Captain Crunch Chicken

This recipe just sounds dirty...and it is. Dirty sweet...

Ingredients

Chicken

1 cup flour

1 tsp. garlic powder

pepper

1 egg

1 cup milk

2 cups Captain Crunch cereal

1 1/2 cup Corn Flakes

I used a rolling pin to crush the Captain Crunch and Corn Flakes cereal between two paper towels.

Mix flour with garlic powder and pepper. Mix egg with milk. Mix crushed cereal.

Dip chicken into flour. Shake of excess. Then dunk into milk and egg. Then put chicken in tupperware and shake with crushed cereal until coated.

Place on foil lined baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for around 15 minutes.

I served it with potatoes and broccoli!

Nozomi's Chirashi Salad

Nozomi is located on Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa.  Many a time have I eaten here, but this was the first time I tried their specialty, the Chirashi Salad!

Definitely don't attempt this alone!  This massive salad can easily feed 2-3 people!  It has sushi rice on the bottom, then lettuce, spouts and cucumber, topped with an assortment of chopped raw fresh fish and fish eggs!  You mix it all together, then serve it in individual bowls.  And it's served with a delicious spicy sesame dressing.

So, that was an amazing experience.  Definitely would do that again.

Also had the "mushroom special" hot appetizer.  Another large portion, it was 6 large tempura coated mushrooms topped with spicy crab meat.

Don't let me forget the turtles! 

The turtles have a pond at the entrance of Nozomi to help greet the customers as they come in.

These two are practicing their circus act!

Turtles love teamwork! ;)

2012 Year of the Pickle

I have been obsessed with Japanese food lately.  I mean it's always been one of my favorites, but recently I have come to the conclusion that it is my all time favorite!

Part of what helped me reach that decision was a birthday lunch at my favorite restaurant Okan.

I have only eaten there four times, but each time I do I am amazed, and I vow to go back more often! It is always an opportunity to try lots of new, unique, and traditional Japanese dishes.

Here is a glimpse of their "lunch set." ($6.50) Pictured are three different types of Japanese tapas and some Japanese pickles.  Also included is rice and soup.  This particular lunch I also had a chance to try the seared beef tongue which was very flavorful and melt in your mouth delicious!

Okan is small and charming, has great food, and don't even get my started on their bathroom! (Toilet seat is warmed, and toilet performs various spray functions at the touch of a button!)

So anyways, this year I want to start cooking more traditional Japanese dishes, I want to eat more Japanese food, and I want to make all kinds of pickles!  I found a couple of amazing looking books in English on Japanese pickle making but they are too expensive ($60 and $250!) so I am going to stick with online resources for the time being.  Those are my food related goals for the new year inspired by Okan!