Sakura is in Delay

Hello! The high is 53F (12C) and chilly almost daily, so the sakura buds are still closed. However the closest viewing spot is now illuminated :( They will end the light-up on 4/1! I think they should extend the time...

Anyway, there are too many unpleasant things going on around me. I am keep on losing Cookpad's contests. My effort won't match with results!!! They don't offer that big prizes so it is not about the prize, but the recognition for my effort! Damn it!!! Then yesterday, I was sorry to see that Mao Asada couldn't stand on the podium at ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2009. I hope she can do it the next time! Then about my grandpa, he passed away on the 29th. In ordinary circumstances, the wake and funeral will be held immediately, but since my grandpa was a monk, we need to wait until related parties to hold a mass. I am very shocked to hear about his death, but what made me more nervous is my boyfriend... A girl is calling his cell at night! Can you believe it!? He doesn't change his attitude towards me, so I might be wrong... I want to believe I am wrong!!!

Sorry for my complaints...
I hope everything will be fine when spring comes!
Fight!!!

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Nice Italian Cuisine

It is still cold but the sun came out again!
I think sakura will be in full bloom by this weekend!!!

Yesterday, we had a convivial party at an Italian restaurant in Omotesando. The party was hosted by our president (for female employees only) and we enjoyed foods in season complemented by wines! The course meal was similar to what we had last year, but since I was not familiarized with the place at that time, it didn't stand out in my memory. However, this year, I could savor the taste! All dishes were really delisious!!! I was so excited that I reserved the restaurant for my boyfriend's birthday, of course, at a special price ;)
I can't wait to go there!!!

And now for something completely different, I heared a shocking news from my mom this morning. My bedridden grandfather on the father's side contracted pneumonia, lying at death's door... He is going to be 94 on May 9th. Last time I saw him was about 2 years ago, after he recovered from a stroke. I have a very nice picture of him with grandma. He was doing fine for a while but it relapsed. Since then he was bedridden and now he is suffering from pneumonia. How fragile our life is...

Let's appreciate every day!

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Ichiro Led Japan to WBC Title

Hi! It is cloudy, rainy, and cold again :(
Cherry blossoms are not yet blooming.



This morning, WBC was featured in most of TV programs! I was not that crazy about the game, but when I saw Ichiro smiling and happily accepting an interview, I felt something quite important to it. He usually keeps a straight face, you know!

Anyway, tonight I have to attend a convivial party after work. It is mandatory... The party will be held at the same Italian restaurant as last year. Last year I forgot to bring my camera with me, so this year I did! I will post the pictures if I get nice and yummy shots of foods!

May I complain about something?!
I think there are too many point services around us! Credit points, airline points, shopping points, etc... I just realized my Internet points have expired before I redeem them. I try to remember expiration dates for all but unfortunately those points were managed by my boyfriend, so it was lost before I realize it :( Anyway, I wish at least those points can be easily transferred to the other point services, so that I can manage them easily...

That's it for now!

Talk to you again soon ;)

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My Friend's Wedding

It is cloudy and windy almost daily, but luckily it was sunny with no wind on Saturday, on the day of my friend's wedding! Also by luck, I didn't catch the cold from my boyfriend ;)

She was my college classmate. Her college in Japan has a sister school in the US, which is my college, and she came on exchange when I was sophomore, if I'm right. I am glad that she invited me to her wedding since it was only a short period of time that I studied with her. She held a ceremony at wedding chapel of her college. I don't have her permission, so I will post her picture in the distance ;) Don't you think she's beautiful!?

The wedding banquet was held at a hotel. I had a good talk with my old friends! The wedding meal was gorgeous and delicious. (I forgot to take pics of some dishes since I was lost in conversation. He-he.) The place was full of love and I thought I need to be more thoughtful and attentive to my boyfriend...

However, I was just sorry for a while. When I got home, my boyfriend left all dishes unwashed and left all rubbish on the floor, so I was very mad at him and scolded! Then this morning, he forgot to pack his onigiri and left for work, so I hit the ceiling :( I know I need to be nicer but you know what I mean...

