SHOOOOOOW POOOOOWWWWW!!!!

Or if you spell it correctly Sio Pao.

All my friends know the yumminess of sio pao. It is a very time consuming dish but the delicious results are worth it! JJ this is mainly for you. Nikki and Mei Mei can now make them without me so obviously I will no longer be needed. :-P

Filling:

5 pounds pork loin roast
water
1 onion
garlic salt
pepper

3 cups stock (liquid from the crock pot)
6 Tbsp Filipino soy sauce
3 Tbsp rice vinegar
2/3 cups light brown sugar
2 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 cup water
1 onion, minced usually ends up being a little more than a cup
4 tsp minced garlic
2-3 Tbsp cooking oil

The first part of this is real easy. Season the pork loin with salt and pepper and place in a crock pot. Cut the onion however you see fit, I like to cut mine in sixths. Cover the roast almost half way with water if you're over that's fine. Set the crock pot on Low for 8 hours. Shred it and discard the fat.

I went through a lot of pain staking tediousness to get the measurements for a friend, JJ. Every time I make sio pao I promise I'll get the measurements and then I forget. Like most of "grandma's" recipes the measurements are not exact, so I worked hard to get the measurements as close as possible. You may need to tweak it a little.

1) Heat a large skillet on medium heat and cook the garlic and onions until they are clear. DO NOT brown them because it changes the taste of the filling.

2) Add the shredded pork and heat through, this shouldn't take too long.

3) Add the stock, soy sauce, and vinegar and bring to a boil. Once it boils crumble the brown sugar on top and mix well.

4) Stir the cornstarch mixture before adding it to the pork. Mix thoroughly and bring to a boil until the liquid has thicken. You may need to add more or less depending on where you are at. I usually dissolve 5 Tbsp cornstarch in a cup of water and add until a little at a time until the sauce has thickened. Now let the meat cool because it will reabsorb the juice/liquid/sauce.

 Dough:

I have been asked by others if I can substitute things to make this gluten free, wheat free, egg free, sugar free, etc. You can't. I've tried making this several ways and it never comes out right. This is also a half recipe, very few people I know have a mixer big enough to make a full batch.

**** Before I start I usually heat my oven to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and then I turn it off. The result is a very warm draft free place to let my dough proof. My oven cools fairly quick if yours maintains heat warm it to about 85 degrees and shut it off*******

5 tsp dry yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water (105-110 degrees)
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup Crisco or vegetable shortening
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
5-10 cups of flour (It depends on humidity. When I made the first batch it took 6 cups but for my second batch I used almost 10.)

1) Dissolve the yeast with 2 1/2 cups of water and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix well and set aside until bubbley. I wish I had the forethought to take a photo before I added the Crisco.

2) Slowly mix in the Crisco, salt, and egg on low. Using a dough hook gradually add the flour a cup at a time until the dough is no longer sticky and starts to form a ball.

3) Divide the dough into 2 parts and place them in large bowls draped with a damp paper towel. Let them proof for 30 minutes in a warm draft free area.

From there I punch down the dough and lightly roll it around while still inside the bowl. I really don't want to over work it.

Measure about 1/4 cup of dough and roll it into a ball in your hands. It may be sticky at first but once you've worked it, it should no longer be sticky.

Stretch out the dough, leaving the middle part thicker than the outer edges.

Spoon the meat mixture onto the middle of the dough. I can get a little more than 1/3 cup and still close it. Start off with less if you are not familiar with making steamed buns, about 2 1/2 Tbsp and work your way up.

Fold the edges over and pinch to seal. Once it is sealed roll the dough in your hands to reform a ball. Don't be to forceful or the filling will come out.

Place the bun on a cupcake liner and set on a plate, tray, or another area. You can let them proof if you'd like but I place mine in the steamer when I'm done with them and cook them. Steam the buns for 18 minutes they will poof up. Now do not be upset if they are pretty and round and poofy and when you move them they deflate and look yucky. It happens from the drastic change in temp and it depends if the steamer has too much water condensation. It will still taste great.

Here is a super sized sio pao for one of my boys! Love this kid he is like a little brother and he is so funny, too!!!

He didn't know how to smile because he took too big of a bite!

