Tastefully Offensive

A college student with a passion for cooking amongst a world dominated by middle-aged mothers. I like to cook more than I like to eat, so feel free to be my friend. I could use the company. And test subject.

[verosnacks]

Japanese Milk Bread

Ingredients:

Tangzhong:

6 tablespoons (86g) water

3 tablespoons (86g) milk

4 tablespoons (28g) Flour

Dough:

5 cups (600g) Bread Flour

4 tablespoons (28g) Nonfat Dry Milk

1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar

2 teaspoons (12g) table salt

1 bag instant yeast

1 cup (226g) whole milk

2 eggs

1 stick (114g) unsalted butter, MELTED!!

Instructions:

Make tangzhong - combine ingredients in a pot and whisk until no lumps remain. Cook 3-5 minutes.

Melt butter and whisk eggs. Combine other dough ingredients. Mix and knead with a mixer - can take up to 15 min.

Shape dough into a ball, rest for 60 to 90 minutes covered.

Divide into 8 equal pieces. Each piece about 170-175 g.

Roll each into logs, rows of 4, each in greased loaf pan.

Cover loaf and rest again 50 min, until puffy.

Brush with egg wash if desired.

Bake in oven 350 degrees, bake 30-35 min.

Notes:

01/06/2026

Texture feels like dinner rolls. Fluffy.

also forgot to melt the butter

No notes, good gifts.

Takes WAY too long (the whole day basically), just buy it from the store.

Doubled the recipe

Didn't have enough bread flour so subbed the rest with AP Flour - turned out fine.

Source: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/japanese-milk-bread-recipe

[verosnacks]

Matcha Butter Mochi

Ingredients:

450g sweet glutinous rice flour

300g white sugar

2 tablespoons matcha powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

4 large eggs

2 cups milk (i used nonfat)

1 can full fat coconut milk

3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350, and butter a 13x9 pan with what's left on the wrappers of the butter you're using.

In a large bowl, mixture together dry ingredients - flour, sugar, matcha powder, and baking powder.

In another bowl, mix together wet - eggs, milk, coconut milk, and butter.

Combine wet into dry until well-mixed, pour into baking pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cut into 32 squares (can even do 64).

Notes - Made to be less sweet so they're not that sweet. Can add a scoop of ice cream. These are perfect as is.

Source: Adapted from - https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/matcha-butter-mochi-recipe/

[verosnacks]

Vietnamese Chicken Curry

Ingredients:

~2lbs chicken (I prefer boneless skinless for easy cook)

2 tbsp

2 carrots

2 potatoes

1 onion

1 can coconut milk '

3-4 cups chicken broth

4 stalks lemongrass

1 tbsp garlic (like 3-4 gloves)

3 bay leaves (?? - use kaffir lime if available)

1 tbsp sugar (to taste)

3 tbsp fish sauce (to taste)

Crusty bread or rice to eat with

Garnish with cilantro

Instructions:

Marinate chicken with curry, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar.

Cook chicken in oil for 2-3 min, remove when brown.

Add more oil - add diced onions and chopped garlic to sweat for 2-3 min.

Add potato and carrots. Fry 3-4 minutes.

Add chicken back into the pot. Add chicken broth, lemongrass stalks, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, simmer for 30 minutes.

Add can of coconut milk, simmer for another half hour.

Season to taste with sugar, fish sauce, and salt.

Service in a bowl, and garnish with bread/rice and cilantro.

Notes -

12/20/2025

Still brothy texture, use even less water - like 3-4 cups max; coconut milk adds liquid

Absolutely delicious! Super tasty! Tastes like a thai curry.

Source: https://feedthepudge.com/vietnamese-chicken-curry-ca-ri-ga/

[verosnacks]

Lemongrass Ground Chicken

Ingredients:

1 lb ground chicken (or pork or tueky - maybe beef)

optional - chopped onion / celery

4 tbsp minced lemongrass

3-4 garlic cloves

Optional - small knob of ginger

as needed: fish sauce, sugar, pepper,

after - lime juice, cilantro, green onion

Instructions:

Add oil into pan.

Add minced lemongrass, garlic, and ginger if using.

Add ground meat and cook until brown.

Add celery and onion, if using.

Season with fish sauce, sugar, and black pepper.

Once done, turn off heat. Add in generous amount of green onion, cilantro, and freshly squeezed lime juice.

Served with jasmine rice and an iced tea!

12/23/2025:

Texture reminds me of larb, could go well with some roasted rice powder

Would be good with ground pork for sure

arose from the need to use up the lemongrass from the Vietnamese curry I made

ate with a side of broccoli

Source: None! I invented this by throwing random things together!

[verosnacks]

Korokke

Ingredients:

~600g / 1lb 5 oz floury potatoes

1 beef stock cube

25 g / 1 Tbsp butter

1 onion, finely chopped

125g / 4 oz ground beef

1 tbsp sake

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

Soak peeled and chopped potatoes in a large bowl of water for 10 min to remove the starch, drain well.

Put potatoes in pot with stock cube, and boil ~15 min until potatoes are tender.

Drain well, then mash while warm with butter.

Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute onion for 2 minutes.

Add ground beef to mixture with sake, salt and pepper.

Add cooked ground beef and onion to potato, then divide into six portions and shape into ovals with your hands.

Dip - flour, egg, breadcrumbs, put in fridge to firm up.

Fry 2-3 min at 350 degrees.

Serve with tonkatsu dipping sauce.

Notes:

11/05/2025 -

seems easy - just throw whatever ground meat you want plus vegetables (peas, carrots, etc) and less potato

made in the air fryer, just as tasty

too much water in potatoes, did not drain well enough and mixture got all mushy

need LOTS of flour and breadcrumb

more effort than it's worth, would just buy out in the future

Source: Atusko's Japanese Kitchen cookbook

[verosnacks]

Miso-Glazed Eggplant (Nasu Dengaku)

Instructions:

2 eggplants ( I used Chinese)

4 tbsp toasted sesame oil

4 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp crushed toasted hazelnuts (can also use sesame seed)

Miso glaze:

5 tbsp brown rice miso (dengaku miso)

2 tbsp soft light brown sugar

1 tbsp mirin

1 tbsp sake

1.5 tbsp water

Instructions:

Preheat grill or broiler to 350 degrees.

Peel eggplant, slice into 1.25 inches thick slices.

Slice cross-hatch pattern into slices - this makes it absorb flavor better.

Place onto baking sheet, and drizzle or toss with oil. Grill/broil for 15 minutes until lightly browned and tender.

While that's cooking, make the glaze. Combine glaze ingredients in a sauce pan and cook for 1 minute over low heat.

Remove eggplant from broiler and spread miso glaze on top. Return to broiler for 4-5 minutes, until bubbling.

Serve with toasted hazelnuts or roasted sesame seeds on top.

Notes:

10/29/2025

actually shockingly had dengaku miso on hand, from our time at the miso factory!

used half the amount of recommended oil and it was fine, but it would be really good and crispy if used the full amount

made it in the toaster oven

ate with rice and plain rotisserie chicken

would want a more watery consistency to pair with chicken or fish

looked exactly like the photos though

Source - Atsuko's Japanese Kitchen cookbook

[verosnacks]

Canh Cai Ngot - Vietnamese Shrimp Spinach Soup

Ingredients:

9 cups water

any LEAFY greens (spinach, mustard greens, even lettuce, napa cabbage)

1/2 lb shrimp (up to 10 oz)

1 tsp fish sauce

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

Instructions

Season shrimp and chop up into a paste. You can also just start with shrimp paste.

Add a splash of oil into pot, and cook shrimp. Alternatively you can just boil everything together.

Remove all impurities that float on top.

Season with additional fish sauce, sugar, and white pepper powder.

Garnish with green onions or cilantro.

Notes:

10/19/2025 - Fairly easy to do, I like adding extra water and some costco rotisserie chicken for extra protein. Tastes good with some rice mushed inside for an easy meal.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/justlikemoms_/reel/DPW6iUaCUpu/

[verosnacks]

Nuoc cham Dressing

1 tbsp fish sauce

1/2 tbsp sugar (can add a pinch)

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp white vinegar

1/2 tbsp garlic (like one large clove)

2 tbsp oil

I didn't make this using the oil, it's just fish sauce. I suppose could try next time. Ate this with the beef salad immediately preceding it.

[verosnacks]

Xa Lach Bo Xao - Sauteed Beef Salad

Ingredients:

1 lb Ribeye, thinly sliced

1/2 white onion

1 bundle lettuce

1 cucumber

Cherry or grape tomatoes

Marinade

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tbsp dark soy sauce

1/2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp black pepper

1-2 squirts of ketchup

Instructions:

Slice ribeye against the grain into thin slices. Marinate for 10-15 minutes, even better if overnight.

In a large pan, render the fat from the steak. Sear marinated beef.

Add onions, cook for a few seconds until they've softened but still kinda crunchy.

Notes:

10/12/2025 - Delicious, but really easy to overcook the beef. It honestly needs to hit the pan for like, 45 seconds MAX before you throw in the sweet onion. Super simple dish.

Source: https://feedthepudge.com/xa-lach-bo-xao-sauteed-beef-salad/

[verosnacks]

Copycat Erewhon Baked Buffalo Cauliflower

Ingredients:

1 whole had cauliflower

1 1/4 cup buttermilk (can be made with milk and vinegar)

1/3 cup cornstarch (or potato starch)

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs

oil spray

1/2 cup buffalo sauce, as deisred

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425.

In a bowl, combine buttermilk, cornstarch, flour, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until a thick batter forms.

Add cauliflower florests and mix until coated.

Add panko and mix again.

Linke a baking sheet with parchment paper, and half of cualiflower.

Bake for 20 miunutes. Remove, flip, and bake for 10-15 until cripsy.

Remove from oven, toss in buffalo sauce, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Serve however you'd like - ranch, blue cheese dressing, etc:

Notes:

10/09/2025 - Baked this, was woth way too much effort. I also made it in the toaster oven so the heat was more unevent. Regardless, the taste was fine, i'm not much of a cauliflower fan anyways - but still glad I got the experience. I would like to try the erewhon one someday.

Source: https://moribyan.com/buffalo-cauliflower-erewhon-copycat/

[verosnacks]

Buttermilk Panna Cotta

Ingredients:

1 envelope (1 1/2 tsp) unflavored gelatin

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest (optional)

pinch kosher salt

2 cups whole buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons water with gelatin. Let stand 10 minutes - it should form a paste.

In a saucepan, mix cream, sugar, lemon zest, and salt. Simmer, mix to dissolve sugar - 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in gelatin mixture until dissolved. Then whisk in buttermilk and vanilla.

Divide buttermilk mixture evenly amoung 8 (5-6 ounce) heatproof custard cups. Place on a tray. Chill, uncovered, until firm - 8 hours or up to 3 days.

Notes:

08/19/2025 - Not too sweet! Could even reduce the amount of sugar. Buttermilk gives it a tang, tastes like yogurt. Add whatever fruit, jam, jelly or syrup you have on top. I used haiku boba sugar syrup but you can put anything. Use in-season fruit! Original recipe did caramelized peaches, great for summer. Great year-round dessert that uses simple ingredients!

Source: https://www.southernliving.com/buttermilk-panna-cotta-with-caramel-peaches-11736138

[verosnacks]

3-ingredient Banana Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 large ripe banana

2 eggs

1/4 cup flour (whole wheat) to 1/3 cup flour (buckwheat)

Optional mix-ins: cinnamon, hemp hearts, vanilla

Instructions:

Mash the banana with a fork. Add eggs and whisk until evenly incorporated.

Add the flour and any optional boosters. Stir until combined.

Add a pat of butter or cooking oil to pan. Cook over medium-low heat.

Makes 2 large pancakes. Double or triple the recipe for more.

Notes:

09/15/2025 - These are fine! Texture is good. Good way to use overripe bananas. Would recomend adding some vanilla or nutmeg or extra spices.

Source: https://cookieandkate.com/healthy-banana-pancakes-recipe/

[verosnacks]

Vanilla Cake with Matcha Buttercream Frosting and Strawberry Jam

Ingredients:

Betty Crocker Cake Mix

Matcha Buttercream Frosting:

8 ounces (1 block or 225g) cream cheese

4 Tablespoons (half a stick or 58g) lightly salted or unsalted butter

1 cup (100g) powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon (8g) matcha powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

Makes about 2 cups, enough for a 9x9 inch sheet cake, a 6-inch layer cake, or 1 dozen cupcakes. Double to frost an 8/9-inch layer cake or a 9x12-inch sheet cake.

Notes:

09/07/2025 - First attempt at baking a cake. Learned need to freeze the cake before you frost it so it's solid, the crumbs went everywhere. Will need to try again the next occasion... got a nice jar of strawberry jam from a nice lady on the Buy Nothing group.

Cream Cheese Frosting source: https://bojongourmet.com/matcha-cream-cheese-frosting/

[verosnacks]

Mediterranean Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups chopped English cucumber

1 pint halved cherry tomatoes (can sub other)

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley

3 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Service immediately or refrigerate, covered up to 6 hours.

Notes: I'm not sure if it was all the olive oil and lemon juice and salt, but this dish gave me canker sores the next day. So I'm not sure if I'd make this whole thing again, but the chicken mix is pretty good.

Source: https://www.bhg.com/grilled-shawarma-style-chicken-11761339

[verosnacks]

Grilled Shawarma-Style Chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken Marinade:

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp coriander

2 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp kosher salt

2lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs

8 Pita bread rounds

Instructions:

In a small bowl, whisk together all spices and lemon juice with salt. Marinate chicken 3-12 hours.

Grill chicken. Get crusty.

Slice chicken into thin slices; serve with cucumber salad and Tahini Sauce.

Source: https://www.bhg.com/grilled-shawarma-style-chicken-11761339

[verosnacks]

Whole-Wheat Bread

Ingredients:

Sponge:

1 cup water

1/3 cup whole milk

2 and 1/4 teaspoons active dry or instant yeast (about 1 packet)

2 cups (260g) whole wheat flour

Dough:

3 Tablespoons (63g) honey

3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)

1 and 1/3 cups (173g) whole-wheat flour, plus more as neede

1 teaspoon salt

optional oat topping: 1 beaten egg white + 1 Tablespoon whole oats

Instructions

Make the sponge. In a large bowl of stand mixer, whisk together water, whole milk, and y east. Add flour and stir with a spatula until a thick batter forms.

Cover lightly, allow to double in size @ room temp. Takes 60-90 min, can be up to 2 hours.

Add remaining dough ingredients (honey, butter, lemon juice, flour, and salt). With a dough hook attachment, beat on medium speed or until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl (3min). If too wet, beat in more flour (1 Tbsp at a time) until a workable dough. Should be soft and a little sticky, but still kneadable with floured hands.

1st rise: PCover and allow dough to rise in a warm environment for 1.5-2 hours.

Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Shape the dough: when ready, punch to release the air. Use rolling pin to shape into a rectangle, about 8x15 inches.

Roll up into 8-inch log and place in prepared loaf pan.

2nd rise: Cover and allow to rise 45-60 min.

Bake @ 350 for 36-40 min.

06/19/2025 - This experience was terrible, stupid bread had to rise literally three times. Took ALL day, I would rather spend the $3 to buy this at the store any day of the week. I thought my loaf was going to be too big so I split it into two. I only succeeded in making tiny little bread slices, could totally have just kept it as one giant loaf.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKvFRAQrwpY

[verosnacks]

Whole-Wheat Tortillas

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups (355g) whole wheat flour

1 cup (142g) All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil (or any oil)

1 1/4 cup warm water

Instructions:

Mix together dry ingredients - flours, baking powder, and salt.

Add oil and mix, until the flour is crumbly.

Add about 3/4 of the warm water, mix until dough is smooth. Add remaining water if needed. (I used all the water)

Cut the dough into 12 pieces, about 2 oz each. Roll into a ball, rest for 15 minutes.

Once rested, roll out into 8 x 8 inch circles on a floured surface.

Over medium heat, cook each disk about 2 minutes on the first side, flip over, then cook another 2 on the second.

Cover and store at room temperature for up to 2 days - they also last really well in the fridge.

Notes:

06/13/2025 - These are still really annoying to roll out, even when they've been squished with a tortilla press. These are high effort but high reward - it's nice to not have to buy tortillas and used up remaining whole wheat flour in the pantry.

Source - https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/whole-wheat-tortillas/