Here we are, the first of many recipes I have prepared for this site.  They're easy to do, for the most part.  Some recipes may challenge your knife skills, but I'm confident that as time goes on with alittle practice you're going to have no problem doing and making everything so GOOD LUCK!!

This first recipe I have prepared is a Japanese favorite, 'shoga yaki'.  The recipe calls for pork(the best meat in the world) but may be substitued with beef, chicken, veggies.  This is a list of what you will need:  (recipe yields 2 ok servings or 1 nice serving:-)

1/2 lbs. sliced meat of your selection, preferably pork
1 onion
1 piece fresh ginger(alittle smaller than your thumb)
2tblspn soy sauce(kikkoman is a good brand)
1tbspn sake
2tblspn mirin(Japanese sweet sake)
2tspn sugar
1tspn butter(optional)

Next you'd want to get your sauce ready so what you do is this:
  Mix the soy sauce, mirin, and sugar together.  Next you peel the ginger.  A vegetable peeler will do nicely but here's your chance to use those knife skills! Make sure all the skin is off then puree or grind.  Now take those 2 and mix together. 

While you are doing all of this, you'll want to get your frying pan ready.  Get it hot, but not to the point it smokes.  Drizzle alittle oil, olive oil would be nice, then add the meat of your choice, preferably pork.  Once your meat is cooked on one side add onions and sake.  Stir, 'kicking' the frying pan back and forth till onions start to get soft.  Remember, the thinner the onion, the faster it cooks.  Once the onions get soft add in the sauce and let it come to a small boil at a med-low heat.  That means turn down the stove 1/2 way.  Once it boils, throw in that butter and let it melt while stirring.  The butter gives it a nice thick body. 

Now get a bowl of rice and ENJOY.  If you have any questions, please email me at tatishikawa@taikorestaurnt.com Enjoy and see you next time.