OMG Onigiri!

Onigiri! The cutest food? Probably. 

In all my years of watching Anime and attempting Japanese cuisine, I've never tried making rice balls. WHAT GIVES? They're super easy and very tasty! And the rice makes for a basic meal when you're experiencing tummy issues. Just Hungry has a great method for making onigiri, so I would start there. 

We used leftover salmon, tuna with Kewpie mayo, and minced umeboshi for fillings, with sesame seeds and nori for toppings. Put a dab of the filling on top of the ball when you're done; it'll show you what's inside and it's super kawaii. 

Slammin' Salmon Soba

Sometimes I follow recipes for my meals. Other times I just cook what I know. I don't need instructions anymore to roast chicken thighs with make green beans and potatoes. Then there are the times that I kind of have an idea of what I want to make, but I'm not entirely confident in my own ability to mix flavors. Miso Salmon over Peanut Soba Noodles falls into that latter category. 

It makes for a situation in which I have no actual recipe, as I just combine and adjust as I go along. 

The recipes I got the basics from for this are from Jacques Pepin, and Lucky Peach, mixed with a fondness for cold peanut sesame noodles my mom always ordered from the local Chinese restaurant. 

I think it's this mixing and matching that eventually leads to recipe writing. Now that I no longer have a day job, hopefully the extra time will allow for more brainstorming creations like this, as it was definitely something I'd like to make again. And maybe eventually write down.