Tag Archives: salt

Gyoza Anyone?


Gyoza anyone?  I guess we call them “dumplings” here in the US of A…

Simple to make.

Tastes great (or at least that’s what my kids say).

And it’s FREEEEE at Chez Mustang.Koji’s!  LOL

_______________________________

Completed gyoza
Completed gyoza

Ingredients:

  1. Ground pork (kurobuta type preferred!)
  2. Green onions
  3. Napa cabbage or regular cabbage is just as fine
  4. Sesame oil
  5. Crushed garlic (raw)
  6. Sugar
  7. Salt and pepper
  8. Shredded ginger if you like
  9. Chopped water chestnuts if you like
Do not press meat mixture.
Do not press meat mixture.

Combine ingredients but do not press.  Spoon about a tablespoon of mixture into gyoza skin.  Fold.  Add a touch of oil to coat bottom of cast iron skillet (non-stick does not work!), medium high heat.  Cover, add about 2-3 tablespoons of water to steam.  Remove when botton is browned.

Serve with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, “ra-yu” or chili oil, and Japanese vinegar if you like.

So simple, a mechanic can do it.

Oh…  Chopsticks are expected.

Chocolate Truffles by a Former Mechanic


My homemade chocolate truffles are popular with the gals.  Unfortunately, they’re pretty popular with some of my buds, too.  Oh well.

Following the well explained recipe in my cooking bible, Cook’s Illustrated, I made a batch to take to a couple of my friend’s 4th of July block parties.  Frank Sinatra would’ve been jealous with all the attention I got from the ladies.

The ganache is the secret.
Rolling the ganache into balls is the tough part.
My knife skills are non-existent. But being a former mechanic, I cheat. The “hammer when in doubt” approach always prevails.