How to Make Pusheen Dango 胖吉貓糰子

Recently, I’ve fallen in love with Dango 糰子.  Dango is a type of Japanese Wagashi 和菓子.  What are Wagashi?  They are traditional Japanese confections that are usually made of mochi and served with tea.  They could be elaborated with designs and fillings or as simple as these sesame dango, which are slightly sweetened but not filled.  Do you like these Pusheen dangos?  Aren’t they the most kawaii treats you’ve seen lately?   If you haven’t seen my Bunny Dango yet, you should click here to check them out and let me know which one you like better.



My Baby Girls and some of her friends are crazy about Pusheen lately!  I don't blame them!  This chubby little kitten is certainly super adorable!  If you’re not familiar with this cute Japanese Character, you can check out her own website here!



My version of dango are made with just a few simple ingredients.  I don’t use water to mix the dough but only used the moisture from the silken tofu.  The tofu not only added a hint of flavor to these dango, but also more nutritious.  It keeps the dango dough soft and smooth and quite easy to handle.  To achieve the grey color of Pusheen, I added some black sesame powder to the dango dough.  You can taste the sesame but not too strong.  Just keep in mind that if you add more sesame powder, the end product might turn out even darker.  As you can see, they do darken quite a bit after they’re cooked.  



To maintain the gorgeous figure of Pusheen, she has to consume quite a bit of yummy food every day!  Apparently, doughnuts are one of her favorites as you can see from the many pictures that she always seems to be holding one wherever she goes!  



These sesame Pusheen Dangos are delicious as the way they are, but you can also put them on other dessert as an edible decoration.  I made these strawberry pudding dessert cups with Pusheen Dango on top for a good friend’s daughter’s birthday party because Pusheen was the theme! 




This recipe is quite fun and easy to make and I hope you’ll give it a try soon!  Check out the list below for all the ingredients and special tools that I used for this recipe.  Stay tuned for more fun and yummy recipe soon!


Tools and Ingredients Used:
Edible Color Markers (Click here for more information)
Skimmer Strainer (Click here for more information)
Glutenous Rice Flour (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cups Set (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Bamboo Picks (Click here for more information)
Black Sesame Powder (Click here for more information)
Doughnut Shape Cereal (Click here for more information)
White Chocolate chips (Click here for more information)
Red Candy Melt (Click here for more information)
Wilton Rainbow Nonpareils (Click here for more information)
Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)
Parchment Paper (Click here for more information)



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Kid’s Bento Lunch Boxes Ideas

One of my favorite activities of the day is packing cute bento lunch boxes for my Kiddos.  As soon as October started, I’ve been making the lunch boxes with Halloween theme.  These lunch boxes are fun and festive.  It’s a way for me to send some love for the kiddos while they are at school.  The picture above is a spaghetti lunch box with Hello Kitty wearing a witch’s hat.  Kitty is made out of a slice of Muenster cheese.  The decorations are seaweed and soy wrappers.  The little pumpkin is a slice of carrot decorated with cut out seaweed. 



I love the Frankenstein bento as well.  It’s made out of a slice of Muenster cheese topped with a piece of green soy wrapper.  Click here to check out the package of soy wrapper that I used.  (I’ll list the tools and other ingredients at the end of this post for your reference as well.)   I absolutely love the soy wrappers as they are so colorful and easy to use.  Best of all, they are made with natural ingredients such as spinach, turmeric, and paprika to obtain those gorgeous bright colors. 




Here’s a simple one with ghosts and a broom stick.  Click here to check out the video tutorial on how to make the witch’s broom and the little ghosts were made out of mozzarella cheese balls decorated with cut out seaweeds.







The picture above is a bowl of Miso Noodle Soup that I made for my Hubby.  I’m sure we can all use some sunshine.  I feel happy just by looking at the cute face on the egg.



Have you heard of Gudetama?  It’s a Japanese cartoon character of an lazy egg (see picture above).  Click here to check out their Facebook page for some funny videos.  My kids and I always enjoy watching them together!



This little girl with spaghetti hair is one of my favorite.  It’s simple and adorable!






The little chick above is made with smoked salmon filled egg, check out this video for the tutorial and recipe.







