Jiro Dreams of Sushi - One Man's Dedication to the Perfect Sushi

Jiro Ono...
Creates the Best Sushi in the World

Michelin crowned him with 3 stars.
The great French chef Daniel Boulud said there is no one more dedicated to the art of sushi than Jiro.
Anthony Bourdain was in awe of Jiro after being served the Best Sushi in the World.

David Gelb's documentary of the Art and the Man...of Sushi Making is coming to theatres March 9, 2012.
http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/

It's a film about dedication, legacy, perfection.  Equally transparent is the complex relationships between father and son.  Sushi is never just a piece of fish on rice.  Just as relationship is never just between two people.  The Appreciation always lies in the complexity within the relationship.

The Director warned not to go see the film on an empty stomach!!!  Watch the Trailer and judge for yourself.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi - Official Trailer

Anthony Bourdain at Sukiyabashi Jiro

 

Meaningful Vows...Keeping The Promise

A Promise...
To Love
To Have
To Hold
To Keep

The month of February has always emphasized Love.
Many people in the month of February make a pledge to Love.
May it be the beginning of a new relationship, or the commitment of marriage, couples make promises to one another.

How does one keep a promise?

Keep the words of the promise at hand
Make the promise concrete
Take Actions on the promise
Do it even if you don't "feel like it"
Reward each other for the small things and big things

If we are to keep our promise to love..
For Better, For Worst
For Richer, For Poorer
In Sickness and In Health
...As Long As We (both shall) Live

Then...
Keeping the Vows Meaningful...Keeping the Promise to Love
Are the Keys to a Life Journey of Love

Good Eats - 40 Cloves Garlic Chicken

Slow Roasted...
40+ Cloves of Garlic
Fresh Herbs and Lemon
Organic Free Range Chicken
2 Hours in the Oven
Viola!

I have always wanted to try this recipe.
After I mention this, people all around are telling me how they do it.
...Roast entire heads of garlic then use them as spread
...40 isn't enough, 60 cloves
...Extra herbs
...Use chicken pieces instead of whole
...Extra citrus
...cook entirely with 400 degrees
...cook in crock pot
etc, etc, etc.

Here is the basic, feel free to improvise!
My menu was...40 Cloves Garlic Chicken; Roasted Vegetables with Cous Cous; Warm Balsamic Dressing with Cranberries

40 Cloves Garlic Chicken

Ingredients

3-4 heads of garlic, about 40 cloves

4 lbs of roasting chickens (parts will work too)

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 2 teaspoons of dry herb)

1 tablespoon fresh Sage or Rosemary

½ onion sliced

1 stalk of celery, cut into 3 inch pieces

2 small carrots, peeled and cut into 3 inch pieces

2 tablespoons good olive oil

Kosher or Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 cup dry white wine

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons of butter

Directions

Lightly pressed the cloves with a cleaver to separate from skin, then remove skin

Dry the chicken with paper towels

Brush skin with olive oil

Season liberally with salt and pepper, especially the cavity

Put celery and carrots inside the cavity

Line roasting pan (with cover) with the sliced onion

Place garlic cloves on top of onion

Put Chicken on top of the garlic

Sprinkle the chicken with the herbs

Roast chicken uncovered at 400 degrees for 25 minutes

Add white wine and lemon juice to the pan

Cover and reduce temperature to 325 for 1 hour

Do not uncover the lid until the chicken is done

Remove the chicken and let rest for 10 minutes

Remove the onion from the pan, put the garlic and the liquid from the roasting pan into blender (skim off the top layer of fat from the pan juice)

Blend until uniform consistency

Pour into a pan, heat to boil

Mix butter and flour together a paste

Add flour paste as needed to thicken the sauce, salt and pepper to taste

Serve over chicken

Warm Balsamic Dressing 

(for salad & vegetable dishes)

                      

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried currants/cransins (also great with fresh grapes)

7 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 5-ounce package thinly sliced pancetta (Italian bacon), finely chopped

2 tablespoon finely chopped shallot

2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Pinch of sugar

salt & pepper to taste

1/2 cup candied nuts, coarsely chopped 

Directions

Place currants in small bowl. Heat vinegar in saucepan over medium heat until hot (do not boil). Pour vinegar over currants; let soak until currants soften, 15 to 20 minutes.

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium- high heat. Add pancetta; sauté in low-med heat until brown and crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Add shallot to pancetta and drippings in skillet; sauté 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in currant- vinegar mixture and olive oil. Add sugar, salt and pepper. Sprinkle nuts over sauce.