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask any questions! I'm still looking for feed back about a give away. Leave a comment if you are interested in free bento stuff.

Waiting....

I haven't forgotten about the blog. I'm looking for a tripod so I can post a video tutorial. I know that pictures can only show so much and I would like to show you what I am doing without accidently missing a step.

Before you even begin.....

I've been making bentos for almost 7 years, since I moved to Okinawa. About 4 years ago the bento made its way into the homes of the people across the States. Since I couldn't read or speak Japanese it was really hard for me to create the lunches I wanted for my kids. When I returned to the States I was so excited and happy that many blogs and websites about bento making popped up. The thing I disliked and still do, is hardly anyone explains how they made the bento or the recipe(s) they used. As you may have noticed from previous posts mine are simple. I really don't do extravagant bentos even though I would love to learn. I saw this amazing Kiki's Delivery Service bento where Kiki was holding her broom and Jiji was walking along some fruit. What did they use? How did they do it? Was it an edible print out? Did they draw it on some American cheese? Don't know. The caption stated something like my awesome Kiki. It took awhile but it was worth it. I especially love the cherries!...... How oh, bento master, did you make this masterpiece? No response. Anyways.... I've been asked by a couple of family members and a few friends exactly what you need to do before you get started.

Before you even open a bento box there are somethings you need to know.

• Cleanliness is the key. Most bentos are kept at room temperature until eaten. If you were touching your face while packing your food you have a greater risk of bacteria and germs growing. As a rule I gather EVERYTHING I need before I start cooking or cutting. To avoid contamination I usually have 3 cutting boards, 1 for fruits/veges, 1 for meats, and 1 for the cooked food. Any pots, pans, cooking utensils, cups, picks, I mean everything I need, I'll have set out.
• Wash your hands. I can not stress that enough. Touch your face; wash your hands. Move the hair out of your face; wash you hands. Touch the trash can; wash your hands. I think you get the drift.
• Make sure your food is completely cooled before placing food into the box or putting on the lid. 
• In Japan once the food has been prepped they touch it as little as possible. If they need to move something they use chopsticks or another utensil.
• When you are done with your lunch wash the bento. Maybe not the second you are done but don't leave it in your car, let it sit in the sink for a day, don't leave it on the counter. When you come home wash it and dry it with a paper towel to ensure it is cleaned quickly. Most bento boxes are plastic and plastic is porous. 
• I usually plan all my bentos on Sunday. I do a quick sketch and write what I would like to put in each one and go shopping if I need too. I do plan a completely different lunch menu from my dinner menu because I don't want the girls to get "worn out" with their food. J and I will eat leftovers and be perfectly happy with that. Once I have them planned and my shopping is done, I do what cutting I can that evening to minimize what work I'll have to do the each day. Make sure to cut one thing at a time and store it in the refrigerator quickly. Don't have all your vegetables sitting on the counter with the meat just waiting to be cut. If you need 2 carrots, cut them, put them in a container, and return them to the fridge before you start on another item. 
• If my bentos have rice or onigiri, rice balls, I usually make what I need for the week on Sunday and freeze the ones for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday's lunches. Just tightly wrap each one with plastic wrap. I will pull them out the night before and let them defrost in the fridge. 
• Before I start my box I'll wash my hands and place whatever liners or cups I need. 

Now that you know the basic handling of bento lunches you can start making fun lunches. As I said previously, start off small. Buy some cute cupcake liners or some shaped silicone cups. Buy a pack or two of cookie cutters and some little food picks. Once you get the hang of it branch out. If you haven't read my blog before, I posted a Wal-mart bento when I first started this blog to show how simple it can be. Both of my girls were about to hit a growth spurt and during this time they eat A LOT. There was a lot of food inside but you know yourself and/or your child well enough to know how much you should or shouldn't pack. Once again please take the time to leave a comment about what you would like to see about bentos and if you are interested in a bento supply giveaway. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. If you enjoyed my blog please feel free to share it. Here are some pics  from my fb of lunches that weren't too fancy or detailed. Happy Bento-ing! 

Bento!

