***My brother

I wish I could write something fun that doubles as a life lesson, but I can’t.  Not today.  At least not without being super preachy.  I’m feeling sanctimonious having been stuck inside for two days caring for my sick five year old.  See, I’m a perfect mom when my child is ill.  Cuddles, timely removal of vomit from buckets, a constant stream of grape flavoured electrolyte, games of Operation, and I never take a temperature rectally.

Normally, I don’t mention my kid because I’m sure it’s upsetting to some people that I’m responsible for the emotional and physical health of another human being.  But I”m prideful of my mothering abilities on a sick day.

Anyway, here’s an easy recipe with a thousand ingredients and several labor intensive steps. My brother liked it, but he’s been placating me ever since he told me a few weeks ago that he never misses me.

Okonomiyaki

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
• 1/2 cup rice flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 2/3 cup dashi or chicken broth
• 2, large eggs beaten
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 5-6 spring onions thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 pointed or napa cabbage finely shredded
• 300 grams raw shrimp, peeled and chopped
• 2 TBS katsuobushi flakes
• 4 TBS oil for frying

1. Combine all ingredients up to the cabbage and mix until smooth.
2. Gently stir in the cabbage,  shrimp, and katsuobushi flakes.
3. Heat 1 TBS oil until shimmering.
4. Add 1/4 of the mixture and cook for three minutes until nice and golden.
5. Carefully flip and cook another 2-3 minutes.
6. Use a pastry brush to coat one side of the pancake with the okonomiyaki sauce (recipe below).
7. Follow the same process to create three more.
8. Top with katsuobushi, sesame and nori, and mayonnaise.
9. It is a lot of work, but it’s worth it!

Okonomiyaki Sauce

• 3 TBS ketchup
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 TBS worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

1. Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan and heat on low until combined and slightly thickened.

TOPPINGS:

• okonomiyaki sauce
• Mayo (I have a great recipe on this site, but I’m not sure how to connect it)
• nori and seaweed flakes
• katsuobushi flakes

Nutritional Information: Includes the pancake recipe plus the okonomiyaki sauce and 1.25 TBS mayo.

• Calories 582
• Fat 32
• Carbs 38.7
• Protien 28.8

***Like this guy, my brother ain’t missing me.