Dinner is Served!

Sunday Meditation - Less of self, More Of Him

For the Season of Lent...
Practicing Giving Up...the self

Lent, for many, is a season of soul-searching; reflection, repentance. 40 days of preparation toward the humbling yet glorious time of Easter.

People often talk of what they will give up...sugar, chocolate, coffee, smoking, etc.

As I ponder on it, I realized that I need Less of me and  More of Him. A vessel cannot hold a fresh in-pouring, if the content is not poured out.  I pray for freshness and newness. What's in me must be less for Him to be more.

Sara Groves' "Open My Hands," beautifully reminds us that God holds nothing back. He will never withhold what is good; what is love. His desire is to pour into us the peace, the joy, the faithfulness only He can provide.

Sara Groves talks about the song Open My Hands

Open My Hands by Sara Groves

Juggling Act - Day to Day

Dropped A Few Balls!

So it's been a month since I started the new part-time job.
As the kiddies asked, "How many jobs do you have now, Mom?"
I chuckled to myself and told them I need to put it on my "To-Do List" to count how many jobs I have. And most likely I won't get to it until November!

My client load in private practice has been slowing down for the last 6 months.  So the part-time position is a blessing and definitely a good financial safety net.  But, it does take me physically away from the kids 3 days a week. It requires a 43-mile commute and 30% work related driving.

In the process of juggling and adjusting, I have definitely dropped a few balls.
"Mom, did you pack my _________?"
"Mom, did you get the _________ for school?"
"Mom, did you forget __________?"
Nerdy Hubby has been lovingly picking up the slack.  But I am still the primary multi-tasker in the house.

Then there is this poor blog!  Neglected but Not Forgotten.

How do we balance the juggling act?
1. Such is Life!...accept the fact that we will always be juggling and adjusting...there is no utopia!
2. What's It For?...what are the current life goals & expectations...why the juggling?  What are the family working toward?  Relational; Financial; Practical, etc
3. What Now?...prioritize, prioritize and prioritize. You will most likely always only get the top 3 items done!
4. It's All Good!...If we can accept the reality of our situations, clarify our goals, set realistic expectations, have a timeline, work on the most important things first, Then...most likely, we are on the right track.
5. Just Be Merry...Don't forget to enjoy the Here and Now...Capture the moments with your loved ones.

Songs for My Little Big Man

My Little Man Turned 11 years old Today!

February 23, 2001 - 5:29 pm (appx.)

My little man came into our lives kicking and screaming!
It was a moment we waiting for, for a long time.
Not just the 10 months, but closer to 3 years.

Hours, days and months of prayer, tears and faltered hope. Tests, and drugs and medical interventions were done to no avail.

Just when we were about to give up...

(Nerdy Hubby used to quote Hannah's husband from the Bible, "...why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”)

...we found ourselves pregnant!

The chorus of "I Know I Loved You (before I met you)" always bring tears to my eyes.
I remember sobbing to this all throughout the 1st trimester. I used to softly say, "You are so very much loved, more than you can ever imagine.  You are so wanted and you are worth the wait," over and over.

As time passes, life gets in the way.  The important words of love are at times left on the wayside. Disciplines and directions dominate the words that come out.  Yet, I would never want my Little Man to ever forget...
He was my First, he taught me how to be a mom. I needed him, as I still do, and will always be, as the teacher to my art of mothering.

Happy 11th Birthday My Little (Big) Man!

Good Eats - Grilled Steak with Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce

Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce

My new addiction!

Recently had the best Chimichurri sauce at an Argentinian restaurant.  Then over the weekend had empanadas at a Farmer's Market and they served another killer Chimichurri sauce.

Led me to the search for a yummy recipe to try at home. You can eat it just with bread.  I have meat eaters at my house so I grilled a nice steak to go with it.

Here is a great one to start with. A few recipes recommend mortar and pestle to make the sauce. I don't have one so I only used a blender.  This may just push me to invest in a set of mortar and pestle.

Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce:

1 cup lightly packed flat leaf Italian parsley

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon chili pepper flakes

1 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves (1 teaspoon of dry oregano)

2 tablespoons shallot or onion, minced

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

3 tablespoons lemon juice

Place all ingredients in blender or food processor.

Pulse until ingredients are finely chopped (not pureed).