So I've noticed I really don't like bento blogs. I'm realizing that most bento-ers have read books on the subject and don't give any directions or recipes on the blog. I, myself, have been guilty of posting pictures and just telling you what is in it. Today will be one of those posts. I have spent HOURS looking online for inspiration, recipes, or some kind of guidance to create better and more creative lunches. Mine are usually basic and self explanatory. I'm not doing it anymore. I will start posting recipe, giving directions, and taking requests. Tomorrow  I plan on posting about how to start bento making. I think I may do a give away too. Once I figure out how to do so on blogspot. So here are the girls' lunches for today. 

Boo has rice, carrots, and spam in the bottom tier. 

On the top tier she has stir fried bok choy, a chicken nugget, watermelon, and pineapple.

Lily had watermelon and kiwi in her snack container.

For lunch she had asparagus, pork stuffed bell peppers, ranch, an egg flower, carrots, and rice.

Please leave a comment on your thoughts about having more details about bento making, a give away, and please share my blog if you enjoy it. Thanks again, V. 

Apologies

So my many viewers   For my faithful few viewers I would like to apologize for not posting in quite sometime. Shortly after my last post we received orders to move to Japan. Not knowing how long it would be before I could see my family again, we decided to take a trip to visit my mommy, daddy, and the rest of my large family. We enjoyed the beach, rock Disneyland until my children passed out on Main Street, ate as much Mexican food as humanly possible, and made some AWESOME memories. For anyone who has moved with the military knows the process varies from company to company. Since we were on recruiting and not located on or near a base this was an annoying, difficult, pain staking, educational experience. We have been in Japan since January and in our house since February. Our stuff arrived in March and we have been slowing unpacking. Taking all of this into account our lives have been a little upside down. So to make it up to you, I am posting pictures of the lunches I have made out here and a recipe for broccoli beef my neighbor shared with me. I tweaked it a little... Her recipe called for what I thought was a lot of wine.

I have two versions of this recipe. One recipe has to marinade overnight and the other just needs to marinade for a couple of hours.

Overnight marinade: 

4 tsp cooking oil
4 Tbsp of Japanese soy sauce 
2 Tbsp of dry white wine or sake 
1-4 tsp sugar or more. Taste after each tsp to make sure it isn't to sour. Depending on the wine or sake it may be a little sour.  

Couple of hours marinade:

4 tsp cooking oil
4 Tbsp of Japanese soy sauce 
2 Tbsp of lemon juice or any other acidic juice 
1-4 tsp sugar or more. Taste before adding the meat if it is really sour add some more sugar. 

The differences between marinades is lemon juice or any other acidic juices will cause the meat to become tough after a couple of hours. I don't like using the white wine because I don't use the bottle before it goes bad. If you like wine or plan to make a variety of recipes using white wine it may work for you. Being overseas I can't find small bottles of wine.

The remaining ingredients are

2 tsp cornstarch
4 Tbsp oyster sauce
 2 Tbsp cooking sake or cooking wine

4 tsp cooking oil
4 tsp garlic
2 tsp ginger

3/4 lb flank steak
As much broccoli as you would like we use about 1 1/2 lbs


1) Cut the flank steak diagonally against the grain about 1/2 inch thick.

2) Mix all the marinade ingredients together and place in a glass or plastic dish. Add the sliced meat and toss. Cover and marinade overnight or for 2 hours. Take out of the refrigerator and mix with cornstarch. Let the mixture rest on the counter while you finish the next steps. 

3) My preferred method to bring a small amount of water to boil and steam the broccoli. If you prefer to blanch the broccoli then you may do so. Here in our house we prefer crunchy broccoli. My neighbor likes it  noodle limp. Cut broccoli florets and place aside while the water heats up.  Cook according to your preference and set aside. 

4) Mince the garlic and ginger. I grate the ginger using a ginger grater like this one.

5)  Heat a skillet or wok with cooking oil. Stir fry the garlic and ginger for 45 seconds before adding the sliced beef, stirring frequently until just cooked. I like mine medium well. 

6) Turn off the heat and quickly mix in the oyster sauce and cooking sake. Toss in the broccoli and you're done. It is a really easy recipe that as become a regular dish in our house. I like the version with lemon juice better. You will have to taste the marinade before you add the meat. I have had some lemons that weren't too sour and 4 tsp of sugar was too much. Other times I've had lemons so sour it strips the enamel off my teeth. For my foodie friends you'll notice this isn't flank steak. My HD bought the wrong one and I didn't notice until I went to make dinner. 

