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Mostly healthy… ALWAYS yummy!

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About the Girl…

Hai! I’m Carmen… the “Girl” on this blog.

I am… an INFJ mom, certified professional life strategist, breakup recovery coach, 2x Amazon best selling author, religious education teacher, wannabe foodie, advocate for victims of narcissistic abuse…

and YOUR biggest fan!

I initially got on the internet in 1996 as an internet marketer which was my side-hustle as I completed my education and training in the field of mental and emotional health.

A baby, move across the country, divorce, and many moons later, I started posting food pix on social media… and it was my genius son (the “baby”… now a premed) who suggested I create a food blog…

20 minutes later, Girl Plus Food was born!

Girl Plus Food is a food blog, created & maintained by me, Carmen Sakurai. This is where I document the recipes I’ve tried and fell in love with… and to be honest with you, I still refer back to this blog for ideas and help when my brain needs a break!

I may not have thousands of posts yet, but just you wait, my kid and I have appetites that rival those of starving, wild animals! (you think I kid, don’t you?)

You’re invited to try the recipes I share, give the products, services, and companies I review a spin, and ask questions / leave constructive feedback in the comments!

Say “BRIEEEE!”

My iPhone camera makes an appearance whenever there’s pretty food… and good food (that may not look all that pretty) on the table. So there are NO professional food pix on this blog and  there’s really no point in calling me out on exposures and filters and angles and light…

because I don’t “get” photography like that.

Heads-up…

I’m not a health blogger, clean eater, nor am I familiar with ingredients that “shouldn’t” be in certain products. I’ve never counted calories, purchased anything low-fat, low-sodium, or sugar-free… and I’m just learning what gluten-free is… so keep that in mind.

Where I get the recipes…

Most recipes come from cookbooks, magazines, adapted from my favorite food bloggers, and Pinterest… but some are totally made up. LOL. I make it a point to attribute the source whenever possible.

Professionalities (I totally made that word up!):

Carmen is the Founder of Carmen Sakurai, Int’l, with a BSc in Psychology and Certified Practitioner of several styles of psychotherapy including Cognitive Behavioral Life Coaching, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Gestalt Life Coaching, as well as Mental and Behavioral Health Studies with focus on Stress Management, Burnout Prevention, Depression, and Suicide/Violent Behavior.

As a Certified Digital Coach, she has demonstrated her ability to effectively communicate and successfully serve her clients via digital platform.

Her articles can be found on popular websites including Psych Central, Today.com, Thrive Global, Ricky Martin’s Piccolo Universe, SheKnows, Lifehack, and Thought Catalog.

Carmen is an advocate for victims of narcissistic abuse.

I hope you find something worth getting addicted to!

XOXO

 

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Recent Posts

  • Namasu (Daikon and Carrot Salad)
  • Eggs In Purgatory
  • Japanese Fried Oysters (Kaki Fry)
  • Tuna Namero (Tuna Tartare)
  • Baked Brie with Candied Bacon!
  • Strawberry and Chocolate Crepe Cake
  • Loco Moco!

gpf on instagram…

I know it’s all in my head... but as my son’s I know it’s all in my head... but as my son’s 2nd semester at UNLV approaches, the lazier I feel... and I’m not even the one going to school!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️ 
 
So needing a time-out from the kitchen, I grabbed a couple of quick yummies from @chankoshabu ... 
 
✔️ Salmon Bowl (salmon & salmon egg on steamed white rice. The salmon was supposed to be raw but ended up cooked by the steamed rice lol... if taking home, I suggest you request them to separate the protein 🐟) 
 
✔️ Takoyaki (octopus balls 🐙 lol) 
 
✔️ Menchi Katsu (panko breaded ground meat) 
 
✔️ Tuna Poke (tuna with poke sauce and seaweed salad) 
 
✔️ Kaki Fry (Japanese fried oysters with Tartar sauce) 
 
Everything tasted sooo oishii! 😋🤤💕 and the restaurant looks beautifully authentic Japanese... I’m definitely going back to dine in!!! 
 
Have a fun Sunday! 
 
