Jungle Pancakes

I thought it would be cool to make these jungle pancakes with the pancake molds I got at Williams Sonoma this weekend. It took 3 batches of messed up pancakes before I got it right!

Elephant & Lion
Alex and his elephant pancake

Colin and his lion pancake

Alex said the lion pancake looked like Maggie. What do you think?

Nishime

This was my first attempt at making Nishime, a Japanese vegetable stew traditionally served at New Year's. I've grown up eating it every New Year's, but this was my first attempt at making it (usually my mom or grandmother makes it). I had to go to Ranch 99 Market, because no other store around my house sells the ingredients. While recipes differ, I made a pretty simple Nishime which included kombu (seaweed tied in knots), bamboo shoots, lotus roots, gobo (burdock root) and chicken (I left out the pork for a healthier Nishime). Some people add shitake mushrooms, daikon, carrots, konnyaku, or tofu. My Nishime turned out great! While it was cooking, my kitchen smelled like my grandmother's kitchen during New Year's Eve. I made the kids sit with me while I was cooking so I could keep an eye on the two rascals.

Alex

Colin



Nishime!