Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Kashiwa Sekihan

Hello!
It is nice and clear today but it seems like I caught a cold :(
I don't feel good since I went to Yokohama.
I guess I played too much. Ha-ha.

Today, I am pretty busy, because it is after the holidays, so I will write briefly about my recipe for Children's Day in Japan.

May 5th is Children's Day, called "Kodomo no hi" in Japanese.
It is also Boy's Day, called "Tango no Sekku" in Japanese.
On this day, children display samurai swords, armor, and Kintaro dolls.
Two important symbols of Children's Day are carps (Koinobori) and irises (Shobu).
Traditionally, families fly carp kites with a carp representing each son.
The shobu has long leaves that resemble swords. Boys traditionally take shobu leaf baths on this day.

On this day, we eat "Kashiwamochi".
It is a sweet rice cake wrapped in kashiwa (oak) leave.
Usually, sweet bean paste or sweetened miso paste is used inside the cake.
The reason oak leaves are used relates to the fact that these leaves don't fall until a new sprout appears. For this reason, people eat Kashiwamochi to ensure their family name will last forever.

Also, "Chimaki" is traditionally served on this day.
It is a sweet rice cake wrapped in a bamboo leaf.

Last year, I made "Kashiwa Sekihan" for him.
As I said before, he likes neither sweet stuff nor mochi, so I made it for him instead.
I wrapped Sekihan (sticky rice steamed with azuki beans) in kashiwa (oak) leave.
The slight salty flavor of kashiwa (oak) leave went good with Sekihan!


However this year, I asked my boyfriend to get some Kashiwamochi.
He first didn't say yes... but I forced him :)
Anyway, we had a good time!

Okay, see you tomorrow!
I hope I can write my recent events.
All about recipe contests though.

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