Japanese Food "Okonomi-yaki"

We cooked the okonomi-yaki at home today. Because I had worked part-time in the restaurant in my school days, I am good at cooking. The okonomi-yaki is the one like country dishes of Osaka, and it is eaten as often as the tako-yaki in Osaka. The recipe of the okonomi-yaki is as follows.

"As-You-Like-It" Pancake Okonomi-yaki
500kcal per serving

INGREDIENTS (4 servings)
3 1/2 oz pork belly, thinly sliced
3 1/2 oz squid (body only)
7 oz cabbage
4 scallions
2 Tbsp red pickled ginger, finely chopped

Batter:
5 1/4 oz flour
5 oz water
2 4/5 oz grated mountain yam
4 eggs
1/2 tsp salt

vegetable oil

Topping:
okonomi-yaki sauce
dried bonito powder
ao-nori (green-seaweed) flakes
mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut pork into 3-inch pieces, slice squid into thin strips, mince cabbage and scallions coarsely.
2. Using a whisk, make batter, combining flour, water, grated mountain yam, and salt. Add beaten eggs, stir lightly.
3. Add squid, cabbage, scallions, and mix well.
4. Divide all ingredients into 4 portions. Oil griddle. Saute pork briefly and pour batter over, then sprinkle with pickled ginger. When the surface bubbles and the bottom is golden brown, turn over and brown the other side.
5. Brush with okonomi-yaki sauce, sprinkle with bonito powder and ao-nori flakes. Serve with mayonnaise to taste.

NOTE
Ingredients may vary. Cook any meat, seafood, vegetables with the batter "as you like it."

Let's challenge cooking!
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The shochu and sake

I took two licensing examinations necessary for my work in the end of last month. Both were passing as the result. It was hard every day because the time of final tax returns and study was simultaneous.
My wife presented me the shochu in celebration of those passing exams. The shochu is a Japanese clear liqueur (distilled, most commonly, from sweet potatoes, rice, or buckwheat). It is quite good.
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About amazon.co.jp

Amazon.co.jp
You can search in English on Amazon.co.jp for Japanese books, music, DVD, and more.
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Japanese video games

I like video game. Moderately playing a game becomes the rest of work. I am playing Final Fantasy XII (FF12) now. The graphics and music are very wonderful, and I play frantically.
The Japanese video game seems to be popular all over the world. Resident Evil, Onimusha, and Kingdom Hearts, etc. We are often consulted about from the game freak in each country that wants a Japanese original version.
Please contact me if you are interested in those games.
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Cherry blossom viewing

My friend and I went to see the cherry blossoms at the park today. Cherry blossoms were at their best.
Sake, sushi, slices of raw fish, yakitori (barbecued chicken on a bamboo skewer), and tempura (deep-fried fish and vegetables), etc. They were delicious drink and delicious dishes. We enjoyed the party till late though it was a little cold.
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Himeji Castle and delicious octopus

My family and I went to Himeji Castle. It took about two hours from Osaka where we lived by train.
Himeji Castle was built in the Middle Ages. It is called the white egret castle from the magnificent rampart covered with plaster. In the castle, there was a contrivance to prevent the ninja's invasion. It was popular among the tourist from foreign countries, and a lot of people visiting.
This photo was taken with my cell phone camera.
In returning, we stopped by Akashi. It is famous because a delicious octopus can be captured. We ate deep-fried octopus and takoyaki (balls of wheat-flour batter cooked with pieces of octopus) there. As for the sushi and slices of raw fish, the octopus is delicious. Let's try to those menus if you visit Japan.
Spring comes soon in Japan. We are looking forward to have a party with seeing cherry blossoms.
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