My kids’ all time favorite got to be these piggy ham and cheese sandwiches along with Minions (see picture below)!  These lunch boxes are inspired by The Despicable Me 3 movie that we watched over the summer. The Minions are hard boiled eggs soaked in water and turmeric for the yellow color.  The decorations are cut out seaweeds.  I hope you enjoy today’s bento compilations and lunch box ideas!  If you have any questions, suggestions, or recipe requests, feel free to leave me a comment below. 

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Tools and Ingredients Used for Bento Boxes:
Bento Box 1 (Click here for more information)
Bento Box 2 (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Shape Cutter (Click here for more information)
Sandwich Cutters (Click here for more information)
Seaweed (Click here for more information)
Soy Wrappers (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 1 (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 2 (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 3 (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Kitchen Scissors (Click here for more information)
Turmeric (Click here for more information)

How to Make Chinese MahJong Coconut Osmanthus Jello 麻雀(麻將)椰汁桂花糕

Have you heard of one of the most popular Chinese card game called MahJong (麻雀 or 麻將 in Chinese)?  It’s one of my In-Law’s favorite game to play with friends and family.  I made these Chinese MahJong Coconut Osmanthus Jello 麻雀(麻將)椰汁桂花糕 to celebrate my Mother-In-Law’s birthday.  They were fun to make and absolutely fun to eat as well, especially if you’re eating the winning set of “tiles”!



When I was a little kid, I remember sitting next to my parents and watch them play MahJong during the Chinese New Year.   That was how I learned the rules for the game.  Back then, I was secretly hoping that they need to take a bathroom break so that I can sit-in as a substitute!  Those were some fun memories.



I got the MahJong Silicone Mold to make these Coconut Osmanthus Jello and the mold is super easy to use.  I’ll list the product link as well as the required ingredients at the end of this post for your convenience.  To mimic the actual MahJong tiles, I make these jello in 2 layers.  The bottom layer is made with coconut milk and the top layer is made with dried Osmanthus. 



For this recipe, I tested out a few times to get the perfect flavor and consistency.   My kids love the version with milk mixed with coconut milk.  I personally love a stronger coconut milk version.  I’ll list both of them in details in the recipe below so that you can choose for yourself. To color the wordings of the “MJ tiles”, I used my homemade beet root red food coloring (red), matcha green tea powder(green), and homemade red cabbage blue food coloring (blue).  I’ll list the links to the tutorial below for your reference.  Otherwise, you can use store-bought natural food coloring as well.



This plate above is the famous winning hand called 十三么.  Which is considered a rare hand to win because it’s not easy to collect all these tiles in a game.  But it’s a challenge that many MJ players would dream to get this hand in the game. 



These Coconut Osmanthus Jello not only look whimsical and realistic, they are also very refreshing and delicious!  If you know someone who love to play MahJong, you’ve got to try this recipe out!  Wish you all good luck in the game and have fun making this treat.  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy!  Thank you for stopping by and I’ll see you all next week!



Below is a picture consists of (one of each of) all the tiles in the MahJong Game.  You can look at this picture and reference back where to add the colored gelatin mixture when you make the recipe!  Have fun!




Link to Homemade Beet Root Red Food Coloring Tutorial
https://goo.gl/v7G49A
Link to Homemade Blue Food Coloring Tutorial
https://goo.gl/K6BDHM

Ingredients and Tools Used:
Chinese MahJong Silicone Molds (Click here for more information)
Calphalon Baking Pan (Click here for more information)
All Natural Food Colorings (Click here for more information)
Organic Coconut Milk (Click here for more information)
Unflavored Gelatin Powder (Click here for more information)
Dried Osmanthus (Click here for more information)
Large Measuring Cup (Click here for more information)
Strainers Set (Click here for more information)
Matcha Powder (Click here for more information)
Flat Top Wooden Spatula (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup Set (Click here for more information)



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Sumikko Gurashi Sushi Rice Balls 角落公仔壽司飯糰

Have you seen these cutie critters before?  They are called Sumikko Gurashi!  Aren’t they super adorable?  Today, I’m sharing a recipe with you that’s inspired by these super adorable characters from Japan: Sumikko Gurashi Sushi Rice Balls 角落公仔壽司飯糰.  If you’ve checked out my video tutorial above, you’ll also see the tools and ingredients that I used to make them.



It all started not long ago with a super soft and squishy plush toys that I got for my daughter from a Japanese store.  Ever since that day, we all fell in love with these cute little creatures!

Image from the web

Image from the web

What does Sumikko Gurashi means?  “Sumikko” means corner, and “Gurashi” means life.  Together, they can be translated to 'living in a corner,' as that’s what these little critters like to do.