Okay, this is all for today!
Bye bye :)

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SUITE SWEETS JAPAN

On White Day (3/14), my boyfriend and I attended an exhibition called Suite Sweets Japan, where you can find the latest sweets from around the world. It was held at Tokyo dome city from 3/13-3/15, while International Patisserie Grand Prix 2009 (world's top-class pastry chefs' contest) was ongoing.

The exhibition was small in scale, but there were many interesting events on stage. We saw a wedding cake demonstration by chef Tsumagari. He and his disciples built up 6.5feet (2m) high & 132lbs (60kg) heavy wedding cake in about an hour! It was shaky at first so we all were worried, but they made-up! Surprisingly enough, it stopped shaking when it's completed. The chef is a good entertainer! He asked us if there is any couple who wants to cut the wedding cake. I immediately asked my boyfriend but he shook his head... so the other couple whose partner is aggressive got the chance! However, the chef again said we all could have a chance to take picture with the cake, so I immediately ran and lined up. Of course the line was closed soon after having a long line of people waiting! I think I was right that I didn't ask my boyfriend and ran!

The cake was cut and passed out to the first 300 people. I wanted to try it out, but the time they would pass out was after a couple of hours so we gave up. Actually, my boyfriend didn't want to wait... I knew he was hungry for dinner, so we left the exhibition.

For dinner, we had sushi at a department store in Shinjuku. Of course I ate my favorite fish, anago (conger eel)! It was really delicious and was close to the anago that my poor grandpa caught.

The high today is 68F(20C) again! I hope the weather won't drop till Saturday, since I am going to attend my friend's wedding!!!

Tomorrow is a holiday, Vernal Equinox Day! Yay!!! But unfortunately, my boyfriend caught a heavy stomach flu yesterday and it is said that the flu won't be cured for at least 5 days! I need to be careful not to pick up his cold before the wedding. Of course he took a day off today...

Because of this current recession or somehow, there are so many train injury accidents. Many train lines are delayed every morning. Too bad...

Let's do our best!!!
See you next week :)

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Ikanago no Kugini

Good morning!
Yesterday, I was going to post about the wedding cake event but somehow I couldn't find time to... I will tonight or tomorrow!

Anyway, on Sunday, my mom gave me Tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce) made with Ikanago (sand eel/sand lance). We call it "Ikanago no Kugini" in Japanese. I'm writing the same thing as last year but my grand mother, who lives in Hyogo prefecture, cooks a few kilograms of "Ikanago no Kugini" every year. Ikanago no Kugini is a famous Tsukudani there. It is usually cooked and eaten around the end of February or early March, when the fish is about an inch long. After its season, Ikanago goes deep in the sea where is cooler. Then it goes under the sand and aestivate. I love to eat this tsukudani with white rice! I think I can eat rice endlessly with this!

I was waiting for her Ikanago no Kugini to arrive but I again missed the chance to learn the recipe from her this year. I think I should get into action the next year!!!

These two days, the high is 68F(20C)! We don't need a heavy winter coat but cedar pollen and yellow sand (carried to Japan by the wind from deserts on the Chinese continents) have been circulating in the air. We can't bear to be parted from masks.

Have a good day!!!

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Chocolat BEL AMER

Spring has come! It is very nice and warm today. The high is 60F(16C)! It will be up to 68F(20C) at midweek temporarily.

On White Day (3/14) my boyfriend gave me a set of BEL AMER's Palet Chocolat and Mendiant. On that day, we were going to attend Suite Sweets Japan, which is an exhibition where you can find the latest sweets from around the world, so I didn't expect him to get something in advance! But thank you my honey, he was right! I didn't find anything I like at the exhibition. Anyway, the wedding cake event at the exhibition was interesting. I will write about it tomorrow with some pictures I took ;)

Changing my story, I had a lunch with merce-san and her hubby (Japanese) from Philippines today. We had a good time!!! They are now in Tokyo for about a month. They gave me a nice set of coasters, spoons, etc... from Philippines. Also her hubby gave me CDs that he has released! Sorry that I met them with my hands empty, wearing my corporate uniform... I will think of something nice when I see them the next time!!!

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The Day Before White Day

On White Day (3/14), men give gifts (used to be candies) to women in return for the chocolate they were given on Valentine's Day. Since tomorrow is Saturday (no work), my co-workers gave me some sweet treats! I didn't expect something in return, so I was really good-humored today at work. Very simple girl! Ha-ha!!!