Grilled Steak:

3 lbs of Skirt Steak, (New York or Rib Eyes also work well)

1 tablespoon of paprika

2 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of black pepper

2 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Rub steak with all ingredients and let sit for an hour before grilling.

Then grill steak to desired doneness.

Serve with Chimichurri Sauce. Of course a nice bottle of Argentinian Melbec will make everything even better!

2009 Benmarco Malbec Mendoza

Sunday Reflection - This Life

This Life
...by MercyMe

It's been a whirlwind of a week. Having to section off my life into 3 or 4 sections on a weekly basis is pretty intense and can be a bit disorienting.

It's the jobs I have to do, the roles I have to play, things I have to get done.

I don't presume that I am the exception in the daily grind of our earthly life.  I do affirm that life can be uneasy but necessary for many.

I love the title of MercyMe's current album "The Generous Mr. Lovewell."
That is who leads me as I walk this journey of life. He is generous enough to give me strength on a daily basis. Yet understanding enough to know that I won't be perfect.

Sometimes, the discomfort in life are meant to remind us that we don't belong. We are created for something more. But until then, we are to make the best of us and make This Life meaningful.

This Life by MercyMe - with Lyrics 

Movie Night - Hugo

Hugo (2011)
...a Martin Scorsese film

A Great Adventure for the senses.
It's sad to have to see the many child-stars playing orphans lately in the movies.
It always grips at my heart to feel the loss and the grief. Yet that seems to bring out the most of the human spirit, when one is faced with loss.

How to persevere?
To overcome?
To find hope?
To rebuild?
To dream again?

Official Trailer

Trailer 2

Featurette with Martin Scoreses

Narcissism Defined

Narcissists around us are more common than we would like.
If they don't impact our lives, they are actually pretty interesting kind of people.
Unfortunately, by the nature of a Narcissist, he/she will make sure to "make an impact" in our lives.

The 4 key characteristics include Grandiosity; Need for Admiration; Lack of Empathy and Aggression/Rage when the grandiose self-image is disputed.

The Mayo Clinic described it this way:

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.

Many of the people we meet do not meet the criteria of the actual disorder, but possess the "Traits."  Which means they behave and demonstrate the four key characteristics to a lesser degree.

You may have try to talk "sense" into them; You may have try to "logically reasons" with them; You might even have "Plead to appeal to their Feelings." And find that these common sense methods do not work.

It's always important to realize that it's not about how your present or even how you try to work things out.  Because, unfortunately, it will always be "About Them."

Good Eats - Chinese Soy Sauce Chicken

Chinese Soy Sauce Chicken
...easier than it looks

I have use the Soy Sauce recipe for a whole chicken, quarters, legs, wings, even for soy sauce eggs.

The key is to boil, simmer, then leave the chicken alone to sit in the sauce.  "Don't peek and never open the lid!"  

If you can follow the golden rule, then this is a no fail recipe.

Chinese Soy Sauce Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

4 chicken leg quarters
2-inch ginger (peeled lightly crushed)
4 cloves garlic (lightly crushed)
2 stalks scallions (cut into 2-inch lengths)
2 star anise (for optimal flavor, can purchase at Asian market)
1 cinnamon stick (about 2-inch length)
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup dark soy sauce
3 tablespoon Chinese rice wine (I actually prefer Japanese Sake)
1 teaspoon white pepper powder
4 oz. rock sugar (or 4 tablespoons of Dark Brown Sugar)
4 cups water

Add all ingredients (except the chicken) into a deep pot and bring it to boil on high heat for 15 minutes. Add the chicken quarters into the pot and boil over high heat for about 10 minutes. Lower the heat to simmer for about 30 minutes. Turn off heat and let the chicken steeped in the soy sauce mixture for 1 to 2 hours to soak in the flavor.

When ready to serve, chop into pieces and serve with Ginger and Scallion dipping sauce.

(Soy sauce chicken is usually served at room temperature or just slightly warm.)

You can also use the same recipe with 3 lbs of chicken wings.

Ginger and Scallion Dipping Sauce

1 oz. ginger (peeled, finely chopped)
1 scallion (cut into thin rounds)
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons oil

Method:

To prepare the ginger and scallion dip, place the ginger, scallions, salt, and chicken bouillon powder into a heat proof bowl. Heat up 2 tablespoons of oil in a small pot/pan until it starts to smoke. Pour the oil immediately into the bowl and blend well. Set aside.

