Whole Wheat Pizza

Whole Wheat Pizza

Often times I wish that I had access to healthier food eateries that can serve up delicious-up-to-standards-wholesome-foods at affordable prices. But often times, that isn't so because yummy healthy wholesome foods joints usually come with a high price if they even do exist on Guam.

One of my travel passions is to search for such places and awe in it's goodness. Yes, I am fond of all things wheat...it actually excites me to know

that restaurants offer wheat and grain alternatives.

Here's my brave attempt at making homemade pizza crust for a healthful and satisfying pizza.

The hardest part of making this crust, was waiting for it to rise. That was hard.

I threw on spinach, broccoli, pineapples, mushrooms, chopped chicken breasts and lean ham. Of course there was some yummy marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.

The pizza right out of the oven. The crust turned out delicious and the flavors married well.

Yup, it didn't last.

I ate 3 small slices with a salad, such a satisfying lunch. YUM!!!

Iron Chef Chamorro Challenge-2011

Please pardon my construction of this blog, have fun and visit again for the recipes.

The display of the secret ingredients and other enhancing agents:

"This is how we Iron Chef-ed"

Ok-before you all say "What? SPAM, you gotta be kidding!!!!", let me give you a little history of the recipes created exclusively for this event. My husband and I decided we wanted to hold a friendly challenge of creating amateur culinary dishes and have judges decide "Who's cuisine reined SUPREME-so hence our very own version of Iron Chef Chamorro and the secret ingredient of SPAM!!!! Yes, that was intentionally a run-on sentence to create a dramatic flare. In this corner-Reed "The Real Deal' Sasamoto vs. Michelle "Bow Down" Sasamoto!!!! Who will win bragging rights and who will be ragged on for a long time?

We agreed on the secret ingredient 2 days before the challenge, brain-stormed on several ideas, invited friends and family to taste and judge and shopped for our own ingredients. Nerves were shaken and self-doubts surfaced for both of us. It's funny how we cook on a daily bases but we agreed that this challenge felt different...OK, breathe in and out. That's me calming the nerves-well for one, cause I like competition and 2 I don't like losing. Hahaha!

The best part was the excitement of our 10 year old daughter who engaged in this event as well. She delegated herself as the Chairman/Narrator and took off from there. She even made the judges scoring sheets. How cute is that? My baby is loving the culinary world as well and I am so happy.

So hours before the challenge, my husband and I prepped some ingredients because we did not have the luxury of a huge Kitchen Stadium or Sous Chefs, this made things a little less hectic in our kitchen. Thank God he had that brilliant idea of pre-prepping. Then the battle began and before we knew it an hour and 30 minutes flew right before our eyes at lightning speed. The battle was Oh-Va!!!

The three categories included appetizer, entree and dessert. I made a foursome appetizer plate which showcased Asian inspired finger foods, SPAM-Chicken Cordon Bleu with Bacon SPAM Garlic Mash Potatoes and chocolate dipped SPAM with vanilla basil soft serve ice cream. Reed managed to complete 2 dishes, I think they were both in the entree category-Hawaiian style fried rice and mushroom/asparagus stir fry. After the dishes were plated it made it's way to the judges table.

The moment of TRUTH: The judging categories were based on originality, creativity, plating and taste. Each category was scored by each judge for up to 10 points each. The judges ate, scored and tallied their points to determine "who's cuisine reigns supreme". And the 1st Iron Chef Chamorro Challenge winner is--------------------------------drum roll please. tadadadadadadadadadadadada------------------------------Iron Chef Michelle "Bow Down" Sasamoto!!!! And the crowd goes wild. Nothing but love and fun in our Sasamoto Kitchen Stadium.

