Japan Relief Fund

Hello everyone,

I am sure you have all heard about the Japan Earthquakes & Tsunami... I am writing this post to inform my viewers, that I have designed an image for the Hope of Recovery for Japan, and I am selling T-shirts & other products with the image at La Bella Sakura Shop 50% of the commissions I earn off the images goes to Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Fund. Please check out my shop and I will try to post again as soon as I can!!

Tsunami / Earthquake in Japan

I am a Japanese American, and although I have not yet had the chance to visit Japan, I still feel connected in a small way. Japan suffered an "8.9 earthquake [that] shook Japan at 2:46 PM on Friday," March 11, 2011. It is the strongest earthquake that has ever been recorded in Japan's history.


This natural catastrophe has not only left Japan with tens of billions of dollars in damages, but has also left thousands of families without loved ones. I, myself have friends in Japan and I have been waiting to hear from several of them. I send my deepest condolences to those who have not found family members and to those who were injured by this tragedy.


As I mentioned before, Japan will need to recover, and even though many of our own nations are struggling with economic problems, we should still try to show our compassion and help quicken Japan's recovery. Japanese citizens will not only need funding, but they may also need extra clothing and other donations. You can find out how to help/donate at the following websites:


American Red Cross - you can donate to the Japan Earthquake & Tsunami or you can donate $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999 

Convoy of Hope - text Tsunami to 50555 to donate $10

Salvation Army USA - Donate $10 by texting Japan or Quake to 80888
You can also call 1-800-SALARMY or go to the above website.

Delightful Desserts

Yummy! New desserts that just popped out of the oven actually turned out okay! So... here are some pictures.. and maybe I will share my recipe later ;-)

Without Nutella Glaze

With Nutella Glaze...

Yummmmmy!

La Pasta Cremosa di Emi Con Funghi e Salsiccia

Okay, tonight I had to make dinner, and we didn't have anything, so I just threw things together and this is what I came up with... Everyone ate it, and I thought it was great...

Emi's Creamy Pasta with Mushrooms & Smoked Sausage

Ingredients:

10 large mushrooms, sliced (or 1 - 2 cups if already sliced)

2 tablespoons of butter

a dash of Italian herbs

1 - 1 1/2 lbs of pasta (I used Farfalle)

1 Hillshire Farm (c) Polska Kielbasa, sliced

Sauce:

3/4 cups of butter

12 oz. cream cheese

2 1/2 teaspoons of garlic/parsley powder

2 1/2 cups of milk

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/4 cup Mozzarella

a dash of white pepper

Instructions:

1. 1. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in skillet/pan. Add mushrooms and a dash or Italian herbs and sauté (cook) until browned
2. Once browned, place aside and leave the mushrooms until further instruction
3. Fill one large pan with water and boil for pasta
4. Melt 3/4 cups of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add cream cheese and garlic/parsley powder, mixing with a metal whisk until the sauce has a smooth texture
5. Next, whisk in milk, followed by Parmesan, mozzarella, and white pepper. Continue to whisk until sauce is smooth, if the mozzarella causes the sauce to become "stringy," then increase the temperature, while stirring constantly**
6. If the water is boiling, add pasta and cook according to box
7. In a large skillet, begin to brown the Polska sausage. Meanwhile, add the mushrooms to the sauce and remove from heat
8. Once sausage is browned, drain excess oils/grease and add sausages to sauce
9. Drain pasta and add the sauce to the pasta

** If sauce is too thick, add a bit of milk, I suggest a tablespoon at a time
     If sauce is too thin, add a bit of flour, once again I suggest a tablespoon at a time

I hope you all enjoy the recipe!!! I will add more soon!