Featured Japanese Goodies: Mochi Ice Cream

My first attempt at making mochi ice cream.

As promised in an earlier post, I finally got around and made some mochi ice cream for the first time. Needless to say, it was somewhere between an epic fail and an epic win. The overall appearance and form didn't look as good as what Naked Tchopstix serves, but it tasted just the same... with the exception of a few over-doughy balls. Don't worry, I intend on mastering this art before too long.

It's hard to say when mochi ice cream will creep up into the Angelic Guardians saga. From what I've read, the Japanese Americans created it and brought it over to Japan in the twentieth century, which makes it a candidate for the Demonic Guardians trilogy. The common flavors include vanilla, mango, strawberry, and green tea. However, more and more Japanese are getting accustomed to eating chocolate on a financial scale (chocolate used to be considered as a luxury), so chocolate has been added onto the list.

So, if you are like me and wish to take on this skill, here's a recipe that I got from two websites (one of which came from blogger.com itself). Good luck!

Mochi Ice Cream

(Japanese Ice Cream)

Sources: http://japaneseicecream.blogspot.com/2009/04/japanese-mochi-ice-cream-recipe.html

http://www.serving-ice-cream.com/mochi-ice-cream.html

Ingredients:

1/3 c. sweet rice flour (glutinous rice flour)

½ c. water

½ c. sugar

Cornstarch

Your preferred ice cream flavor (Common Japanese flavors include vanilla, green tea, strawberry, mango, and, recently, chocolate. However, you can always throw in some mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, cookies & cream, etc. for fun.)

Directions:

1.   Dump sweet rice flour into a glass bowl.

2.   Add water a little bit at a time as you mix it with the rice flour.

3.   Cover the glass bowl with plastic wrap but leave a portion of the bowl open to allow air flow. Otherwise, you might be at risk of blowing up your glass bowl (see step four).

4.   Put the glass bowl in the microwave for 3 minutes on medium. Your dough will start to thicken from the heat.

5.   Dip a wooden spoon in water and stir the dough.

6.   Put the glass bowl back in the microwave for another minute on medium. Your dough should then start to look smooth and shiny.

7.   Dump the dough onto a cutting board and smooth it out with a wet wooden spoon. Make sure the cutting board is covered with cornstarch. You will need cornstarch to cover the dough too.

8.   Flip the dough over and make sure it is coated well with cornstarch.

9.   Push and stretch the dough until it is smooth, flat, about 3 millimeters thick.

10.   If the dough is still warm at this point, let it cool!

11.   Use either a small bowl/cup or a larger bowl/cup to cut out your dough wraps.

a.   Recommendation: It’s best to freeze your dough wraps before you begin filling it with ice cream. Depending how warm the wraps are, your ice cream may start melting.

                                                               i.  To freeze: place a flat wrap on a sheet of plastic wrap (again, covered with cornstarch), and place another flat wrap on top of it in the same way (plastic wrap à flat dough wrap à plastic wrap à flat dough wrap, etc.). Do this until are flat wraps are gone. Top it off with one last piece of plastic wrap.

12.  Drop a medium-sized (or smaller) scoop of ice cream in the center of your flat dough wrap.

13.  Tuck in all the edges at the top of the ice cream scoop and pinch them to hold the wrap in place.

a.   Recommendation: If the dough isn’t sticking together as you wrap your ice cream, there’s nothing wrong with sprinkling some water. Cornstarch tends to dry out the dough, so it might be craving for moisture.

14.  Before you continue to make another, it’s highly recommended that you start freezing your dough ball as soon as you’re done with it!

15.  Freeze until you’re ready to serve.

Robu Tsuchino: The Good, the Bad, and the Badass.

Robu Tsuchino/Seijitsu (center) and his Japanese parallels:

Chibiusa/Rini (with Black Lady/Wicked Lady, left)

and the Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger (right)

(Click here to listen to the MIDI version of "Sailor Senshi Doushi no Taitirtu"
as you're reading this blog. This would totally be Seijitsu's theme if it wasn't already taken!
Note: you will need to right-click on the link
and select "Open in New Tab"/"Open in New Window" in order to stay on this page!)

If there is one character in the Angelic Guardians series that I think will steal Rizu/Tamashii's spotlight more than any other member of the Angelic Guardians squad, it'd have to be the star of Angelic Guardians: The Awakening: Robu Tsuchino.


Also known as Seijitsu.