💕 Carmen 
 
#girlplusfood #healthyfoods #getinmybelly #fitfoodie #lasvegas #vegas #foodgasm #freshtuna #ahituna #pescatarian #freshfood #healthyfood #healthy #dinner #tuna #foodstagram #instafood #foodlovers #healthyrecipes #pokebowl #tunapokebowl #tunapoke #rawsalmon #kakifry #friedoysters #takoyaki #menchikatsu #かきふらい #たこやき #めんちかつ
Oden (Japanese one-pot fish cake stew) 🇯🇵🍢🍲     
    
I must confess... I was born in Japan, but have never ever had ODEN. 😱     
   
This simmered dish usually includes daikon, boiled eggs 🥚, fish cakes 🍥 , and konnyaku stewed in a dashi broth for about an hour 🍲     
    
And being an anime addict, I see this dish served all the freakin time... I’ve been telling myself I have to try it. Kept putting it off for years... until now. 🙆🏻‍♀️    
    
I totally forgot to throw in the eggs & konnyaku 🙈... but it came out pretty good regardless. The daikon came out soooo tender and delicious, having absorbed the broth... omg you could slice them with chopsticks! 🥢🇯🇵🍱    
    
I guess this counts as a blooper as well... but I’ll post again when I make it properly! 🙋🏻‍♀️    
    
Happy Friday! 🎉    
    
💕 Carmen    
    
    
#girlplusfood #homecooking #foodie #goodbye2020 #happynewyear #lasvegasfoodie #foodstagram #instafood #foodlovers #bento #obento #homemade #oden #japanesefood #japanfood #おでん #おうちごはん #ごちそうさまでした #おいしい
Raindrop Cake #fail 😭🙅🏻‍♀️    ( Raindrop Cake #fail 😭🙅🏻‍♀️ 
 
( Note: I’ve reactivated my personal IG account @carmenasakurai ... please come connect... I’d appreciate not being left all by myself... 🙏🏻 ) 
 
This was my first attempt at making these delicately beautiful desserts... and it bombed. 💣  
 
I added too much agar powder thinking they needed the extra to hold the fruit in place... Instead, they came out cloudy (vs. crystal clear like a damb raindrop) and not very delicate... 
 
I’ll try again soon and hopefully will have photos of what they’re supposed to look like... 🍓💧😍 
 
Happy Thursday!  
 
💕 Carmen 
 
#dessert #desserts #food #foods #sweet #sweets #yum #dessertporn #foodgasm #foodporn #delicious #foodforfoodies #instafood #yumyum #sweettooth #soyummy #getinmybelly #comida #instafoodie #vegas #lasvegas #raindropcake #girlplusfood
Namasu (daikon & carrot salad) 🥗🥕    Whe Namasu (daikon & carrot salad) 🥗🥕 
 
Whether as a condiment or main ingredient... I sooo love daikon radish! 🥰 
 
Enter NAMASU. I first tasted this daikon salad when my adorable niece @orukie grabbed lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant near UNLV and offered her most favorite Tita (Tagalog of “auntie”) a bite. I’ve been addicted since! ❤️ 
 
This refreshingly sweet, sour, and crunchy salad is often included as part of Osechi Ryori – the traditional New Year’s dishes in Japan. 🇯🇵🍱 
 
I make this all the time now... sooo yummy & super easy to make too! Ready? 
 
Recipe 👉🏻 https://girlplusfood.com/namasu/ 
 
Ingredients: 
 
✔️ 14 oz daikon radish peeled and cut into 2 inch matchsticks 
✔️ 3 oz carrots peeled and cut into 2 inch matchsticks 
✔️ 1 tsp kosher/sea salt 
 
Dressing: 
✔️ 1.5 tbsp sugar 
✔️ 1.5 tbsp rice vinegar 
✔️ 1 tbsp water 
✔️ 1/4 tsp kosher/sea salt 
 
Instructions: 
 
* In a bowl, sprinkle salt over daikon and carrot and gently combine. Set aside for 10 minutes. (This will help draw out the extra liquid so the veggies stay crunchy.)
 
 
* Whisk together all dressing ingredients. Set aside.
 
 
* Squeeze out moisture form daikon and carrots and place in serving dish or storage container. Pour dressing and lightly toss to combine.
 
