Mixed Vegetables with Japanese Dressing

If you feel like having vegetables with a Japanese dish taste, try this really appetizing recipe. It's healthy and very tasty.

Got this recipe from Asian Vegetarian Recipes Periplus Mini Cookbooks (of course, I've tweaked it a bit). :-)

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: around 20 minutes
For 4 people

Ingredients:
10 dried shitake mushrooms
1/2 cup boiling water
1/3 cup Kikkoman
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/3 cup mirin - available in japanese groceries or in the Asian section of your favorite supermarkets
2 tbsp white sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic (add more if you love a more garlic taste)
1 tbsp mushroom seasoning - available in the Asian section of the supermarkets
1 c. of oyster mushrooms
2 pcs. medium carrots
1/2 cup cauliflower
1 red bell pepper
1 bunch spinach
salt and pepper

1. Soak shitake mushrooms in boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain but leave 1/4 c. of used mushroom water.
2. Cut the mushrooms in quarters.
3. Mix Kikkoman, ginger, mirin, white sugar and reserved mushroom water.
4. Add the mushrooms and stir well.
5. In a wok, sautee garlic and add the oyster mushrooms and mushroom seasoning.
6. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper.
7. Add carrots, cauliflower and bell pepper
8. Pour prepared liquid and bring to a boil.
9. Add spinach and simmer for 5 minutes.
10. Serve hot with steam rice.

Enjoy!

Meatless Marinara Sauce

This recipe is a must-try for people looking to have a easy and delicious marinara sauce without the meaty taste.

I got this recipe for Everything Cooking For Two book but altered a bit. There are a number of interesting recipes there that I'm hoping to try in the next few days.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes (30 minutes for simmering)
Good for two people

2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp of minced garlic - (could be lesser if you don't want much of a garlicky taste)
1 medium red onion chopped
1/2 c chopped parsley
1 tsp. chili powder
1 can of canned whole tomatoes - (I used Italian canned tomatoes that I got from Galileo but any canned tomatoes will work)
salt and pepper

1. Sautee garlic in olive oil for 2 minutes.
2. Add onion, parsley and chili powder. Sautee for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
3. Pour in the tomatoes. Let simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Puree in a blender and adjust salt and pepper depending on your taste

Top with parmesan cheese and you're set. Enjoy!