Wasabi connection

If you accidentally skip some days at the gym or miss a spa appointment, eating light and healthy really makes up for it...yummy salads are guilt-free and I really feel pampered after having a scrumptious, crunchy, refreshing salad.

Here's what we had for dinner today: Seared Ahi Tuna Steak Salad w/ Wasabi Vinaigrette ( for two)

Ingredients:

1 large Ahi Tuna steak

sesame oil for searing tuna

rice wine or white wine to slightly marinate the tuna steak

1 tablespoon of wasabi paste

salt and pepper ( both black and white)

1/4 sliced onion

Fresh salad greens

2 roma tomatoes

baby carrots

1 sprig of spring onions

crushed wasabi peas

1 and half tablespoons of wasabi paste

2 tablespoons cup white wine vinegar

1/4 cup sesame oil

1/4 cup olive oil
fresh cilantro
salt & freshly ground black pepper

For the wasabi vinaigrette salad dressing:

Whisk together wasabi paste, vinegar, sesame oil and olive oil. Toss in cilantro and add salt and pepper for seasoning. We like strong wasabi tastes, the kind where you have wasabi rushing straight to your nose with every bite you take...the kind where I have to pace myself because we enjoy the torture of wasabi =) so I generously use two tablespoons (or more than two tablespoons )of wasabi paste to make the wasabi dressing

Searing the Ahi Tuna Steaks:

Slightly marinate the tuna steaks in white wine/ rice wine, salt and pepper ( both white and black pepper), and smear some wasabi paste on top of the tuna steak. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. In a hot pan, heat up sesame oil with low heat and saute onions. Add tuna steak and sear on both sides until cooked. Cut the tuna steaks into triangles ( triangles always taste better!)

Assembling the salad:

Rinse and drain greens, toss in sliced roma tomatoes and chopped baby carrots ( for a good crunch). Drizzle wasabi vinaigrette. Lay the triangle tuna steaks on top of salad. Add the cooked sliced onions on top of the tuna steaks. Sprinkle chopped spring onions, and crushed wasabi peas. Toss before serving.

If you love wasabi, try this recipe! Or, try Emeril @ foodnetwork's recipe for Seared tuna salad with a wasabi vinaigrette and crispy wontons

O Brothers K, Where Art Thou

When Michele and I moved to Main St, Evanston, we fell in love with Brothers K coffee shop. While he grabbed a cappuccino every morning to go, I occasionally treated myself for a skim latte to go on weekday mornings. However, we were always there on weekend mornings.

Come Saturday and Sunday morning, and we'd happily stroll to Brothers K and enjoy a warm espresso drink, soaking in a relaxed weekend morning. We'd bring our own books, sometimes the NYTimes, or we'd just chat away and people-watch...or play with our new iphones...

Going to cafes is really one of my favorite past times. We often immersed ourselves in coffee shops in Evanston...our dear, lovely Evanston! At IMC, we used to hang out at Peets in the afternoons, studying and gossiping away, pouring our hearts out over lattes and smoothies...Then there was the late night studying for finance at Ambrosia, and oh, meeting up with the Thai girls at Kafein one late summer day...what sweet memories we had at these cafes!

While Michele was away for the summer, I always remember Xin Pei making lattes for us early morning..and that was very sweet. Enjoying espresso in the mornings with dear ones have become one of my sweetest memories.

We have left Evanston and are still on the search for our favorite cafe and espresso in Houston...suggestions anyone?

Eating pasta with chopsticks

Simplicity is the key to great Italian food

To make a delicious cherry tomato spaghetti, you need only five ingredients:

Olive Oil

sliced cherry tomatoes

spaghetti

chopped garlic

chili

- Remember to add salt to your pot of boiled water before cooking your spaghetti

- Be generous with your olive oil!

- Saute the chopped garlic for until you see little bubbles and the aroma of garlic fills your kitchen. Use low heat to avoid burning the garlic

- Add " un po" chili just for aroma, or add a good amount for some kick

- Stir in sliced cherry tomatoes until it becomes a sauce
- time the cooked pasta just right, then drain, and slightly stir fry in sauce

You would assume that without any cheese or meat, this pasta dish could be quite bland. However, it's really savory and light at the same time.

Mommy eating pasta with chopsticks