 
* Serve chilled. 
 
Alrighty... Enjoy your Wednesday! 🎉 
 
💕 Carmen 
 
 
#girlplusfood #homecooking #foodie #happynewyear #lasvegasfoodie #foodstagram #instafood #foodlovers #bento #obento #homemade #toshikoshisoba #soba #noodlesoup #namasu #daikonsalad #daikonradish #japanesefood #japanfood #おうちごはん #おうちごはん #ごちそうさまでした #おいしい #なます #ダイコン
Happy New Year, friends!!! 🎉 YAY! 2021 is off t Happy New Year, friends!!! 🎉 YAY! 2021 is off to a great start already! 💪🏻🤩 Joshua and I welcomed the new year enjoying some traditional Japanese NYE dishes... lookie what I made! 👇🏻 
 
✔️ Toshikoshi Soba 🍜 - so I just learned from my dad that “toshi koshi” literally means “year crossing”... so appropriate because I’ve been wanting to cross over from 2020 since March 😂  
 
✔️ We topped off the noods 🍜 with sweet potato tempura, soft cooked eggs, kamaboko, tofu age... plus chopped green onions and grated daikon 🥚🍠  
 
✔️ And a side of really yummy Beef & Garlic Gyoza 🥟🥟😋 
 
Alrighty... Here’s to good health, smiling hearts, inner peace, and an abundance of deliciousness!! 🎉🎊🥂 
 
💕 Carmen 
 
#girlplusfood #homecooking #foodie #goodbye2020 #happynewyear #lasvegasfoodie #foodstagram #instafood #foodlovers #bento #obento #homemade #toshikoshisoba #soba #noodlesoup #gyoza #japanesefood #japanfood #おうちごはん #おうちごはん #ごちそうさまでした #おいしい #年越しそば
Sooo... I'm not a fan of chicken nuggets of any ki Sooo... I'm not a fan of chicken nuggets of any kind 🙅🏻‍♀️... but I can absolutely stuff my face all day with KARAAGE! 
 
Karaage is Japanese fried chicken 🇯🇵🍗 that I used to devour as a child in Japan. The chicken is marinated in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, dusted with potato starch, and deep fried… it is all crazy sorts of deliciousness!!! My mom used to pack them into my bento box for school field trips! 👧🏻🚌 
 
Here's the recipe because I really want you to try it 👉🏻 https://girlplusfood.com/chicken-karaage-or-jfc-japanese-fried-chicken/ 
 
Wishing you a fun-filled Monday before Christmas!!! 
 
💕 Carmen 
 
 
#girlplusfood #homecooking #foodie #lasvegasfoodie #foodstagram #instafood #foodlovers #bento #obento #homemade #japanesefood #japanfood #おうちごはん #おうちごはん #karaage #karaagechicken #ごちそうさまでした #おいしい #からあげ
Eggs in Purgatory 🍳🍅🔥   (#lowcarb #da Eggs in Purgatory 🍳🍅🔥  
(#lowcarb #dairyfree #eggfree #glutenfree)  
  
Only DAYS before Christmas, y'all 🎄 ... so I figured I share something in season... how bout sum'n deliciously red, green, and bubbly! 😍  
  
What a weird name tho, huh? lol... but man, they're sooooo yummmeh and ridiculously simple to make! Gluten free and low carb too!  
  
Ok, that's it for now... I need to run out and do my last minute shopping 🤦🏻‍♀️... in the meantime, give this a try! Ready?  
  
Ingredients:   
  
✔️ 8 Eggs  
✔️ 2 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil  
✔️ 2 cloves Garlic 1 thinly sliced. 1 halved  
✔️ 1 tsp Red-pepper flakes  
✔️ 1 can Diced tomatoes 28oz  
✔️ 1/2 tsp Sea salt  
✔️ 1/2 tsp Black pepper  
✔️ 2 tbsp Grated Parmesan,  
✔️ 2 tbsps Unsalted butter  
  
Instructions:  
  
*In large skillet with a lid, heat oil over medium heat. Add sliced garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook about 1 minute - until garlic turns golden brown at the edges. 
  
  
*Stir in tomatoes, salt, and pepper, and turn heat to medium-low.
  
