Peach Smoothie

It was so hot and humid today!  The Azuki BeaN Mamas were rushing to get some important mail out and tallying up proceeds from their book sale.  Little BeaN meanwhile created this delicious refreshing drink for us.  Love the taste of summer peaches and the sweetness of our Little BeaNs!

Peach Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 C ice
3 C orange Juice
2 ripe peaches
1/2 C almond milk
1/4 C half and half


Directions:
1.  Cut up peaches
2.  Add all the ingredients in a blender
3.  Blend it all together until frothy and delicious!


Thank you Little BeaN for thinking of us.  I guess we can't call you "Little" anymore since you're
way taller than Chef Azuki and I.  Love that you shared your recipe with us.  Thanks for the refreshing smoothie on a hot and hectic day.

BeaNspiration:  It nice to have our kids treat us to wonderful surprises!

Asian style spinach

Today the Little BeaNs were having pizza.  Chef Azuki and I didn't really feel like pizza so we looked in the refrigerator to see what we could quickly whip up.  Chef Azuki had some spinach and a lot of rice that she already had cooking for dinner.  We decided some tofu and spinach would be perfect with the rice.  As usual, Chef Azuki added her special touch and created a  dish with gluten-free tamari light soy sauce.  Hubby BeaN is trying to eat less gluten so we were testing the taste of the gluten-free soy sauce.  It was delicious!

Asian Style Spinach

Ingredients:

3 C  coarsely chopped spinach
1 Tbsp gluten free tamari light soy sauce
3 stalks of green onions, chopped
1/2 cloves garlic or a dash of garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
Shaved bonita flakes or sesame seeds for garnish

Directions:

1.  Wash spinach and put it in a pot.  The leaves will be wet, don't dry it off.
2.  Cover the pot and heat on medium for 5-6 minutes.
3.  Put spinach in a colander and use tongs to squeeze out water,
     pressing it against the side of the colander.
4.  Add soy sauce, chopped green onions, garlic or garlic powder, and sesame oil
5.  Toss together
6.  Put a mound on a small dish and sprinkle with shaved bonita flakes
     or sesame seeds


This was just delicious with tofu cubes and rice.  The spinach was flavorful and delicious and a great compliment to the tofu and rice.  Shaved bonita flakes can be found in Japanese specialty markets.  If you can't find it, sesame seeds are a great substitute.  You can find sesame seeds in the spice area of the supermarket.

BeaNspiration:  Sometimes you can create a little magic with everyday items!

Black Cod

Blogger BeaN's hubby returned from Alaska with Black Cod.  Chef Azuki loves black cod and made this sweet and savory black cod dish for her family.  This fish is soft, silky and moist.  It's a unique and delicious experience.  Try it, you'll love it!

Black Cod

Ingredients:
1/2 C mirin
1/2 C water
1/2 C shoyu (soy sauce)
1/4 C sugar
1 T sesame oil
1/4 tsp onion salt
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
4-5 generous filets of black cod


Directions:
1.  Add mirin, water, shoyu, sugar and sesame oil in bowl
2.  Put the fish in a skillet and pour sauce liberally over the fish
3.  Heat on the stove at medium heat for about 20 minutes
4.  Place the fish in a bowl and spoon some sauce over it
5.  Sprinkle green onions on top

Have this fish with rice and enjoy!  It melts in your mouth!


BeaNspiration:  Be surprised by the flavor and texture of life!

Easy Quiche

Today, Chef Azuki made quiche.  I always thought quiche was difficult, but with ready-made refrigerated pie crusts and left over roasted chicken, this dish was put together in a few minutes. The hardest part was waiting for it to bake.

Easy Quiche

Ingredients:
1 ready made refrigerator pie crust
1 1/2 C shredded Mexican blend cheese
4 tsp flour
1 C shredded cooked roasted chicken
3 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 C fresh spinach, chopped

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.  Line a pie pan with the refrigerator pie crust
3.  Poke holes in the bottom with a fork
4.  Bake pie crust for 5 minutes (this keeps the bottom from getting soggy)
5.  Toss together cheese and flour
6.  Layer cheese mixture, chicken and spinach in crust
6.  Whisk together eggs and milk
7.  Pour the egg mixture over the other ingredients
8.  Bake for 30-40 minutes or until egg is cooked

This was delicious and so much easier to make than I thought.  In a few minutes it's ready for the oven and you can put up your feet and read a book for half an hour while it bakes.