One guy gave me fondant au chocolat of 36sticks. The other guy gave me ganache balls. I tried the fondant au chocolat with other girl and guys since he gave me four of them. It was sophisticated and was not very sweet. I thought I could eat them all by myself, but of course I didn't. I was afraid of getting pimples, seriously!!! The ganache balls, I saved them for the next week ;)

I was partly having a bad day but those sweet stuff made me happy!

I don't expect that much but I hope my boyfriend has an idea for White Day, tomorrow! Will see...

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Gussumin

Hi! How many hours of sleep do you get every night?
Me? I get 5-6 hours of sleep a night... I wish I could sleep more, but I have too much to do in a day.

But recently, I had a chance to try a drink called "Gussumin" that improves the quality of sleep. Actually, I won 3 bottles as a free sample. It is not a medicine. It is a drink that combines tomato vinegar from fully ripened tomatoes and GABA. Lion and Ota Sleep Center have found that tomato vinegar and GABA helps improve sleep quality in 2006 (Reference). I didn't believe in their research findings for a long time, but it really did work, amazingly!

Last month, I had a day that I really thought I couldn't wake up in the morning, so I had the "Gussumin" before I go to bed. The next day, I didn't feel tired at all! To make sure, I tried it again on a different day and it did work the same! Is this because I didn't expect too much from it?

What is good about it is it contains only 8kcal per bottle, allows drink before sleep! I think I should get one for my boyfriend since he is busy without a good sleep for about a week! Let me make an experiment on him!

By the way, it is pretty expensive. It costs 250yen ($2.50) per bottle, so I don't think I'm gonna drink it that often.

Good night!

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Magic Fruit Sauce!

Hi! It is nice and sunny but large amounts of pollen are expected. I need to be careful not to develop hay fever!

Today, I went out to eat lunch with my co-worker after a long time, since it rained for more than a week until today!!! We went to our favorite cafe, but unfortunately they changed the menu. Also, they stopped offering a discount :( Might be the effects of the recession...

Anyway, I really love the fruit sauce from Karuizawa (a popular tourist spot). I think I wrote that my parents went there recently. At that time, they bought me 2 bottles of fruit sauce for souvenir. Actually, it is my second time to try this out, but I'm saying it out loud, it is really delicious!



The sauce makes especially the plain yogurt taste good! I think I can eat a pint in a minute!!! If you have a chance to visit Karuizawa (Prince Shopping Plaza and so forth), I recommend you to get it! To tell the truth, every day I wake up looking forward to eating yogurt with this sauce!

Have a good day!

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My Accomplishments

Today it is sunny but I am really drowsy all day long X(

I will list my recent accomplishments after so long!

On 2/16, my Microwave Cooked Kelp Quiche won an "A" award at the kelp cooking contest organized by Japan Kelp Institution. The prize was a large sheet of kelp. I've never used this large one in my life...





On 2/27, my Azuki (Read Bean) Simmered Pumpkin Pork Rolls won a gold award at Suntory's contest that asked for recipes that goes good with their new happoshu (low-malt beer) called Kinmugi. I've got 2 dozens of Kinmugi for my boyfriend ;)




On 3/1, as I wrote before, I doubly won the prize for participation and received 11lbs (5kg) of Koshihikari harvested in Uonuma area of Niigata prefecture!







On 3/3, my Healthy Japanese Style Mitsuba (Cryptotaenia) Hamburger Steak won SHARP AQUOS 42 inch at Ajinomoto's hamburger steak recipe contest using their umamichomiryo (the seasoning made of amino acid, which is the tasty flavor of tangle, that makes the food tasty). Though we don't have enough place to put this TV, I am happy to win such a wonderful prize!

On 3/10, my Beef Cutlet Sandwich appeared in a food magazine called Lettuce Club (P.108). It is again a very small article but I am glad to be chosen!



Last but not least, I have won some samples again. On 2/17, I won 3 chocolate-like magnets. On 2/27, I won few bags of granola samples. On 2/27, I won 3 bottles of black vinegar drinks. Then on 3/2, I won Lékué's steam case and asked to submit a recipe using it.

Am I writing too much in detail?
Thanks for reading, always...

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