and used slow cooker to cook them over night.  I think it took two days to prevent them from getting mushy and hold its shape.

 

 

Transfer dissolved KANTEN - Jello into a dish - preferably a square or rectangular glass baking dish - 8x8 inches.

 

After KANTEN is solidified, slice them into cubes.

 

Chill KANTEN in the refrigerator and prepare the syrup.

1 to 1 ratio of Brown Sugar (I did not have black sugar), white sugar, and water.   Boil till thick but not like candy

 

Assemble all your goodies in a bowl.  Serve with syrup.

 

The green tea - MATCHA KANTEN was a perfect choice for me.  It complimented the sweet syrup and brought all other flavors in.

Accidental Pastry - Japanese DORAYAKI

Sometimes when you are trying to cook up something new and you wind up with something unexpected?  This is one of those.  I was trying to make my fluffy thick Japanese HOT'O CAKE, and I end up with Japanese sweet bean pastry - DORAYAKI

After mixing all ingredients while cooking the batter, it dawned on me that its texture is just like Japanese DORAYAKI.  Well, then, I said, "Why not?"  So here they are.
Beat 2 Large Organic Eggs Plus 6 Tbsp of Organic Cane Sugar until pale in color
It should be foamy.
Shift 1 Cup of Unbleached AP Flour, then, measure 1 Cup of Flour out.  Add 3/4 tsp of baking powder and shift again twice.
Add 1 tsp of Avocado oil, 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract, 2 Tbsp of milk.  Mix well, then, add 1/4 of egg mixture.  Mix gently, then, add some more, then, the rest.  It should be a nice thick batter.

Heat the Electric griddle to 300 to 325'F; easier to control the temperature
Apply thin coat of Avocado oil with paper towel on the griddle.

Drop some batter about 3" in diameter.

Flip when you see a slight browning at the edge, and it is beautifully browned.

 Note:  If this has been a while since you last used the griddle, be ready to sacrifice the first two to three pastry... it just seem to happens like that with my griddle.
Watch the temperature of the griddle.  It might need to turn down to 300'F or then up to 325'F.

Transfer to a plate to cool a bit.
While the pastry is being cooked over the griddle - Heat up a can of Red Bean Paste.
Heat through.
Then, cool.
Add bean paste to the bottom pastry, then, cover with another pastry.

Serve.
I ate mine with a dab of fresh sour cream.

 Enjoy!

Cream Corn Adventures

This is my testings with Canned Cream Corn.  I was hoping to remake one of our childhood favorite soup with cream corn that our mother made, but couldn't quite get it right.  But I had fun using them to make other things.
Cream Corn #1:  Cream Corn Muffins with Jalapeno and Pepperocini

 

 

 Cream Corn Muffins served with Cream Corn Soup.  Delicious!

Cream Corn #2: Curry Cream Corn RAMEN

Cream Corn #3:  Cream Corn Fried Basmati Rice with Cilantro

It was fun making them.  What were your adventures?