Baked Sukiyaki (Japanese one-pot dish)

The internet consensus seems to be that sukiyaki is a one-pot dish. Okay then. This recipe is from my aunty. Not sure where she got it, but because of her I know that you can substitute ground venison for the beef. She always makes it for parties when we go to Kaua'i.

I chose to make this as another Japanese dish with easy-to-find ingredients. It was so good! Kea liked it too. I think we like it better than the Oyakodonburi.

I used medium firm tofu, but I think you can use whatever you like. My mom says that the original recipe says you can substitute okara for half of the beef. I love okara but pretty sure i can't find it here. I think my mom has to go to the tofu factory to buy it.

The recipe doesn't say how much mushrooms to use, but I used a couple handfuls. I love mushrooms and probably could've used even more.

I went real light on the sugar cuz I am paranoid about my food being too sweet. I would add a little and taste it.

Baked Sukiyaki
Line 9x13 pan with 2 blocks tofu, drained and mashed.

Fry 2# lean beef, drain oil.
Add 1 lg. minced onion, 1 can minced water chestnut, 1 can sliced bamboo shoots, and sliced Chinese mushrooms (shiitake).
Add 1/2 c. shoyu, less than 1/2 c. sugar, and 2 cloves minced garlic.
Simmer ‘til liquid is absorbed. Pour meat over tofu.

Beat three eggs and pour over entire meat surface. Sprinkle with minced green onions.

Bake at 300 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until eggs are cooked.

Kimchi Burgers

I love kimchi burgers! Basically you use the kimchi in place of the onion and add some seasoning that matches:

1 lb. hamburger
sliced kimchi (about the equivalent of 1/2 an onion)
1 or 2 eggs
shoyu
salt (this is in my mom's recipe, but i think shoyu already has salt so no need)
sugar

I like to put bread in my hamburgers too. Then you just make patties and fry. I guess you could grill too, but we always fry ours so don't blame me if it doesn't work. I like to eat mine with rice but I guess you could eat it on hamburger buns too. Not sure what kind of condiments I would put though...

My Mom's Chili

My husband and I don't fight often, but two things that have been major issues in our relationship are shopping and chili. I crave my mom's chili. I don't know where she got the recipe from--probably some Local cookbook, which would explain why the instructions say to eat it with rice.

This is one of the first things I had to learn how to make when I moved out. But my husband thinks it's too sweet! His mom says "Orientals" like our chili like that. *sigh*

Their chili though--feh! It's just hamburger, tomato sauce and chili powder!

My mom's recipe is so good. It's got three types of meat--bacon and Portuguese sausage, in addition to hamburger. If you don't have access to Portuguese sausage, I find that kielbasa or other smoked sausage works well. Don't use Eckrich's though. I don't know what is up with that brand but it's nasty.

And yeah, the recipe's got brown sugar. You could try making it without and see what happens, but I'm not about to risk a pot of chili for that. (I do use honey though, since I never have brown sugar in the house.)

One ingredient I think is weird is curry powder. I don't know why it's there, but I'm also not about to risk a pot of chili to see what happens if it's left out.

Now you mainland folks might think it's weird to eat chili over rice. *shrug* I guess we need something to prevent three-meat overload.

Mom's Chili
1 lb. hamburger
4 pcs bacon, chopped
1/2 ring Portuguese sausage
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 rnd onion, chopped
1 can kidney beans
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 T chili powder
2 T brown sugar
1 t curry powder
dash of salt

Fry hamburger, bacon, sausage, garlic and onion.
Add kidney beans, tomato soup, chili powder, brown sugar, curry powder and salt.
Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve over hot rice.