Robu was designed after a very special friend of mine since the summer of 2005. In fact, our story was thrown into the storylines for The Gathering and The Awakening, including the place where we worked and some of our family members and coworkers. Like Robu Tsuchino, he was a big sci-fi nerd and he was the only guy I knew who was still playing Pokémon video games. (Nerdom was not accepted in my graduating class, which sucked for me.)


Now, throw in a few personalities and backgrounds of notable characters in Japanese entertainment, and you have the perfect leading male character to rival his female counterpart, which is exactly what makes Robu just as loveable as Rizu but less whiny and fangirly.


(Although, he does hold his own when it comes to his secret love for Pōwā Senshi, the Angelic Guardians ripoff to Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (or the first season of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers). He received a giant collection of Dinodroids and Megadroids from his cousin Matu Hiro when Matu grew out of his nerd phase, and he claims the Green Senshi (Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger, respectively) is the best Pōwā Senshi there ever was. Clearly, his favorite Droid is none other than the Dragondroid (Dragon Caesar/Dragonzord), which can still be found in his bedroom to this day.)


Robu is first seen in The Gathering as a sharp-tongued, arrogant, Gothic nerd who has no interest in religion. He often chastises Rizu for her foot-in-mouth comments, but he also shows a great concern for her whenever she feels troubled. He only makes two appearances throughout the book, which makes him a minor character but a minor character that would soon change the paradigms of the Angelic Guardians series as we know it.


His grand return to Roganu in Angelic Guardians: The Awakening puts Rizu in a difficult situation when Paipa, one of the two boss demons of the book, strikes Roganu Beach by kidnapping children in the middle of the night and placing an eternal sleep curse over them. Rizu knows Paipa is carrying out Myoujou's latest scheme, but because he understands that their jobs are on the line, Robu plans to rescue the children himself, which eventually prompts both Rizu and Deibiddo/Inochi to reveal their secret to him in their first battle against Paipa.


Robu's involvement in The Awakening parallels with two other characters many fans of 90's Japanese children entertainment may recall. The first character is Usagi "Chibiusa" Chiba/Rini, better known as Chibimoon/Mini Moon in Sailor Moon. Elements of Sailor Moon R and Sailor Moon SuperS were the foundation of The Awakening, mainly because both arcs (excluding the story of the Makaiju/Doom Tree in the anime of Sailor Moon R) focused on Chibiusa as the main character. Chibiusa would be a better candidate to draw similarities from when comparing with Rizu, but it's her story from these two arcs that parallels with Robu's in The Awakening.


Parallel #1: Robu vs. Chibiusa
- Both Robu and Chibiusa discovered the secret identities of their future teammates before becoming Chosen Ones themselves.
- They were the youngest members of their respective corps at the time of their initiation. (Robu --> 18; Chibiusa --> 5 (manga), 6 or 7 (Sailor Moon S anime)) This soon changed when ChibiChibi/Sailor ChibiChibi was introduced in Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, although ChibChibi was not a real child in the end. In the manga, she is really Sailor Cosmos in disguise, and in the anime, she is the Star Seed of Sailor Galaxia, which hints she was "created" instead of being born.
- They share a deep connection with the dream world and its magical guardians. (Robu --> Seiji; Chibiusa --> Pegasus)
- They become the enemy in the same arc they are first viewed as the main character. (Robu --> Dark Seijitsu; Chibiusa --> Black Lady/Wicked Lady)
- They have at least one attack that causes little damage but can serve as a huge distraction. (Robu --> Slingshot Toss (which will be introduced in Angelic Guardians: The Return); Chibiusa --> Pink Sugar Heart Attack (anime only))
- They have a friendly (and sometimes sibling-like) rivalry with the protagonist but with good reason. (Sadly, I'm not in the position to tell you Robu's reason at the moment. Let's just say I'd be giving away a huge spoiler for future installments.)


The second character that Robu mirrors quite often in Angelic Guardians is the Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger himself. Now I will say that Burai (Zyuranger) and Tommy Oliver (MMPR) were two different men possessing the Dragon Coin, and the fate of these two men differed greatly. Although both Burai and Tommy gradually lost their powers thanks to Bandora/Rita Repulsa, whom they served under prior to joining the Zyuranger/Power Rangers, Burai died and Tommy reemerged as the White Ranger in the second season of MMPR, using the Kibaranger costume from Gosei Sentai Dairanger (and, yes, I'm still disappointed with Haim Saban for not bringing over the other five costumes when the second season of MMPR was being produced).


