The Mouse’s haul from the grocery store, all orange dotted, end of day reductions. Fried chicken and SPAM bento, donut, fried rice and egg bento, apple turnovers. Mmm.
Fruit
Proof The Mouse tries to eat balanced. Grapes, orange, banana. 🙂
Part II of yesterday’s pork and prune dish. shout out to Mr. S (small-kid time) for the inspiration. The Mouse added an egg in The Cat’s leftover.
The last Costco run, The Cat bought a package of prunes. The package sat in the pantry. The Mouse has been nibbling, but not a favorite.
The Mouse looked for a recipe that would incorporate pork and prunes. Found one.
The Mouse took a piece of pork rib, five or six prunes, enough water to braise. Added ginger and coconut vinegar (whatever was in the pantry). One wood-ear fungus, rehydrated, boiled, sliced into strips.
Before serving, added head cabbage. A German chef once told The Mouse that pork, cabbage and vinegar works well.
The Mouse had a meeting in town. Picked up food take-out.
Omelet Sandwich
One of The Cat’s favorite. Two meals.
Loco Moco
Two restaurants in the same strip mall. This loco moco was a little meh. The beef patties were pre-made. The Mouse was hoping for hand-formed. Oh well.
The Mouse, small-kid time, used to see ads in comics about capsules that when thrown in water would expand into animals, fish, etc. Do those trinkets still exist?
Anyway, The Mouse had a flashback while prepping wood-ear fungus. hee hee.
Before
The quarter is for size reference.
After
Soaked in boiling water. Expanded to at least twice its dried size. “Release the Kraken”? Hee hee.
The Mouse had in mind something else for lunch but the meeting ended too early and time was too early for the tea house to open. The Mouse was thinking about the Taiwan pork floss omelet sandwich but ended up with the tic-tac-toe instead. A good substitute. 🙂
The other day, The Cat had an event that needed her office building’s security/maintenance personnel assistance. To thank them she picked up pastries for snacks. She also picked up for her office minions.
Pastries
The Cat brought home the double chocolate coffee cake (bottom right) for The Mouse. Is it only The Mouse or does the arrangement kinda look like a Tetris puzzle piece? Hee hee.
The Mouse bought a container of beet powder from a “dress for less” store. Go figure. Hee hee.
Container
Powder
Drink
Texture was a little powdery, not too offensive. Taste, a little earthy, little sweet. Funny, taste kinda reminded The Mouse of artificial strawberry powder for milk, except not so sweet.
The Cat and The Mouse don’t mind leftovers. Yesterday eats.
Shoyu Pork, Toasting Bread Ends
The Mouse likes the bread ends the bakery cuts off and sells separately (cheap eats). Never know what’s in the package, could be whole wheat, white, etc. In the last purchase, it was toasting bread ends. Different from plain white bread, texture is finer. The Mouse wished he had French baguettes on hand, but the toasting bread was close enough.
The Mouse added dried green vegetable and cauliflower in the reheat. The shoyu pork sauce was good for dipping
Soup
Leftover oxtail soup. The Mouse added wakame, canned bamboo shoot, frozen mixed vegetables, instant ramen, and white stemmed cabbage in the reheat. 🙂
At first, The Cat wanted to visit a bakery in town, and look for good ma-po tofu. But yesterday being Mother’s Day, there may be crowd issues. In the end, The Cat and The Mouse stayed in the neighborhood and ate comfort food.
Oxtail Soup
Instead of noodles, The Cat requested rice, more traditional. A better choice.
The Mouse didn’t have ume (hence the pickled grapes) nor capers. Other than that, mmm. 🙂
Fruit
Oranges and grapes, to balance the breakfast.
Lao-Thai Plate
The Cat had lunch with a business associate, he ordered the plate above, mild. Served too spicy, had to be sent back.
The Cat had better luck.
Caramelized Pork Bell
Braised pork belly with hard-boiled eggs, star anise, herbs and spices. The Mouse thinks Lao-Thai version of shoyu pork. Leftover for The Cat’s bento this week.
The Cat took a family friend to lunch to catch-up. On line menu pictures indicated that Hainan Chicken Rice was a lunch special. Unfortunately, since the picture was posted, there was a change in ownership.
The Cat had to order ala carte.
Fried Pork Chop
Green Beans with Minced Pork
Fried Rice
The Cat said everything was ok, just ok. The Mouse fully understands, when your mind is set on a dish and circumstances beyond your control intercede, the stomach is not satisfied. The search for Hainan chicken rice continues.
One of The Mouse’s go-to places not-so-small-kid time (think teen years) was Rainbow Drive-In. Their boneless chicken with gravy was the bomb!
Restaurant has franchised, a location on the way to or back from Costco makes access a little easier. Hee hee.
