Crab Rangoon and Bonito Risotto

I decided to make crab rangoon after watching Ming Tsai make lemongrass and lobster rangoon.  I had some Cape Cod blue crab left and was in the mood.  They were pretty good but I would make some changes next time.  Joe doesn't like them too cream cheese-y.  But I like it with lots of cream cheese.  Joe also does not like crab much, so I wanted to make a good balance for him.

8 oz cream cheese
8 oz crab meat (I ended up using about 10 oz, and I think next time I will use 7 oz)
water chestnuts, diced fine
salt and pepper
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp soy sauce
2 scallions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp red onion, diced fine

I used maybe 2 teaspoonfulls of filling in each wrapper, and I made a couple shapes when I folded them.  I sealed them with egg wash (1 yolk and some water).  I fried them in oil for about 90 seconds.  By the way, they yield 48 rangoons, so I froze what we were not going to cook.

As for the risotto, I stupidly did not taste the broth I cooked with, so it came out WAY too salty, but I will definitely change the recipe here.

Arborio rice
bonito broth (I used a granulated formula mixed with chicken broth, soy sauce, fish sauce and sugar... but I would probably use just water next time)
1 cup white wine for deglazing
Broccoli
black pepper
1 shallot, diced fine
1 clove garlic, minced
grated parmesan cheese

I made it just like any other risotto- but I chose a bonito flavor because I was making crab rangoon... Asian and Asian.  Bonito broth has the flavor of most tempura dipping sauce or Japanese fried tofu sauce- for those of you who do not know what I am talking about.  I always used to put the sauce on my rice and that is what inspired this dish.  I wanted to bulk up the veggies so I added broccoli.

Here are some photos.

I hope you try these recipes because they were great- and if you use my changes they'll be much tastier for you!

Sienna updates

Sienna has grown so much over the past month!  She is finding new places she can jump and we are looking forward to having the toilet training kit arrive.  I like to walk around the house barefoot, but when I step into the bathroom it's like walking on the beach.  Everyday I need to sweep or vacuum!

I can't wait to train her to use the toilet and we are confident she'll learn to use it fairly easily.  In the meantime, we have put her litter box on top of the toilet so she understands to go up there.

She went to her first vet appointment with few hassles.  She did touch the doctor's sterilizing liquid and was not pleased when the doctor washed out her mouth, haha.  The next appointment will include shots (eek!)

She's an eating, playing machine!  We're still working on behavior training, but when she's being good she's SO CUTE.

I bathe her a couple times a week so she gets used to water- but she now enjoys jumping into the tub or sink and drink any dripping water.  Or just hang out in there.

She took a trip to the Cape with me to visit my parents.  She loves the big house- compared to our apartment.

That's about it.  Here are some photos: old and new.

8 weeks old

10 weeks old

 13 weeks old:

 where's the kitty?

 haha

We love her so much and look forward to what she'll be like as she gets older.

Rest In Peace, Paw Paw

I have been "away" for a while.  My grandmother passed last month and I was at the mercy of the family's schedule.  It was not so much unexpected as unwanted.  

She lived a great life, full of more experiences than most people could hope for.  I am unsure, but she was somewhere around 93 years old.  She came from China during the war, with her husband and son, and they made their life in New York with four more children.

I was never able to speak with her because I could not speak Chinese and she could speak very little English.  But I adored her and she made me proud of who I am.  She gave me my Chinese name and she gave me the passion to cook.  She was so loved.  Her three living children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren will miss her.

She is with her husband now, finally, after about 30 years apart.  As well as with her two daughters, taking care of them all.

Rest In Peace, Paw Paw.  We love you.