Still, the Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger proved to be the greatest rival the Tyrannoranger/Red Ranger had ever faced, which could be said the same in light of Rizu/Tamashii and Robu/Seijitsu. Robu is basically Rizu's male counterpart but with a bad attitude. They are equally matched in intelligence and combat, and like Zyuranger/MMPR, Rizu shares ownership with Robu over his familiar Seiji, much like the Tyrannoranger/Red Ranger after inheiriting Dragon Caesar/Dragonzord, the Dragon Dagger, and the Dragon Shield following the departure of the Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger (even though the Green Ranger reunites with the Power Rangers and is given full control over his prized possessions once more until Lord Zedd strips him of what's left of his powers).


Parallel #2: Robu vs. Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger
 - Both Robu and the Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger are tricked by a deceiving female antagonist to fight against their own kind. (Robu --> Robu is kissed by Deiraira's mortal counterpart Di and brainwashed by the poison on her lips; Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger --> Bandora/Rita Repulsa kidnaps the Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger and uses her magic on him to kill the Zyuranger/Power Rangers)

• Ironically enough, they are both the sixth senshi to join their corps, and they were used at one point to play the role as the enemy.

- Their biggest rival in battle is the main character of their respective franchises. (Robu --> Rizu/Tamashii; Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger --> Tyrannoranger/Red Ranger)
- They share leadership with the head senshi of their corps. (self-explanatory)
- They redeem themselves for their treachery through a great sacrifice. (Robu --> Rizu/Tamashii gives herself to Deiraira in exchange for Robu/Seijitsu's soul, which gives Robu/Seijitsu the motivation to prove himself as a true Angelic Guardian to the others; Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger --> Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger risks the last hour of his existence to save the other Zyuranger/Power Ranger from their doom, but time expires and he loses his powers and, in the case of Zyuranger, his life.)
- Their favorite damsel in distress wears pink. (Robu --> Rizu/Tamashii; Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger --> Pteraranger/Pink Ranger (although the Dragon Ranger never had any romantic interest for the Pteraranger in Zyuranger. That was all MMPR, baby.))


It's sad to say not many active male characters such as Robu Tsuchino appear in modern-day literature. (That is, if you're not counting a certain Boy Wizard who captured our hearts over ten years ago.) Still, no matter who Robu is compared to, whether it's Chibiusa or the Dragon Ranger/Green Ranger, he'll forever be remembered as the Angelic Guardian who made nerdom sexy, dangerous, and cool.

Featured Japanese Goodies

Since the Angelic Guardians series takes place in Japan, much like any manga and anime franchise does these days, it's only natural for the characters to be a part of the Japanese culture... which happens to include food. I am aware how Western/English-speaking countries have influenced Japan with McDonald's, Subway, Coca-Cola, etc., but it just wouldn't look right if Rizu was chowing down on a hamburger all the time when she could be having, say, nigiri or sushi.

So, for this blog, I decided to highlight a sample of the some of the best Japanese food I've ever tasted (which you're bound to see in Angelic Guardians). One place I do love to eat is Naked Tchopstix in Fort Wayne, IN. It's a pan-Asian restaurant with full bar service. While it specializes in mostly Japanese cuisines, Chinese food lovers will also enjoy this place. (I'm happy to say that there are four other locations within Indiana, one of which is at the International Airport in Indianapolis, which I might become a frequent visitor in the future if all goes well.) The prices are reasonable, and, by the way, if you plan to get Don Katsu, make sure you eat light before you order it. You'll get your money's worth.

The Don Katsu at Naked Tchopstix, featuring pork cutlet,

rice, cucumbers, potatoes, salad, and, of course, soy sauce.

My favorite item on the menu? The Sushi Dinner Naked special. I'm a sucker for California rolls, and, although I've been told that is strictly an American take on sushi, I'm sure I can find something similar to it in Japan. The only time I will not eat it is if it's been covered with seasoned sesame seeds. I take that back. I will eat it, but the roll is shredded. (I hate spicy seasoning.) Nigiri, which is an oblong rice roll with a slice of raw fish on top, is another love of mine. Whoever says that raw fish is nasty probably hasn't had enough to understand that if it's prepared properly, it's actually delicious and good for you. I admit I was hesitant to try it at first, but I'm alive and I'm now craving for an order or two as I'm typing this blog! The only thing about the Dinner Naked Special that I don't care for at all is the wasabi, a spicy "paste" that can be used as a dip (kind of like spicy cheese for breadsticks). Obviously, I have reasons to avoid the wasabi.