From time to time when I see cute little Sumikko Gurashi products, I couldn’t resist but to take them home with me! 

Picture from web

In today’s recipe, I’m making these sushi rice balls stuffed with a creamy and smoked salmon filling.  The rice itself is seasoned with different ingredients for their natural colors and flavors.

First off, we have Neko Cat.  The rice is seasoned with cod powder for the umami flavor and gorgeous pink color.  It compliment the salmon fillings really well.



Next is Polar Bear.  I leave the rice plain on this one for the white color.  Its ears are decorated with pink Soy Wrappers that are so much fun and easy to use!  It’s mouth and legs are stamped out cheddar cheese and it’s eyes and hands are stamped out seaweeds.



Up next is Penguin!  The green color is from matcha green tea powder.  You can also substitute with spinach puree or other dark green vegetable puree if you have those on hand.  But the earthy green tea flavor truly balanced well with the smoky salmon inside these rice balls.



Last but not least, Tonkatsu!  Remember I shared my homemade Tonkatsu recipe with you not long ago?  It’s Japanese style pork cutlets!  See the resemblance?   For this one, I seasoned the rice with a little bit of light soy sauce for flavor and color.  They all turned out super yummy!

Image from web

How well did I I in in shaping and decorating these characters against the picture sample above?  Not bad, isn’t it?  I can’t wait to make “tail of fried shrimp”, “tapioca”, and “sparrow” next time!  They are all super duper cute!



I hope you enjoyed today’s video and recipe as much as we do.  My daughter and I had a fun time creating them together!  Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for more fun and kawaii recipe next week!  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy! 




Products, ingredients, and tools used in this post:
Sumikko Gurashi Cat Plush Toy (Click here for more information)Sumikko Gurashi Rice Ball Mold  (Click here for more information)
Soy Wrappers  (Click here for more information)Matcha Green Tea Powder (Click here for more information)
Sumikko Gurashi Chopsticks (Click here for more information)
Sumikko Gurashi Cup (Click here for more information)
Roasted Seaweed (Click here for more information)
Honey Smoked Salmon (Click here for more information)
Organic Soy Sauce (Click here for more information)
Japanese Sushi Rice (Click here for more information)
Japanese Mayo (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)



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Pink Grapefruit Frosé 玫瑰香檳柚子冰冰

How’s your summer so far?  Are you enjoying the summer heat or are you hating it?  For my family, we’ve been visiting the pool, water park, and going to cool places (a.k.a. air-conditioned places) to stay cool.  Please share with me your favorites things to do to stay cool if you have any suggestion!



However, I still turn on my oven from time to time to bake this once or twice a week.  That’s a necessity!  But other than that, I’m trying to keep the house cool and make as many No-Bake treats as possible.  This Pink Grapefruit Frosé 玫瑰香檳柚子冰冰 is one of my favorite summer treat!  It’s super easy to put together and very refreshing.  You might wonder what is a Frosé?  Well, it’s pretty much Frozen Rosé!  Yes, a word that I just made up!?  But hey, this frozen treat is so good that I think Frosé should be included in the dictionary!



This slightly sweet and tangy frozen treat will cool you off instantly!  The pink grapefruit juice is super fresh and it compliments the floral Rosé Champagne perfectly.  You can even substitute the Rosé Champagne with sparking white grape juice (skip the simple syrup because the grape juice is sweet enough) to make a kids’ friendly version.  But for the grown up, this is a perfect treat after any summer meal!



If you’re hosting summer parties, this will be the perfect dessert to make because you can, and should, make it ahead of time; leaving you more time to plan for the rest of your menu.  You can even explore and try other citrus juice with this dessert.  But I personally love the flavor and color of the pink grapefruit, so pretty and elegant! 



I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and video tutorial.  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy!  If you haven’t done so, please subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  This way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published. I share a new video tutorial/recipe every week.




Ingredients and Tools Used:
9x13 Glass Baking Dish with Lid (Click here for more information)
Fleur de Sel (Click here for more information)
Microplane Zester (Click here for more information)
Heat Proof Measuring Cups (Click here for more information)
OXO Measuring Cups Set (Click here for more information)
Small Stemmed Wine Glasses (5 oz) (Click here for more information)




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How to Make Unicorn Poop Rainbow Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies 檸檬彩虹蛋白曲奇:

Are you ready for another magical and whimsical recipe?  A recipe that involves a mysterious, fascinating, and imaginary create!  Yes, I'm talking about the Unicorn! After all, everything associated with the Unicorn has been so gorgeous and adorable, even with its byproduct such as... its poop!?



