Fried Rice

2nd of the 2 fried rice dishes posted here...

TIPS:
1. Pre-cook the rice and chill overnight in the refrigerator. This will give the rice separation and not stick to each other when you stir-fry the rice together with the other ingredients.
2. Instead of adding extra oil to fry the rice during the cooking process (when you see that the rice is dry or it is starting to burn), use broth or water to moisten the rice.

Tofu Patties

Do not fear tofu. Tofu is versatile, and can be included in many dishes. The flavor is bland to mild, so it is easy to accommodate into a variety of flavored dishes.

For a quick tofu dish that is high in protein and low in fat, make tofu patties seasoned with salt and pepper and whatever spice you desire. Saute in a bit of oil on both sides until golden brown, and serve.

For an asian taste, season with soy sauce instead of salt and add drops of sesame oil to marinade. You could also try for an Italian version and sprinkle Italian seasoning and pair it with tomato sauce at the end. If you like the taste of India, use curry powder to enhance the flavor of India. As you can see, tofu is not as difficult as you may think.

Labne - Kefir Cheese

I purchased a 16 ounce tub of homemade labne, aka kefir cheese, at the local international supermarket. It resembles mascarpone, only sour. The soft and creamy consistency is mild and its texture is soft and smooth.

You can serve it alone as a light snack or an accompaniment to anything else. It pairs well with bagels or veggie sticks.

I have made home made kefir cheese by over-fermenting kefir until the separation occurs into curds and whey. It does not look this smooth, but resembles more of a cottage cheese consistency.

Japanese cuisine

Fresh seafood and meat at a good Japanese restaurant ranks high on my list of favorite foods. Above photos show an assortment of fresh sushi, fried whole soft shelled crab, and lime juiced raw beef.

Mochi - Rice Cake

Glutinous rice cakes with sweet fillings inside. Any type of sweet filling can make mochi unique. You can coat the outside of the cake (to prevent sticking) with either some type of flour/starch or coconut shreds or sesame seeds.  The photos above show versions of peanut candy powder and melted chocolate.

Diner food

I choose diner food before fast food. Food is fast but doesn't look as fast as fast food. Sometimes I just crave milkshake, burger, and fries.