Restaurant listed a student special #2, The Mouse inquired if he could order, the server didn’t say no.
The Mouse and The Cat shared.
Chili and Rice Bowl
Chunky ground beef. Mmm. A close second to Zippy’s vegetarian chili. Same but different. Apples and oranges. Hee hee.
Fries
Pretty large portion. The Cat and The Mouse shared.
Slush Float
Strawberry slush with soft-serve ice cream. First time try for The Cat. Slush float used to be one of The Mouse’s favorites. But then, he developed lactose intolerance. Sigh.
At first, The Cat thought the slush float would be too sweet without trying. Result is The Cat liked. Paws up.
All three as a combo, less than eight bucks. Cheap eats!
Kinda. Last month’s special at Ruby Tuesday, all pasta dishes discounted. The Cat and The Mouse made it in on the last day.
Grilled Chicken and Brocolli Pasta
All of the pasta selections contained dairy, The Mouse went with an alternative.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Baked Potato
A very good alternative to a burger (and a dollar or so cheaper). Baked potato substituted for fries (and amout 200 calories less). Less less, win win. Hee hee.
Unplanned. Original plan was Ruby Tuesday, but the kitchen was short-handed and backed up. Next door to Big City Diner.
Vegetable Stir-Fry, White Rice
Both The Cat and The Mouse order. There is a shoyu-ginger “glaze” but The Mouse squirted a little yellow mustard and ketchup, and a sprinkle of black pepper. Mmm 🙂
Because dinner was healthy, The Mouse balanced with an order of apple pie.
Apple Pie, Whipped Cream on the Side
The Mouse thinks this is the best apple pie. Two puff pastry squares sandwiching a generous scoop of apple pie filing with raisins. Mmm again. 🙂 🙂
Yesterday, The Mouse thawed out the bento, packed the rice and butterfish into her bento today (she can microwave it). The Mouse lightly steamed the maki sushi and inari sushi and lightly toasted the potato croquette and sesame mochi ball for lunch. The gyoza, burdock, and cucumbers went into The Cat’s chicken foot (one foot) soup.
The Cat comes home for dinner since tax season is taking a break. “Light soup” is the special of the day.
One chicken foot, wood-ear fungus, fresh ginger, and coconut vinegar to simmer. Soba noodles and white stem cabbage just before service, The cucumber, burdock root, and gyoza to finish.
Chicken Foot Soup
Oh yeah, a splash of whiskey to get the soup happy. Hee hee.
The Cat’s. Although The Mouse had to finish the leftover. Mmm.
Vegetable Benedict
The Mouse’s. Tomato and spinach. More mmm.
The deal-maker was the accompanying fruit. The Mouse thought it might be a few pieces, slice of pineapple (we were in Waikiki after all), one orange wedge or slice, one or two berries. Turned out, The Cat and The Mouse got a bowl.
Fruit Bowl
Strawberries, green grapes, red grapes, blackberries, blueberries, orange, and mint.
The price of the benedicts were reasonable themselves but the included fruit bowl made the breakfast kinda a bargain. Worth a return visit. 🙂
The Mouse, scrounging through the pantry, refridge, and freezer. 🙂
Lunch
Instant ramen (no soup packet), fresh carrot, frozen cauliflower, wakame, sea salt, black pepper, Sichuan pepper, and turmeric. Oh, and a tin of sardines. The Mouse thinks without the sardines, the bowl would have looked less “ugly”. Hee hee. Not only filled The Mouse up, it was tasty too. 🙂
The Mouse was kinda weirded out. To The Mouse the bunny looked a little zombie-ish, what do you think? Hee hee.
First Plate
Plumeria House Signature Misoyaki Butterfish, Chicken Marsala with Sauteed Mushrooms (shiitake and morel mushrooms), Atlantic Salmon, Fennel and Orange, Ahi Sashimi, Pickled Ginger, Spring Leg of Lamb (end piece). Mmm x 5. Hee hee.
Plate #2
Poached Shrimp, Mixed Spring Greens topped with Smoked Salmon, more Salmon, fennel, and orange, and more Misoyaki Butterfish. More Mmm!
Dessert Plate
Lilikoi Meringue Tart (best on the plate), Chocolate Mousse Cake (second best), Carrot Pineapple Cake (third), Hot Cross Bun (really dry), Coconut Macaroon (honorable mention), Ginger Snap.
Musical Styling
Brunch music. Other than not too many people were paying attention, it is background music after all, the gig seemed idyllic (fresh air, cool breeze, sunshine). The Mouse left him a small tip just to let him know he was appreciated.
The Mouse, throwing stuff together, one bowl eats.