Roll Up Spinach Tofu Lasagna

Lasagna Roll Ups

When I saw this food post on my friend Louise's Facebook page, I was amazed. I wondered how such a classic dish could look so beautiful and exquisite. So I ventured off to make my version but only after I asked her for some tips and Googled lasagna roll-ups. I came across a video and for the life of me, can't remember the name of the person demonstrating it. I watched and thought I could follow this and use any ingredient I wanted. It was the easiest thing I ever made and it was a family winner. Here's what I did:

Ingredients:

10 Lasagna noodles (boiled)

1 16 0z. Spaghetti sauce

4 cups fresh Spinach

1 package firm tofu

2 Chicken breast

1 pack Shredded mozzarella cheese

1 table spoon Italian Seasoning

Salt to taste

Black Pepper to taste

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use 1 cup of spaghetti sauce and spread on bottom of 9x13 baking pan (set aside).
• cut chicken breasts into small cubes and brown on stove top-when chicken is cooked, add spinach and cooked just until it wilts, add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside
• In large mixing bowl, mash tofu with potato masher or fork, add chicken and spinach mixture then mix in all seasonings, taste for flavor
• Place cooked lasagna noodle on platter, use table spoon to scoop and fill lasagna noodle thoroughly. Put filling on top of spread out noodle.
• Roll lasagna noodle with filling nice and tight
• Place on baking pan with seam down
• smother top of noodle with extra spaghetti sauce
• Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top
• bake for 30 minutes, serve warm with spinach apple and orange salad.
• Reserve extra sauce and cheese as condiments.
• See picture below.

Spinach, apple and orange salad.

A summery wonderful compliment to the lasagna roll ups.

Ingredients:

4 cups Fresh Spinach

1 granny smith apple

1 orange

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Asian soy dressing or vinaigrette

Layer all ingredients and drizzle with dressing.

Serve with lasagna roll ups

The plated product. Isn't it beautiful eye candy?

That was a dinner well served:)

July 4th-Flag Cookies

July 4th, 2011 was spent in sunny El Paso, Texas with my best friend Lucille and my God babies. It was truly a memorable summer with many baking projects with the kiddies. We made flag sugar cookies to pay homage to our nation, soldiers and FREEDOM:) The girls had so much fun.

The cookies all ready for the table.

Cookies and a trifle...a match made in heaven.

Laezsha's Kiss the Chef hat.

My Iron Chef hat...I was having some piping issues that day as you can see.

Bella's nails are matching the theme too.

God bless America!

Layla decorated most of this cookie with a little bit of guidance.

And the icing begins.

Lucille was really excited for a mini sugar cookie lesson as well.

Red, white and blue...Patriotic cookies.

The overage of cake and cream makes a wonderful "for later" stash.

My red, white and blue experiment that went right!!!

We love and honor all the men and women who serve our country to continuously fight for our freedom so people like me can continue to make and decorate sugar cookies to my hearts desire. Thank you!!!

Zories (Flip Flops) and Donne (Hot Peppers)-Local favorites

When my cousin Doreen came to Guam for a visit in April after 29 years, she said all mom and Auntie want from you are your cookies. Elated and nervous all at once the brainstorming started and Bella's ideas took the medal. She said mom "how about making hot pepper and slippers"? I said you are brilliant my dear!!! Hence the cool cookie designs. Another project in the chapter of cookies:)

George Washington "Geckos" Graduation

These cookies were made for a 2011 High School graduation party. The mascot of the school is the local gecko so what is most appropriate-Gecko cookies of course:) Funny as geckos are my worst fear in life. Can't stand the thought of them but this project was cute and fun.

I can only imagine all these little critters ganging up on me. Well then, there goes my cookie endeavor...it'll be history along with me. LOL!!!

I think they are adorable as a cookie knowing that they will be eradicated after consumption:)

Cookie favors will surely win the hearts of party-goers.

What did the gecko say to the other gecko when he fell of the wall? tsktsktsktsktsktsktsktsk:)

Have your cake and eat it too

Cakes of all walks of life. I'll update this section with new designs of cake...All types of cake:)

These cookies were made for a "Pearls and Lace" themed bridal shower.

Pearls and lace theme. I've embellished this three tiered cookie with lace and accented it with pale pink pearls.

This is a lattice design again embellished with pink pearls.

A simple dot piped cookie is sure to be elegant for any special event.