Can't WAIT!!!

I have had a LOT of ideas running about my head and I can not WAIT until I get some of them blogged! I'm taking a men's shirt and turning it into a skirt, I may be turning ties into a dress, I want to transfer photos onto a canvas, make a Peter Pan light for the girls, and much more. I do have several dresses I'm going to sew this weekend, so expect some posts people!!!!

More teacher gifts.

So we reached the end of the school year. I've noticed most parents don't give end of the year gifts or letters of appreciation. I think it has become common for us to under estimate the extent of drama and just "crap" that our teachers go through from students, from parents or from the administration. One of the moms in Lily's class had the day off to attend the kindergarten graduation (don't get me started on that) which I thought was nice so she could support her child. It ended much sooner then she expected, when she got ready to leave, I asked if she was going to take her child. Her response shocked me. She said, "I didn't take the day off to deal with his/her bull s*** and drama. I'm going home to enjoy myself. He/she can stay here." Really? You don't want to be around your child on your day off? What makes you think it is the teacher's job to deal with their crap? I believe teachers deserve some kind of recognition to tell them, "I appreciate you. I appreciate that you go above and beyond to teach my child and every other child on good days and bad days. I understand we are a team to educate and enrich my child. Here is just a token for doing such an excellent job on your part." A letter, a flower, a little box of chocolates, photos, anything just to says thanks.

I had a hard time this year coming up with an idea. While eating my lunch and correcting children in the cafeteria, one of the lunch attendants said, "I would love to sit in the bath and relax right now. Thank goodness we only have 5 days left." That's it!!!! A relaxation themed gift basket! So the search for baskets was on! It quickly died. I couldn't find small baskets anywhere. Normally when I go to thrift stores like Goodwill I can find something. Nope. Na-da. None. Eight thrift stores and not one basket that would fit my purpose. What are you going to do now, oh Wise One? Enter the Mason jar. Dang I thought she wouldn't figure it out...

Let me see what to put inside my Mason jar of relaxation?

I put inside small tubes of foot exfoliant, foot soak, foot cream, bath salts, pumice stone, nail kit, face mask,and last but not least chocolates. Well you can't relax without chocolates!!! 

It goes without saying just arrange the items inside the jar so that everything fits. You may have to try a couple of times. Really, you don't say?

Add some ribbon and a tag, if you'd like, and you have a perfect little gift for a friend, teacher, co-worker, just about anyone. Wow you expect me to afford that? It looks a little price-y for a gift.

Think you can't afford it? Think again. 

Mason Jar:  $0.91

Foot products $3.12

Pumice stone $1.08

Nail supplies $1.09

Face mask $1.62

Candy $0.76

Bag of bath salt $0.27

Ribbons and tag $0.33

Total price $9.18 which includes tax. 

I made a total of 20 of these. I had a great buy from Sally's Beauty Supplies. I got 3 bath fizzes for $0.98, 3 pumice stones for $1.07, body wash and lotion combo packs $0.50 each, and manicure sets with nail file, cuticle scissors, tweezers, and nail clippers $0.60 each. I had enough to make 8 of those jars. If you find a great buy like I did you could possibly make a jar packed full of goodies for $5.68. Anything you gift to someone is appreciated. I was told yesterday by most of the teachers and staff that they loved the goodies and were looking forward to using it on their official last day of school. 

Please don't think this is limited to bath supplies. I made one today (which now I'm beating myself up for not getting a picture before I gave it) with a first aid supplies, one with kitchen goodies, one with office supplies, and with just yum-yums.

The first aid one had:

band aides

alcohol wipes

small tube of antibacterial cream

small tube of Ibuprofen

tweezers

small tube of Benedryl cream 

small tube of hydrocortisone cream 

The kitchen gift jar had:

Thermometer 

melon baller

vegetable peeler

small bottles of spices and extracts from a local farmers market

The office supply one had:

small bags filled with paper clips, thumb tacks, and the like

post it notes

letter opener

tape 

high lighters

pens

mechanical pencils

Hope to see you again. Same Ronnie place, same Ronnie channel, same Ronnie-ness