On this day, we set up hina dolls (hina-ningyo) since they are believed to protect girls from bad luck.
Platforms with red felt cloth (hi-mosen) are used to display a set of hina dolls. Those dolls consist of the Emperor (odairisama), Empress (ohinasama), three court ladies (sanninkanjyo), and five musicians (goninbayashi) in traditional court dress of the Heian period.
Anyways! Those hina dolls are pretty expensive, so why don't we make some rice balls instead?! They are also perfect for bento (kyaraben) :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzhxfUAYjrE
Please watch this video for the deep fried flower rice crackers I garnished. (Watch from 2:45)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYcEYdMS1hQ
Check out the Basic Japanese Recipes Playlist HERE
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1401392E1B54AB75
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Easy Hinaningyo Rice Balls for Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day)
Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 5min
Number of servings: 1
Ingredients:
75g (2.7oz.) X 2 cooked white Japanese rice
2 tsp. salmon flakes
1 tsp. aonori (green laver) + some salt
2 candy cheese (or round pieces of cheese)
4 black sesame seeds
few drops of soy sauce
nori sheet
Directions:
1. Put steamed rice in two bowls 75g (2.7oz.) each.
2. Mix salmon flakes in one bowl of rice. And mix aonori (green laver) + some salt in the other bowl of rice.
3. Wet your hands in water so that the rice won't stick. Place the seasoned rice on your hand. Form the rice into a round ball by pressing lightly with your palms. Make a hole in the center of the rice and set aside.
4. Put sesame seeds in the candy cheese to make eyes and put few drops of soy sauce on the cheeks. Wrap nori sheet on the head to make the hairs.
5. Place the heads (4.) in the holes of the rice balls. Cut out nori sheet and make fan and scepter. Let her hold a fan and let him hold a scepter.
* お雛様 (ohinasama) holds a fan called 扇子 (sensu) in both hands.
* お内裏様 (odairisama) holds a flat wooden scepter called 笏 (shaku) symbolic of his rank in his right hand.
レシピ（日本語）
http://cooklabo.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post_26.html
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Other Hinamatsuri recipe ideas:
Recipes for Japanese Doll Festival
California Roll for Hinamatsuri
Italian Hina Arare
Crispy Hina-Arare Cheese Truffles
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