Sorry, I just couldn’t help it!  I had so much fun making these Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies with my Little Girl.  We were laughing, joking, and goofing around in the kitchen as we bake and enjoy each other's company…and these cookies, of course!



If you haven’t watched my video tutorial yet, you’ve got to check it out.  I guaranteed that you won’t be disappointed! I’ll show you step by step procedures on how to create the perfect rainbow swirls that shaped these cookies.  They are actually easier than you think.  Plus, you’ll get my tips and secret on how to make the perfect meringue cookies!        



These rainbow colored Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies are made from all natural food coloring deprived from fruit and vegetables (I’ll link my food coloring tutorials below this post).  If you don’t have the time to make your own coloring, I’ve found out that my local health-food store/supermarket do carry some all natural coloring options.  I’ll list the product links below this post so that you can check them out as well. 



If you’ve baked meringue cookies before, you know that they don’t like moisture!  So, we bake them at low temperature for a long time.  Plus, we need to be careful on the flavoring option as well.  Since I made these in lemon flavor, I use lemon zest to give these cookies the refreshing lemony aroma.  But for the tartness, I used citrus acid (which is really sour and in powder form) instead of fresh lemon juice.  That way, I won’t be adding too much moisture into the batter. 



These cookies are so light, crispy, and packed with lemony aroma.  The sweetness and tartness is perfectly balanced!  Give them a try and you’ll fall in love with them.




I hope you enjoyed today’s post and recipe!  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy!  Stay tuned for more fun recipe next week!




Ingredients and Tools Used:
All Natural Food Coloring (Click here for more information)
Wilton 1 A Round piping tip (Click here for more information)
Citrus Acid (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Leaves (Click here for more information)
Disposable Piping Bag (Click here for more information)
Silver Dragees (Click here for more information)
Freeze Dried Strawberry (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Corn Starch (粟粉) (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Stars (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)

How to Make All Natural Blue Food Coloring Tutorial:
https://goo.gl/8nT8Sm

How to Make All Natural Red Food Coloring Tutorial:
https://goo.gl/zTcc2h

Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Strawberry Milky Lollipop 士多啤梨牛奶棒棒糖

Have your kids started their Spring Break yet?  I know my kids couldn’t wait to have some time off from school.  They want to feel free and not have to worry about homework, exams, book reports, etc.  Today, I’ve a super fun and cute recipe for you to welcome Spring Break!  Check out these Strawberry Milky Lollipops!  Aren’t they the cutest things you’ve seen lately?  Best of all, they are really yummy as well.



I made these Strawberry Milky Lollipop over the weekend with my Baby Girl.  If you’re looking for some fun activities to do with your kids on their days off, this recipe would be a fun and delicious project.  These lollipops are also a perfect treat if you’re planning a kids party as well.



The flavors of these homemade Strawberry Milky Lollipops remind me of these Strawberry and Cream lollipops that I loved when I was young.  Better yet, my homemade version is made with real strawberries and no artificial flavors or coloring.  Since there are only a few ingredients in these lollipop candies, the strawberry flavor truly comes through. 



If you haven’t done so, be sure to check out my video tutorial at the top of this post on how to make these cuties!  I’ll show you step by step on how to make the traditional lollipop shapes and the strawberry shaped ones as well.



An alternate to shaping the lollipop is to cut the rolled candy into tiny dots (as shown in the picture above.)  I personally prefer these smaller ones as they are perfect for 'portion control!'  I’ll list all the ingredients and tools used in this recipe at the end of the post for your reference.



If you haven’t done so, please subscribe to my Youtube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any future videos and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published.  Thank you for stopping by and I wish you all a fun and sweet Spring Break!


Ingredients and Tools Used:
All Natural Beet Rool Coloring Tutorial: https://goo.gl/uWBS7D
Sweet Rice Flour (Click here for more information)
Organic Honey (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Unsalted Butter (Click here for more information)
Organic Sweetened Condensed Milk (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Freeze Dried Strawberry (Click here for more information)
Lollipop Sticks (Click here for more information)
Infrared Thermometer (Click here for more information)