BeaNspiration:  Something exquisite can be made by mixing together the simplest ingredients.

Salmon Steaming in the Oven

Here's a delicious easy way to make fish.  Chef Azuki melds the flavors in foil packages for delicious results!

Steamin' Salmon

Ingredients:
1/2 C Sugar
1/2 C Shoyu (Soy Sauce)
1/4 C Mirin
1/2 tsp onion salt
1 tsp sesame oil
3-4 salmon fillets (24 oz)
16 asparagus stalks, remove bottom inch or so (where it snaps off)
1 box of mushrooms
1/2 red bell pepper
1 bunch of green onions
Foil


Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
1.  Combine Sugar, shoyu, mirin, onion salt and sesame oil
2.  Split salmon fillets
3.  Slice mushrooms and bell peppers
4. Remove the ends of the asparagus
5.  Chop the onions
6.  Package the salmon, sauce, asparagus, mushrooms, bell pepper and green onions in foil packages
7.  Bake in oven about 20 minutes

Then take it out of the oven and serve.  It's so juicy being steamed in it's own juices in the foil package.  You can even make this on a camping trip.  The little BeaNs ate their fish all up!

BeaNspiration:  Sometimes it's all in the packaging!

Strawberry Almond Tart

Chef Azuki created the most delectable strawberry tart. We both love sweet almond flavor and fragrance and so she combined almond extract with spring strawberries to make an outstanding dessert.

Strawberry Almond Tart

Ingredients:
1 C flour
1 tsp. baking powder
tiny pinch of salt
1 stick unsalted butter
1 C sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. almond extract
1 basket of strawberries sliced
Juice from half a lemon
1 Tbsp extra sugar


Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.  Mix together flour, baking powder and salt
3.  In separate bowl mix butter and sugar until fluffy
4.  Add eggs and beat into butter mixture
5.  Mix in almond extract
6.  Add flour a little at a time and mix together
7.  Put dough in a greased spring-form pan
8.  Place a single layer of sliced strawberries on top
9.  Squeeze lemon juice
10. Sprinkle on sugar
11. Bake in oven 30-40 minutes - until crust is golden
         (times will vary depending on your oven so start checking around 30 min)

The smell of the baking tart is tantalizing.  And the taste and texture is incredible.  It's in between a biscotti and cake.  I keep taking small slices, thinking I'm just tasting it and have almost eaten 1/4 of the tart by myself.  This is one dangerously delicious dessert!

BeaNspiration:  Mix and mingle with those things you love!

Poppy Seeds 'n Berries in Spring Fling Salad

As spring winds down and strawberry season is coming to an end, we're having our last fling with Spring.  Chef Azuki and I went to the grocery store today and just had to get the delicious looking berries that were on sale.  And just like that, Chef Azuki's mind began whirring and she created this refreshing and fantastically beautiful salad.  This is the perfect potluck salad!

Poppy Seed 'n Berries in Spring Fling Salad

Ingredients:

2 bags spring mix salad

1 dozen strawberries sliced

1/2 C blackberries

1/4 C raspberries

1/4 C blueberries

Dressing:

1/3 C sugar

1 1/2 tsp poppy seeds

1/3 C seasoned rice vinegar

1 C olive oil

1 tsp onion powder

Directions: 

1.  Prepare the dressing by putting all ingredients in a shaker bottle and shaking vigorously or
     you can whisk it in a bowl.

2.  Place lettuce on a platter and sprinkle the berries on top

3.  If the sugar has settled to the bottom, vigorously shake the dressing bottle and drizzle it on.

Serve on a decorative platter to showcase the treasures of spring.  What a beautiful display this
will make on any table!

BeaNspirations:  Delight you eyes with the bounty of spring and magical feelings arise!