Oatmeal and Fava Beans
Leftover rehydrated fava beans, oatmeal, wakame seaweed. The Mouse wanted savory breakfast but also wanted oatmeal. Actually not bad. Not everyday, but once in a while. While eating, The Mouse was thinking about the movie Oliver. Hee hee.
Lunch.
Turmeric Ramen with Cauliflower and Fishcake
The Mouse did not use the included soup packet, sea salt (little bit), and turmeric instead. Not yellow snow. Hee hee.
The Mouse then made a broth/soup of lotus seed, dried fava bean, wood-ear fungus, carrot. Simmer for a few hours, cool. Pour over rice and fish. One bowl eats.
Oxtail soup to start The Cat’s week. Go-to Japanese/Pho Restaurant in the neighborhood.
Oxtail Soup
The Mouse was going to order a steamed fish filet with ginger, kitchen was out. Sigh. Alternative was chicken katsu.
Chicken Katsu
There are now two places in the neighborhood that The Mouse can go for chicken katsu, which could be both good and bad. Good is that food is good, bad because The Mouse should be eating healthier. Moderation.
The Mouse also ordered a plate of spring rolls.
Spring Rolls
The vegetables and noodles give the impression of being “healthier”. Hee hee.
The Mouse never could slice SPAM uniformly. Was a little skeptical, the gadget was not as easy as expected, the wires used to slice are not too sharp, but got the job done.
Sliced SPAM
Perfect timing. The Mouse picked up a package of sliced bread from the grocery store. Not toast thick, sandwich thin.
Fried the SPAM, sprinkled with a tiny bit of sugar and ground Szechuan pepper (the numbing spice). Wood ear fungus for vegetable.
The Mouse at home. The Cat at work. The Mouse will eat funny. Not funny haha, funny, hmm.
The Mouse has been eating oatmeal for breakfast for a couple of weeks. Yesterday, changed up just a bit. Instead of adding stevia, cinnamon, and raisins, The Mouse added seashell pasta, mixed vegetables, salt, pepper, and turmeric. The Mouse felt savory.
Savory Oatmeal/Pasta
Dinner was “healthy”.
Wood-ear fungus “salad”, salt and vinegar dressing.
Wood-Ear Fungus
Funny, The Mouse doesn’t like salt and vinegar seasoned fried chicken (popular in SPAM Land) but likes the flavoring with the fungus.
The Mouse was in the mood for miso soup.
Miso Soup
Instant miso soup, white stem cabbage remnants. Mmm.
The Mouse doesn’t know what the original price was (guess less than $5.00) marked down to $0.99. The Mouse compares it to Vegemite. Lots of umami. Inside pics later.
Late visit to farmers market at the mall.
One vendor, trying to not take home leftovers, offered The Mouse a two-fer.
Lemongrass Fried Chicken Wings
Normally $7.00.
Fried Stuffed Chicken Wings
Normally $8.00
Two containers $10.00. One-third off. Not too bad. 🙂
The chicken wings could be part of three, maybe four meals. Mmm.
Dunno if it is the season but The Mouse has been eating more fish (not canned sardines or tuna) lately.
Fish Filet with Choi Summ
One of the lunch specials from the neighborhood chop suey. Price slightly reduced with rice included. The Mouse thought the fish would be steamed, but turned out fried. Still tasty, although The Mouse would probably not order too often.
Salmon Bento
Although The Mouse shared a portion with The Cat, The Mouse ate the majority.
Butterfish Bento
The Cat’s lunch.
All of the meals were kinda cheap eats, especially in light of the recent rise in turmoil.
Dunno why, many restaurants were at capacity for dinner last night. The Cat was hangry with an a. Ended up at curry/ramen shop at the mall instead of The Cat and The Mouse’s normal eating spots. Combo meals.
Ramen and Won Ton Ramen
Not bad, decently edible. The won ton even contained shrimp. While not gourmet, definitely satisfying.
Gyoza
Several levels above average. The Mouse wouldn’t mind going back for more. Mmm.
Vegetable Croquette Curry and “Mapo Tofu”
The vegetable croquette was more like a asian hash brown, The Mouse didn’t mind. The mapo tofu was not mapo tofu sauce but curry sauce. The Cat didn’t like. The Mouse will eat for breakfast after posting this.
In conclusion, the ramen, plus, the gyoza, plus plus, the curry, one neutral, one kinda fail. Two or two and a half out of three (Meatloaf power singing in the background, RIP).
After doctor appointment. “Japanese” bakery, conveniently next to grocery store.
Loaf
Bakery will slice various thicknesses based on customer request. The Mouse requested 2mm (first time experience for The Mouse), a little thick, that’s okay, good toasting width. Next time, The Mouse thinks 1.5mm for general use.
Onion Pastry
A little spicy. Would have been great with a side burger patty. Hee hee.