Cooking Korean: Yubuchobap!

I made some Yubuchobap because I love Inari and this recipe looked to be pretty similar.  I could not find the Yubuchobap kit that Maangchi discriped over at Maangchi.com where I got the recipe, so I improvised a little bit. First, I put my rice on in the rice cooker and I cut up my veg (carrots and cucumber).  I gave them a quick little fry after drain some of the water off.  While that was happening I cut up some garlic pickles (the recipe calls for pickled radish, which I don't love . . . so I mad a substitution). 

Veg ready to go

All mixed together and ready to stuff!

Once the rice was done I let it sit until it was warm not scorching and added a bit of sushi vinegar (remember I didn't have a Yubuchobap kit with the vinegar packet).  Then I mixed all the ingredients together.  I also didn't have the dry topping so I substituted furikake (little bits of seaweed and sesame seeds).  I had triangular tofu pouches which I felt were a bit difficult to stuff . . . it was hard to get stuff down into the tip.  Next time I'll search a bit more and see if I can get the more u-shaped pouches.

Dangerous Yubuchobap ring!

Each ninja protects his own yubuchobap!

Overall, I think it turned out great.  It also tasted great.   I got fresh made umeboshi at T&T while I was there so I made some with Umeboshi added as well.  For fun I decided to make some Haupia (hawaiian Coconut Pudding) as well.  I had a big lunch, so I made myself a small plate for dinner and  packed a bento lunch.

Lite yummy dinner!

Delicious bento lunch!

I hope yubuchobap tastes as good the next day as inari does!

Bento Lunch!

I made my first attempt at a cute lunch . . . it isn't that cute yet as I only had like 10 minutes and was not really prepared.  Yet its passably cute and delicious.

Happy Robot Bento!

I have brown rice with Furikake, curried lentils, stir fried veg and two mini hamburgers.  The lentil recipe can be found over at JustBento.com. Furikake makes everything better.  You can buy it at most Asian grocery stores in many many varieties.  Its pretty up seaweed and sesame seeds and sometimes a flavoring.  If you don't want MSG you'll have to be careful with Furikake brands.  The flavors are nice, but I still prefer original flavor.  I winged the hamburger recipe from over there as well.  Its beef, fried onions, panko, 1 egg, and some feta.  They are delicious.  The stirfried vegetables are based on my Mom's recipe.  Brussel sprouts (if you think you don't like Brussel sprouts you've been cooking them wrong) and baby carrots . . . and onion.  You need enough oil to really give them a nice toasted outside when you cook them in the pan.  Fry the onions first then add both the sprouts and the carrots (cut to about the same size).  Season as you like.  Here I have a bit of curry powder, garlic powder, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.  Any seasoning will do though.  I topped it off with cheesy robot faces.  It tasted great and I think it is pretty cute! It was definitely cuter than the other lunches.