Cute Yummy Time: Go ahead, play with your food

Ka-WHY-ee!!!!

That's how you pronounce kawaii, Japanese for "cute," and that's what you're likely to exclaim while flipping through "Cute Yummy Time," a cookbook that encourages you to play with your food.

Written by goth blogger / cool hunter La Carmina -- who specializes in spotting Japanese pop culture trends and forecasting their arrival on U.S. shores -- the cookbook is all about making bento box nibbles that look like the face of a bear, a cow, a pig, Hello Kitty or anything else the imagination can dream up.

The first demonstration in the book? "How to make a bear's face out of rye, ham and salami." A few little rounds of yellow cheese make the snout, eyes and ears, and a bow tie, for "extra added cuteness."  (If you are still wondering what the heck this is all about you can watch this video of La Carmina making whole wheat piggy bread.)

La Carmina will be signing copies of her book this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Kinokuniya Bookstore, 123 Astronaut E. Onizuka St., in downtown Los Angeles. Phone number: (213) 687-4480.

The 25-year-old said she has always been obsessed with

Got leftovers? We've got recipes

 Thanksgiving dinner puts a lot of pressure on a cook.

But it's nothing compared with Thanksgiving leftovers.

Of course, you can just reheat and re-serve the whole meal over and over until the stuffing starts drying out and cracking. But a good cook is supposed to spend the Friday after Thanksgiving doing something wizardly with all those leftovers, right? Take the remains of the holiday and turn them into something supremely special, perhaps a turkey pot pie with a flaky homemade crust, with lovingly hand-crimped edges. Or a turkey mole. And it's a given that A Real Cook makes a rich turkey soup with a stock that was hours in the making.

But what if you'd rather be shopping? We've got some quick and easy recipes to empty out the fridge -- as well as a few more complex dishes if you are so inspired:

Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

It's not too late to have a Thanksgiving dinner -- or sushi

There are at least a couple of ways to deal with the fact that you have yet to plan Thanksgiving dinner: reservations at any of the dozens of restaurants that will be celebrating the holiday, or takeout.

In addition to our list of restaurants offering Thanksgiving menus, check your local grocer for takeout options. And besides many notable hotel dining rooms, restaurants all over the Southland are offering wonderful fare for Thanksgiving dinner.

You've got choices -- the traditional, the not-so-traditional, as well as the vegan. Oh, and there's sushi.

Photo: Philippe Lopez  / AFP/Getty Images

Thanksgiving countdown: Scalloped oysters

How about something that's different -- yet still a classic -- this holiday? Here's your recipe for scalloped oysters.

-- Rene Lynch
On Twitter @renelynch 

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And if you conveniently missed your holiday dinner with relatives, many clubs and bars are offering a special holiday menu.

Thanksgiving countdown: whole-grain mustard rolls

These rolls can be prepared up to three days in advance  -- or you can make them right now, and freeze them until Turkey Day. Here's the recipe:

And don't forget the butter.

-- Rene Lynch
On Twitter @renelynch 

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'The Next Iron Chef': It's Jehangir vs. Jose

For Chef Jose Garces, it was a curdled flan. For Chef Jehangir Mehta, it was the grape leaves.

The last two chefs standing in the battle to become "The Next Iron Chef" say they are haunted by such flops as they head into Sunday night's finale on the Food Network. The Season 2 winner will join an elite stable of champions including Masaharu Morimoto, Bobby Flay and Cat Cora. These culinary warriors are the ones to beat on the popular Food Network game show "Iron Chef America."

But the title goes beyond a TV game show. The winner gains immediate fame thanks to a singular standing on the Food Network platform, and fortune is not far behind.

That's a chief reason why many of the competitors -- all successful chefs in their own right -- risked all to join the competition.

"It's a huge risk to go on the show and possibly be eliminated early ... or be displayed in a negative light," said Chef Garces. "But [if you win] it brings a lot of prestige, it's an honor and a privilege to be an 'Iron Chef.' ... It's very good for business as well, let's be honest. I have six restaurants, so having that title would be great." Read more here:

Photo: Chef Garces, left, and Chef Mehta. Photo credit: Food Network

VIDEO: Presenting the ham daiquiri (you read that right)

Perhaps you've heard of the candied bacon martini? Well, make way for the ham daiquiri.

--Rene Lynch
On Twitter @renelynch

'Twilight: New Moon' giveaway

Got "Twilight: New Moon" tickets?

Jamba Juice is giving away tickets to tonight's 10:10 p.m. showing at the Universal CityWalk Cinemas. The giveaway takes place from 8-10 p.m. -- or until all tickets are gone -- at the Jamba Juice at Universal CityWalk. (Click here for our review of the new movie.)

According to the Jamba Juice news release: "'New Moon' stars Ashley Greene and Dakota Fanning are big fans of Jamba smoothies, so ... Jamba Juice has stashed 300 world premier tickets at 3 California Jamba Juice locations to hook up those special fans in desperate need of last minute tickets."

Tickets were given away last night in Oakland, and will also be given away in San Diego from 2-4 p.m. at the Jamba Juice at San Diego's Mission Valley Mall, between Mission Valley Road and Friars Road. The tickets are for the 7 p.m. screening at the nearby Regal Jack London Theater.

--Rene Lynch
On Twitter @renelynch

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Wines that scream rock 'n' roll

Traditionally, the wine comes first. Then, the name, says Ron Roy, co-founder of Wines That Rock.

"With these wines, we blasted the music in the cellar of the winery and developed a bottle of wine that captured the attitude of the music,” Roy said.

It only seems fitting then to use a rock album cover as a wine label. Get ready to rock 'n' roll at your next holiday party:

--Rene Lynch
On Twitter @renelynch

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Photo: Wines That Rock