  
*Squash tomato pieces (I used a potato masher) until tomatoes break down and thicken into a sauce, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in Parmesan, butter, salt and red-pepper flakes to taste.
  
  
*Make 6 divots into tomato sauce using back of a spoon. Crack an egg into each divot. Cover pan and cook until eggs are set (about 3 minutes for runny yolks!).
  
  
*Sprinkle finished eggs with chopped parsley and more Parmesan.  
  
Enjoy! 🥰  
  
On the web 👉🏻 https://girlplusfood.com/eggs-in-purgatory/  
  
Have a GORGEOUS Sunday!  
  
💕 Carmen @GirlPlusFoodLV  
  
  
  
#girlplusfood #foodie #foodgasm #foodpic #instafood #foodstagram #beyonddelicious #feedfeed #healthyfood #healthyeating #healthyliving #healthyfoodporn #protein #eatingclean #healthyrecipe #healthyversion #eggsinpurgatory #shakshuka #eggs
I normally don’t frequent bakeries because I get I normally don’t frequent bakeries because I get up and bake when I’m craving sum’n... but I’ve recently had the opportunity to try some of the yummiest treats ever... like these from  @85cbakerycafe 🍰🍫🍓🧋  
   
🌸 Matcha red bean roll  
🌸 Coconut custard roll  
🌸 Classic Tiramisu   
🌸 Deluxe chocolate mousse   
🌸 Pineapple cakes   
🌸 Strawberry chocolate mousse  
🌸 Sea salt coffee  
🌸 Pudding milk tea  
  
Btw. Have you finished Christmas shopping?🎄🎁 I just ordered my last batch of presents... not even wrapping them. Had them delivered to the recipients directly and messaged them to wrap the gifts themselves 😂 ... Say what you want, but I’ve had enough of this year alredi... and that was the best I could do. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😂🤣  
   
Wishing you the sweetest Friday! 🥰   
   
💕 Carmen   
   
   
#dessert #desserts #food #foods #sweet #sweets #yum #dessertporn #foodgasm #foodporn #delicious #foodforfoodies #instafood #yumyum #sweettooth #soyummy #getinmybelly #comida #instafoodie #vegas #lasvegas #chocolatecake #cheesecake #cupcakes #cupcakesfordays #ganache #girlplusfood
Chewy Vegan Almond Flour Cookies 🍪🌱 (#vegan Chewy Vegan Almond Flour Cookies 🍪🌱 (#vegan #dairyfree #eggfree #glutenfree) 
 
There are countless advantages of having a 19 year old 😂, of which one is, “Mom, my treat” and another, “Mom, just rest... I’ll make it” 😁🥰😁 
 
So I was craving for these vegan almond flour cookies and chocolate, so my sweet child baked the cookies and dipped em into semi-sweet chocolate and crushed almonds. 😍🤤💛  
 
Life is good. 🌷  
 
They’re sooo very yummy... crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Plus, they’re super easy to make! Ready? 
 
Ingredients:  
 
✔️ 1 cup blanched almond flour⠀ 
✔️ 3 tbs coconut sugar⠀ 
✔️ 1/2 tsp baking powder⠀ 
✔️ 2 tbs water⠀ 
 
Instructions: 
 
*Preheat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 
 
*In medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, coconut sugar, and baking powder. Add water and stir until completely blended. 
 
*Spoon "dough" about 2 inches apart on baking sheet (I used a table spoon. You can also use a cookie scoop) 
 
*Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. 
 
*Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes. 
 
Enjoy! 🥰 
 
On the web 👉🏻 https://girlplusfood.com/vegan-almond-flour-cookies/ 
 
Wishing you a tasty Thursday! 
 
💕 Carmen @GirlPlusFoodLV 
 
 
 
#girlplusfood #foodie #foodgasm #foodpic #instafood #foodstagram #beyonddelicious #feedfeed #healthyfood #healthybreakfast #healthyeating #healthyliving #cleaneats #healthyfoodporn #plantbased #almondmilk #poweredbyplants #protein #eatingclean #healthyrecipe #healthyversion  #almondflour #veganalmondcookies #vegancookies #almondcookies #almondflourcookies
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