New blog & Poke

It's summer time! This means that I have more time on my hands to try new hobbies and make new things. I also want to do more makeup reviews to go along with my makeup tutorials. I really wanted to do some video tutorials this summer but I had the worst eye allergies for two consecutive months. Finally, the allergies are going away. So, I may get one or two videos done before things start to get hectic again.

 I wanted a new creative outlet separated from my professional makeup business. Therefore, I'm dedicating this blog as more of my "hobby site". Outside of makeup and my day job as a school teacher, I often find myself trying out new things and exploring new hobbies. I love posting my projects on Facebook. However, I find that it's hard to write a complete description of my projects or the process of making it on FB. So, here we are... my new blog "Makeup and Made By..."

 The first "made by" item I'd like to share is the Hawaiian Poke Trio I made today for dinner. I'm kind of sashimi snob. I wouldn't say I'm an expert on sashimi. But, I know what I like and what I don't like. In the past 5 years or so (maybe even more), I've had more and more bad experience with sashimi in restaurants. The quality of sashimi has plummet in the past 10 years or so due to over-fishing. So, I've basically decided not to eat sashimi unless I'm eating at Jiro's restaurant in Japan :).

 But, I really like Sashimi. To compromise, I will eat Poke. I've always thought of the quality of the fish they use in Poke was substandard compare to sashimi. So, with the quality of sashimi out there, they are perfect for poke. So, I thought, great! I can get good poke at the many Asian fusion restaurants out there... Nope... Well, this means that I'll just have to make them myself.

 Went to Mitsuwa Japanese supermarket and picked out the best looking ahi tuna, salmon, and hamachi sashimi for my poke. Print out a simple recipe from Food.com and few hours later, TA DA... my own poke.

From right to left: Ahi Tuna Poke served on a cucumber slice Hamachi Poke served on a sweet potato chip Salmon Poke served with hiyashi wakame The sake is Snowy Beauty.

I enjoyed these in my backyard by the pool. You couldn't ask for a better setting to eat these refreshing summer treat.

 I got the recipe from Food.com and made the following modification: Instead of 1/2 cup of soy sauce, I used 1/4 cup of soy sauce, 1/8 cup of ponzu sauce, and 1/8 cup of mirin. I did this so that the saltiness of the soy sauce wouldn't be so overpowering.