#ottanom

[ottanom]

Iced Tea

I know it's not exactly cooking but I never knew how to make iced tea at home. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures so you'll just have to deal with me on this. This will be instructions on how to make a pitcher of iced tea.

What you'll need:

3 tea bags (or three table spoons of desired tea)

water (how ever much the pitcher you have takes)

a stew pot (or any big pot that can hold all the water)

honey

ice (about two trays. I'll explain later)

 optional things you'll need if you aren't using tea bags:

something to hold the tea leaves like one of those fine sieve like tea holders

or if you're like me and you don't have one of those and have a tea strainer that comes with some tea pots use that, an elastic band (the smaller the better), and plastic wrap to make sure the tea leaves don't go everywhere.

if you have a fine sieve, then just use that and make sure you use it so you don't burn your self

Instructions: 

Fill the pitcher with water just above the desired amount, then pour that into the pot. Bring the pot to a boil and turn off the heat. Get your tea bags or tea strainer ready and place in the water (I wait until the water isn't boiling hot but still very warm). Set the timer for 5 mins and do something to kill the time. 

When your 5 mins is up take out the tea (Be very careful as to not burn yourself with this, use spoons and a bowl to help if needed). 

Wait until the water is cool enough to handle. When it's cool pour the tea into the pitcher and add as much honey as you like. Stir until fully dissolved and and ice and mix some more to make it cold. Put in the fridge if it's still warm and wait until it's chilled. 

Now your tea should be ready to serve. If you like (like me) add ice to your glass before serving. 

I think this is something nice for the summer season and I'm sure you all would enjoy this quick recipe. You can also just use sugar or sweetener instead of honey to sweeten the tea. Again I cannot stress enough to be careful when taking the tea out. I don't want to see you guys getting hurt.

Also you can use any type of tea for this. I have been using herbal tea my boyfriend bought made of berries and nuts and it works perfectly. Next time I'm going to try black tea.

I hope you guys enjoy and let me know of your results.

[ottanom]

Oyakodon

So tonight's dinner is oyakodon. Oyakodon basically translates into "Parent Child Bowl" since there is chicken and egg in it.

So the ingredients you'll need are:

Chicken

rice

3 eggs

onion

4 tbs of water

4tbs of mentsuyu (tempura sauce that you can find at some grocery stores)

1.5 tbs of sugar

1 cup of rice (two cups of water too cook it with)

(since this is a fast recipe is short I recommend cooking the rice while doing prep and cooking so it's all done at the same time)

So first cut up all of your ingredients. Cut the onion into slices and chicken into small bite sized 

In a pan combine the water, mentsuyu and sugar and mix well. Then add the onion and chicken then turn the element to medium heat.

While it is cooking crack the 3 eggs into a bowl and mix lightly (don't over mix).

When the chicken is cooked turn the heat up to high and add the beaten eggs then put the lid on the frying pan.

After putting on the lid, turn the heat down to low and simmer until the egg is cooked (you don't have to cook it fully but I can't eat runny eggs)

When the rice is done put some in a bowl then top with the the egg chicken mixture then  it's ready to eat.

Then it's done. I really hope you guys enjoy this recipe. It's very sweet. Please try this for yourselves and tell me what you think!

So this is the first recipe I've posted at the new apartment. I'm sorry the photos aren't as good as they used to be since there is no outside light entering the kitchen like the last place.

[ottanom]

Newly Opened Buffet

A all you can eat Korean,Japanese and Chinese style buffet just opened on Merivale road so I decided to dine there and see what's up.

Bai Du is quite a place, mainly due to interior. Every thing is gouty from the chandeliers to the seats.Look at those fake gems. I'd eat here purely based on the look. It's entertaining to say the least. 

Most of the people that work there are fresh off the boat,as it were. They are quite kind despite most of the reviews I've read of the place so far. They give you the choice to do a Korean style barbecue right at your table or just part take in the buffet and ordering right from your table. 

You can get sushi and classic Chinese food you can find anywhere. The food has a unique taste I have to say.

The only bad thing I really have to say is actually a simple mistake and I don't blame them and I will not want you to turn away because of this because it can happen anywhere, but I ordered tempura shrimp and one of them was only half deveined. If you don't know what I mean, shrimp have something called a sand vein that runs along it's back that you're supposed to remove before cooking (usually when you deshell the shrimp) but the sand vein is actually where the poop travels to get out of the body. I've seen this happen at many restaurants so please don't get upset with them. Just a heads up if you eat shrimp ANYWHERE. 

The meals are pretty cheap for that kind of restaurant but still pretty pricey. They hold a similar rule like the others: finish everything that your order and don't waste food or they will charge extra.

I enjoyed this restaurant but 168 Sushi is still my favourite. Still the interior is mild boggling.

[ottanom]

Meat Balls

Ingredients you'll need:

ground beef (thawed all the way through)

eggs

flour

breadcrumbs 

This is a really easy recipe. Just put all the ingredients in a bowl.

Then  mix with your hands. Almost like you're squeezing the life out of the stuff.

I know it's dirty but its the best way to do it. Do this until all the ingredients are fully combined a then you can start making the balls. Make sure the balls are very very very smooth before putting them on the pan (oil the pan well).

See how smooth they are? That's how smooth you have to make them. To cook them thoroughly us two spoons to pick them up and flip them. Do this gently because they can break quite easily. See they're just about done. You can put these in spaghetti or rice or a nice sauce as a meal. We made spaghetti so we put them directly into the sauce.

Yummy. This is a basic meatball recipe so put whatever you think would be good in them or on them. Please try this out and tell me what you thought.

[ottanom]

Burgers Galore!

The Works! I'm sure if you like burgers you'll love The Works. They have a wider variety of burgers than any other place I've eaten. They allow the choice of toppings and what type of burger you want, whether it's a normal beef patty, chicken, veggie or even a portobello mushroom cap. 

The drinks are served in measuring cups. 

So weird, eh?

This is what my boyfriend and I ordered. I got the kamakaze burger which was super spicy and yummy, my boyfriend got the San Francisco Treat which had KD on it. All the burgers are interesting like these.

Please go out and try this place. There are a lot all over Ottawa. If you're going to visit here definitely give it a go. Please tell me what you think of the place and your experience there.