Dinner is Served (with a side of veggies)

The Soy Sauce Wings...Oh So Good!

Sunday Refresher - Learning to Be the Light

Learning To Be The Light
by newworldson

Part of the Transformational Vision I seek is to be a Light that Shine on the Love that is always around us.

One line in the song said,
"when all came crashing down
there was only darkness all around
but in a distance I could see
A Flame.."

Learning To Be The Light - newworldson

The band NEWWORLDSON is new to me, here is their website info
Nice sound and Great message!

http://www.newworldson.com/newworldson/index.htm

Turning Vision Into Mission

Vision >>> Mission

Vision defined:  the ability to perceive future development; the act of anticipating what may be to come

Mission defined: a calling of occupation; operational tasks; summary of aims, values, an overall plan

Not sure why this has been on my mind. The values of personal vision and mission.

I don't make resolutions, but I do like to think about Visions for one's life and transforming them into Life Mission.

I have always had tons of ideas about things and life in general.  I live in the world of  "possibilities." But, I have learned long ago that I should never follow my "great, ingenious" ideas immediately. Many of these possibilities are not practical. For many people, having a vision for one's life is not difficult.  Transforming vision into a plan of actions, a mission of sort is where the real work is.

Someone had once said that there are 6 qualities to a transformational vision:
1. Imaginable - You must be able to picture it
2. Desirable - You must really want it
3. Feasible - You must be able to do it
4. Focused - You must be able to break it down to steps
5. Flexible - You must be willing to change it
6. Communicable - You must be able to talk about it

That's what a Life Mission is: a Personal Mission Statement
What our Life Goals?
What do we Stand For?
What are our Values?
What are we Willing To Do?
What will We Communicate?
What Legacy Will We Leave?

Family Movie Night - Dolphin Tale

Dolphin Tale (2011)

The storyline far exceed my expectation.
Inspired by real life story, quite moving.
Wonderful message about disability and never giving up.

Lots of big name actors, but the stars remained with the main character Sawyer Nelson and the dolphin Winter.

Introduced my kiddies to the issue of physical disability. The emphasis on friendship is refreshing and heartwarming.  Ultimately a community came together, people bonded and lives are changed.

Trailer - Dolphin Tale

A Symbol of Hope

The Inspirational True Story of Winter

Fun - M&Ms

Latest Craving...Pretzel M&Ms

So the kiddies found a new love...
Pretzel inside the M&Ms...extremely goooood!

Their website is pretty fun too...
http://www.mms.com/us/

Very Funny!

Funnier...Hungry Eyes

Movie Night - The Painted Veil

The Painted Veil (2006)
Based on W. Somerset Maugham's original story of the same name.

Can a movie be "Realistically Romantic?"
It does sound like an oxymoron...but nonetheless, I will stand by my claim.

Because the movie is based on the writing of Maugham, there are so many quotables.

...If people only spoke when they had something to say, the human race will soon lose the power of speech.

...Women are often under the impression that men are much more madly in love with them than they really are.

...As if a woman ever love a man for his virtue.

My favorite quote from the movie...
...when love and duty are one, grace is within you...

From the book...
...Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands when they are dirty; the only thing that counts is the love of duty; when love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding.

The Summary:

A couple with a broken relationship learns some valuable lessons about love, life, and sacrifice in this romantic drama based on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. It's 1925, and Dr. Walter Fane (Edward Norton) is a physician and bacteriologist who has become smitten with Kitty (Naomi Watts), the beautiful daughter of a wealthy and socially prominent family. Walter proposes marriage to Kitty and she accepts; however, while he clearly loves her, Kitty is more interested in her reputation than Walter's feelings, as she's recently turned 25, an age by which most of her peers have already wed. Kitty and Walter move to Shanghai, where he sets up a practice and she takes a lover, the British Vice Consul Charles Townsend (Liev Schreiber). When Walter learns of his wife's infidelity, he becomes furious, and impulsively volunteers to travel to China to work in a village stricken with a major cholera epidemic. While Walter's actions are meant to punish Kitty rather than reflect his own benevolence, the daily trials of living in a community in crisis have a striking impact on the couple, giving them a new and deeper perspective on their relationship. The Painted Veil is the third screen adaptation of Maugham's best-selling novel of the same name; a 1934 version starred Greta Garbo and Herbert Marshall, while Eleanor Parker and Bill Travers played the leads in a 1957 remake titled The Seventh Sin. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi