Chocolate Yokan; ACE Classes Soup and Stew for a Snowy Day and Japanese Cooking in Your American Kitchen

Post Date: 15 February 2018

Chocolate Yokan – Japanese Sweet

 

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I made the Chocolate Yokan pictured above for my class on Wednesday evening.  I took a short cut from the traditional recipe, however.  I had made chocolate icing with Heavy Cream, Instant Espresso, and 1 pound of bittersweet chocolate.  After it hardened in the fridge, I rolled it out in small increments with a rolling pin, then cut out the heart shapes with a mold.

 

Just a quick cultural note – in Japan women give chocolate to men on Valentine’s Day.  Men then reciprocate by giving women chocolate on March 14^th.  There are several categories of gift chocolate according to NHK, the Japanese public broadcasting network (www3.nhk.or.jp):

 

Honmei Choco – given to husbands and boyfriends

 

Giri Choco – ‘obligation chocolate,” given to classmates and casual acquaintances, work colleagues.

 

Tomo Choco – given to female friends

 

Jibun Choco – probably the best – it means “self chocolate,” the kind you buy for yourself.

 

Japanese Cooking in Your American Kitchen

 

This first session of this session class met last Wednesday evenings February 7.  In this class we made a Baked Salmon with a Miso Glaze, a Japanese Beef Curry with Peas and Grape Tomatoes (pictured above), and Kushi-Yaki, mixed vegetables and tofu on a skewer (see below).  The second session meets next Wednesday evening, February 21.  We will be making Chicken Teriyaki, among other dishes.

ACE Class - Soup and Stew for a Snowy Day

 

This 2 session class begins this coming Saturday morning, February 17, at the Plum Center in Springfield.  We will be making 3 dishes in the first session.  The first is a Chili with an Italian twist, using Mild Italian Sausage combined with chopped beef (pictured above).  The second will be Ribollita, a type of Italian Vegetable Soup with day old bread as croutons.  We will finish off with a quick and easy Tomato and Clam Soup, no chopping involved, just put everything into the pot and heat it up, great for an improvised meal.

 

Reminder – Instagam

 

Follow me on Instagram at #senseichef.  I look forward to your comments on my posts, culinary and otherwise.

 

Upcoming Classes

 

Here is my schedule for the rest of the winter term.

 

March 3, 9, and 23 – Friday Evening – Cooking Basics 101 – Plum Center

 

To register for these classes, or any ACE cooking classes, please go to:

 

http://www.fcps.edu/is/ace/

 

While there, be sure to check out the other culinary courses offered by ACE’s excellent chef instructors.

 

Till next time, keep cooking.

 

Contact Chef Kevin at: KJBrady@fcps.edu