Sushi! Sushi! Sushi! A review of Joss Sushi and Cafe'

What the best way to End 2011? SUSHI!!!!

So last year as my last hoorah(sp.) with friends I invited all my close friends out to get happy hour sushi.   I must confess I love Sushi!  I have been to almost 50% of Sushi restaurants in the Greater Baltimore area. Last year I had the honor of going to Joss Sushi located at 413 North Charles Street.  So when you first enter the ambiance is peaceful and quiet. The Sushi bar is located to your right, with tables around the restaurant. Joss has two levels with the restrooms located downstairs. Now in order to get Happy hour prices you have to sit at the bar.  The menu was extensive with some creative items.   Below is the California Hand Roll and signature happy hour drink. The signature Happy Hour Drink was a Raspberry Vodka mixed with Sprite. Both were very yummy, but the hand Roll was delicious. I love how they took a traditional roll and made it like an ice cream cone. I didn’t need any soy sauce and this roll filled me up quite nicely. 

Next up the Scallop Wontons:  When the server brought them out they were artfully placed on the plate with wasabi sauce around them. I must say they came out the kitchen piping hot.  Each wonton burst with flavor and deliciousness. Furthermore, each wonton was just the right amount of crispy and was not over oily. I would suggest this dish to anyone who visits Joss. 

Finally the best part of the meal dessert.  I shared a dessert with one of my friends which were the Fried Banana Tempura with Vanilla Ice Cream.  I am not a fried banana person, but this was actually quite tasty. Again the dessert was brought out still hot and fresh out of the kitchen. The banana held its flavor and did not just taste like fried dough.  I actually enjoyed every bite and would go back to get this a second time or at least try the fried Cheesecake which also was on the menu. 

So overall I really enjoyed everything on the menu I ate. My Friends seem to enjoy their food also. For service I will say 3.9 out 5 smiles. The server was very knowledgeable and was prompt.  The chef at the bar was also nice. I must be honest I made him blush several times either from embarrassment or because of my jokes. I would definitely suggest Joss Sushi as a first date place it quiet and it would be easy to hear each other.  During Happy hour the prices are decent it will not break you budget, but in order to get Happy Hour Prices you must sit at the bar. The drinks are okay not too strong but nothing super memorable.  The food and company was the shining spot of the night.  If you want a chill first date during early spring and even summer this is an excellent place to go. You can go for a walk up to the Washington Monument and sit and talk.  I hope this review is helpful and I hope you will go try Joss Sushi and Café. 

Excellent News!

Baltimore Restaurant Week!

Starting January 20th, 1 of the two most wonderful week of the year starts. Get yourself some yummy food in your tummy!

(for a damn good price)

Go to: http://www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com

Asparagus Simple and Delicious!!!!

Reasons you should eat more Asparagus:

·          Low in calories,

·         Contains no fat or cholesterol.

·         A good source of potassium.

·         An excellent source of folacin, thiamin and vitamin B6. 

·         Contains glutathione (GSH). 

·         It’s an Aphrodisiac that right there is enough for me!

Over the Christmas Holiday I made some Roasted Asparagus for my Granny. She loves Asparagus and I don’t mind making it cause well look at the above list. I found a very nifty recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Recipe App. I decided to give it a try. Traditionally, Asparagus is steamed, roasted or grilled. One can add a little olive oil, butter or lemon just to enhance the flavor. I omitted the Parmeasan Cheese and replace with onions and peppers with a squirt of Fresh Lemon Juice.

• 1 pound of asparagus
• 1/8 teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon of Mrs. Dash
• 1 Tbsp of Olive Oil
• ¼ cup of Onions and peppers
• Squirt of Fresh Lemon Juice ( 1- 2 teaspoons)

1. Preheat the oven to 450* F
2. Place the asparagus, onions and peppers in a 2-quart baking dish drizzle the olive oil over top. I may have used more than 1 tablespoon. I am kind of heavy handed.
3. Spinkle the Mrs. Dash and Black pepper over top of the Aspargus.  ( add the lemon here if you want but you don’t have to)
4. Cook uncovered for 15 minutes. Tossing about 8 ½ minutes into the baking process. Allow to cook for the remainder of the time left.
5. Remove from the oven and serve!

* I added a little bit of water to the bottom of the pan about a Tablespoon. I was afraid it would burn.

Reference:

http://www.asparagus.org/maab/nutrition.html Date Accessed 29 Dec 2011

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/appetizers-snacks/roasted-asparagus/  Date Accessed 25 Dec 2011

A Healthy Party in my Tummy: Glazed Carrots

I have been dreaming of Carrots for a while now since October.  I love their natural sweetness and the crunch factor. Most restaurants I go to only make them steamed which is OK, but they are not the same as making them at home. I found this recipe in Martha Stewart's Magazine and I did modify it because I wanted more of a glaze.

Glazed Carrots with Thyme from Food Everyday: A Martha Stewart Magazine.

·         ¼ cup of granulated Brown Sugar

·         ¾ stick of unsalted butter (cut into Slices)

·         1-2 ½ lbs of Carrots (in sliced in sticks)

·         1 tsp of Honey

·         1 tablespoon of Fresh Thyme or Dill (optional)

·         Coarse Salt and Pepper, some Mrs. Dash
*I sliced my bag of carrots but you can also use baby carrots also. 

1.      In a large skillet add 1 1/3 cup of Water, Brown Sugar , Honey and Butter. Allow them to boil.

2.      Add the carrots and cover, also reduce the heat.

3.      Partially cover and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. For a softer carrot than allow to cook four up to 15 minutes.