Sushi Dinner Naked:

6-8 California Rolls, 4 nigiri (salmon, tuna, crab/krab, and shrimp), and wasabi.

Not very filling, but a good starter for those who are unsure about raw fish.

And don't forget the dessert. The Japanese have a sweet tooth, albeit smaller than the average American's, and as an ice cream parlor chick, I have to say mochi ice cream is my favorite foreign dessert of all time. Mochi ice cream is basically a scoop of ice cream (generally fruit-flavored and green tea) wrapped inside rice flour dough and freezed until it's time to serve. But since Japan is learning that some exotic flavors, such as chocolate, are becoming more available to those who are not considered as wealthy by standards, options for mochi ice cream have expanded these last few years. At Naked Tchopstix, mochi ice cream comes in a serving of eight (more like four balls cut in half). You can choose from vanilla, strawberry, mango, green tea, and chocolate, and you can always split four-and-four with two flavors. The best combos I can think of are strawberry/chocolate and mango/chocolate, and if you dip them with the small serving of chocolate syrup that is drizzled on the platter, it's to die for. I think instead of green tea, mint or mint chocolate chip should be offered. I love mochi ice cream so much I intend to make it at home very soon.

A sample of mango and chocolate mochi ice cream at Naked Tchopstix.

Speaking about homemade Japanese cuisines, I made some homemade mitarashi dango over Memorial Day weekend, and it was delicious! Dango is a Japanese dumpling made out of rice flour, and it's harder and sturdier than the dumplings I make for Thanksgiving (which are made with Jiffy Mix). Dango is uncommon in most restaurants, but it's a hot item (literally) at festivals and maybe in a few tea shops. It's really considered more as a snack or a sweet dessert, but it's not as cold as mochi ice cream. You can eat it hot or lukewarm, depending how you prefer your dango. As for the mitarashi, that's a special soy-based sauce that serves like a glaze over the dango, but if you prefer to be different and not traditional, maple syrup or honey would make a fine substitution.



My take of mitarashi dango.

Now I know why Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon earned her nickname "Odango Atama"

("Dumpling Head" or, in the DiC dub, "Meatball Head").

If you are interested to make this yourself, here's the recipe with a few notes I wrote in after my first attempt. Good luck!

Mitarashi Dango

(Japanese Rice Dumplings)

(taken from http://www.justhungry.com/mitarashi-dango-rice-dough-dumplings-sweet-salty-sauce )

Serves 25 (5 skewers)

Note: It’s imperative to use the proper flour for this recipe. To find rice flour and sweet rice flour/glutinous flour, it’s recommended to visit your local Asian market.

Dango (Rice Dumplings):

1 c. joushinko (rice flour)

½ c. shiratamako (sweet rice flour or glutinous flour) + 1 TBS corn starch

1 ½ c. hot water (not scorching)

1 pot of salted water

Mitarashi sauce:

¼ c. sugar

½ c. water + 1 TBS corn starch dissolved in it

1/8 c. soy sauce

1 TBS mirin (rice wine)

½ TBS rice vinegar

Instructions:

1.       Mix joushinko (rice flour) with hot water.  Add shiratamako (sweet rice flour/glutinous flour) and corn starch. Mix until the dough is soft yet dry to touch. You might need to add more flour to thicken the dough. If so, use more joushinko than shiratamako.

2.       Divide the dough into 25 pieces and roll each piece into a small ball.

3.       Bring the pot of salted water to a boil and drop a few dumplings (at a time) into the pot.  The dumplings will rise to the surface after a few minutes. Continue to boil for another 3-4 minutes, and then scoop out the dumplings with a slit spoon.

4.       Immediately drop the dumplings into a bowl of cold water.

5.       Put 5 dumplings on a skewer (preferably bamboo).

6.       Grill the skewers on a grill or in a grill pan. Turn several times until there are nice burn marks on the dumplings.

7.       Make the mitarashi sauce while grilling. Combine all ingredients into a small pan and bring it to a boil. Cook until the sauce thickens. The sauce can be made in advance too.

8.       Coat the cooked skewers with the sauce. You can also make the skewers in advance as long as you bring them to room temperature before eating them.

Substitution: If you do not wish to use traditional mitarashi sauce, maple syrup, honey, or soy sauce is also recommended.