Recipe testing for Japanese cooking class

Spicy Tofu with BeefI was asked to do a cooking demonstration for the Fort Worth Japanese Society in June so I am working on ideas. I've been a member of the Japanese Society for many years. I joined after I took my mother there when she moved to Texas in 1990. She didn't know anyone here and the "society" became a favorite place where she met with her friends at least one week each month. Over the years I attended a few events and the gracious members provided origami, dance, and calligraphy presentations for me at the prison (where I work). My mother always wanted me to go with her to the Sunday lunch events but I was always "too busy" to go....

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Getting Focused

I find myself increasingly unfocused lately when it comes to my cooking. One day I'm making casseroles and cupcakes for my sick friends who are home recovering and the next I'm cooking for a chili contest and making key lime pie for a silent auction. I did not enjoy making old fashioned chicken pot pie too much and probably won't be making it again and although the cupcakes were wonderful--very gourmet with chocolate ganache filling, cream cheese frosting, fresh banana cake, or moist chocolate cake with Sharffen Berger cocoa powder (very intense)and fresh strawberry frosting--they are time consuming to prepare. My Southwest Chili and Short Rib Chili were both entered in a chili cookoff at work, for a fund raiser. Although I didn't win a prize I noticed both my crock pots were empty whereas...

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