4.      Toss the Carrots often so they won’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

5.      Add in the Thyme or Dill  than cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.

6.      Take the Carrots of the stove and add some salt and pepper than serve.

The original recipe is below in case you find my recipe to be to sweet or daring.

·         3 Tbsp dark Brown Sugar

·         ¼ cup unsalted butter

·         2 ½ lbs of Baby Carrots

·         1 tablespoon of Fresh Thyme or Dill (optional)

·         Coarse Salt and Pepper, some Mrs. Dash

Follow the same instructions up top just omit the honey.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Sorry no pictures this time I need a better camera.

P.S. Here some Scientific Facts from my Brain! Carrot gets its characteristic and bright orange color from β-carotene, which is metabolised into vitamin A in humans when bile salts are present in the intestines. Lack of vitamin A can cause poor vision, including night vision, and vision which can be restored by adding it back into the diet. If you do not have a genetic eye condition or macular degeneration.
Reference:

Stewart, Martha. "Glazed Carrots with Thyme." Everyday Food November 2011 issue 87: pg 86. ( not correct formatting)

Santa Would Love These Cookies!!!

    It’s finally the Christmas Season! I love it not for the gifts but for what the true Meaning of Christmas means to me the closing out another year, spending time with friends and family.  One last attempt to make the world a better place through charitable giving!  I also love what Christmastime brings around…. FOOD! I love the cookies, pies, cakes, casseroles, Mac and Cheese, and Candied Sweet Potatoes. I will admit it I was taught at a very early age to love and enjoy food.  I finally had a day off and I decide to make some cookies. I love baking cookies around Christmas, it makes the house smell yummy, its nice to nibble on during a Charlie Brown Christmas Special (thank you Hulu.com) and I always have to make cookies for Santa in hopes he would get me what I wanted usually an ant farm or a chemistry set. However, OLD Santa Nick (Mom) brought clothes and dolls that I would eventually dissect.  To me there are three traditional cookies you have to make for Santa Claus (aka the Parent buying the gift) they are Chocolate Chip, Sugar Cookies or Peanut Butter Cookies.  I decided to take a twist on traditional Peanut Butter Cookies add in A little banana and white Chocolate chips and Viola the recipe below.

Peanut Butter Banana Cookies with White Chocolate Chips

• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ¾ cup peanut butter banana Spread (Harry and David)
• ½ cup butter softened
• 1 egg
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
•  ½  teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup of granulated brown sugar
• ½ cup~ 1cup White Chocolate Chips
• 30 ml 99 Banana Liqueur or ½ tsp of Imitation Banana Extract
• 1 teaspoon of Honey
• Splash of Vanilla extract

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. In large bowl, beat brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, banana liqueur, honey and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy,for about 2~3 mins. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt mix well( cause sometimes when not mixed properly you can get cookies that taste like baking soda)  Add in the White Chocolate Chips.
3. Refrigerate the batter for 30 mins.
4. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place balls, about 3 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake until light brown, 9 to 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for a minute; transfer to rack to cool completely. For chewier cookies, bake at 300°F for 15 minutes.

*Next time I will attempt an egg free cookie by using just Banana’s instead of an egg.

*I accidently brought Granulated Brown Sugar but it worked just as well.

 Reference:

Rich Creamy Peanut Butter Cookies

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/rich-peanut-butter-cookies/

Peanut Butter Cookies by Elise  Posted Dec 18, 2005

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/peanut_butter_cookies/

Hey you get 2 for 1 deal I had Extra Peanut Butter so I made Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.

 

Peanut Butter Toffee Bars

·         1 cup Peanut Butter Banana Spread

·         1/2 cup Crisco Butter flavored Spread, softened

·         3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

·         1/2 cup brown granulated sugar

·         1 tsp. vanilla extract

·         1 tsp. 99 Banana Liqueur

·         2 eggs

·         2 cups all-purpose flour

·         1/2 tsp. salt

·         ½ cup  White chocolates Chips and

·         ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

·         Several Hershey Kisses

DIRECTIONS

1.      Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 8x8-inch baking pan; set aside.

2.      In large bowl, with electric mixer, beat Peanut Butter, Spread, brown sugar, brown granulated sugar and vanilla until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes.

3.      Beat in eggs, then flour blended with salt. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Evenly spread into prepared pan.

4.      Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven to wire rack and immediately sprinkle with remaining 1 cup chocolate chips. Let stand 5 minutes.

5.      Evenly spread melted chocolate, then sprinkle with cool completely. To serve, cut into bars.

My co-worker demolished them before I knew it. 

Reference:

http://www.countrycrock.com/Recipes/9277/1/Peanut-Butter-Toffee-Bars.aspx

DIY Christmas...cause I'm broke.

So I am broke, but I still love my friends. Christmas isn't about presents, but I felt I should do something. I have been "going hard" on Pinterest (is that what the kids say?), and I came across a few ideas.

I was really inspired by this:


I thought I should give my friends a good time for the holidays, and that means alcohol.
Peppermint Vodka!
You will need:

• Vodka
• Peppermints
• Glass containers
• Decoration you deem necessary

• I got 2 1.75L bottles of Vodka @$23 each
• 2 boxes of Peppermint sticks (the soft kind) @ $0.99 each
• 1 pint mason jars $5.50

This made 8 gifts for a little over $6 each. Bam! If you want to get festive the price might go up $.25 or so per gift. Or you could just personalize each one with a note using a metallic marker in a festive color. You don't have to. Bitches already getting liquor.