Building The Cat’s Bento

The Mouse trying to add variety to The Cat’s bento.

Belly Pork

Poached the pork in water, whiskey, and apple cider vinegar.

Brussels Sprouts

.

Package of Yellow Rice and Pasta

Prepared the rice according to package instructions.

Yellow Rice

It’s okay to eat yellow rice, jus’ don’t eat yellow snow. Hee hee.

 

The Mouse did a quick sauté using the pork and a can of shredded bamboo shoot.

Pork with Shredded Bamboo Shoot

Didn’t get a sear on the pork. The Mouse didn’t want to haul out the big fry pan, used the non-stick mini pan instead, can’t crank the heat up on those pans. Still taste okay, just no color.

Toaster oven roasted the Brussels sprouts per The Barefoot Contessa’s instructions.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Does not include candied pecans like Herringbone, but The Mouse thinks tasty on its own. 🙂

And voila! packed everything into The Cat’s bento for Monday.

The Cat’s Bento

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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“Canned” Soup for The Cat

Newly purchased cans in the pantry.

First the winter bamboo shoots.

Winter Bamboo Shoots

Not much different from other canned bamboo shoots as far as The Mouse could tell, maybe just a little denser than others (cold weather?)

Next, the Szechuan preserved vegetable.

Preserved Vegetable

Mustard cabbage hearts in spicy paste (Chinese style kimchi?).

Rinsed off the paste (at least that’s how aunty taught The Mouse), otherwise too spicy.

Preserved Cabbage

Thinly cut the bamboo and mustard cabbage.

Bamboo and Mustard Cabbage

Water, soba noodle, bamboo, preserved vegetable, frozen mixed vegetable, Kaua‘i sea salt, egg, toasted sesame oil (at the end). The Mouse’s recipe, throw everything in the pot and hope for the best.

The Cat’s Noodle Soup

The Cat slurped.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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Stocking the Pantry

Chinatown “grocery” store. No fresh food, just dry and canned goods.

Bamboo Shoots

Dunno if there is a difference between winter and other seasons. Maybe The Cat knows.

Mushrooms

Looks like shiitake mushrooms to The Mouse. Picture when the can is opened.

Preserved Vegetable

The Mouse always knew this as spicy pickled mustard cabbage hearts. Condiment to noodles or steamed with sliced pork belly -Ono!

Mixed Grain Rice

Eventually end up in The Cat’s bento.

Sorghum Rice

An unfamiliar ingredient for The Mouse. A try try item. Have to Google.

Weather was still soggy yesterday (blue skies today) but cleared enough for The Mouse to venture out.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

 

 

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One-Pot Sunday

But first, a few of The Cat’s pictures from Saturday.

Collage

Curried mussels, chocolate mousse, resort pool area.

Now, Sunday’s one-pot dinner (with leftovers). No soup this week, The Cat’s schedule may be a little off kilter.

Pork Belly

 

Burdock Root (Gobo)

 

Dried Bamboo Shoot (Rehydrated)

 

First, par-boil pork belly and thinly slice

Add everything to pot with light and dark soy sauce, ginger, sugar, water, and splash of whiskey (or whisky). Braise for 90 minutes or a little longer.

Quick braised pork belly with bamboo and burdock root

Not very photogenic, but tasty. 🙂

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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A Preview

Pork belly defrosting in the refrig. New pot to open (it’s still in the box, picture(s) later). Dried bamboo shoots rehydrating.

Dried Bamboo Shoot

It’s gonna take a couple of days of soaking and changing the water.

Stay tuned.

Happy Friday!

Eat well.

The Mouse

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