Mediterranean Curry

Sakura season has ended.
It is passing fast year by year...

On Saturday, my boyfriend told me that he has Golden Week holidays from 4/29-5/5! Regularly, we work on 30th, 1st and 2nd. How lucky he is!!!

You know what?!
I am sometimes, or always easily annoyed by little things.
I didn't used to be like this, but recently I am not satisfied with many things around me.
So... My boyfriend told me to appreciate everything.
He says I will be happy then.
Right... He is always a happy person!
I wish I could think in his way.
And I am trying to... but looking at reality at work...everybody lacks power, very slow and... I can't take it!!!

When I was a student, I didn't like to do my homework.
But now, I think that was an easy task!
Now I am seriously thinking what I want to do in my life.
I am addicted to cooking, but I believe that is not everything.
Maybe this is why I get depressed sometimes...

Anyway!

On 4/4, I made curry and rice for my boyfriend's 33rd birthday.
As I wrote before, curry and rice is one of my boyfriend's favorite dishes!
I used his favorite vegetable: shishitougarashi (Japanese peppers)!
It has little hot taste but not like chili peppers!
It is more like green peppers.

In Japan, we use "curry roux" to make curry and rice.
It is something different from those served in Thailand or India.
Less spicy and rich in taste.

There are many different kinds of curry roux in Japan.
This time, I used one I got from S&B for a free sample.
The product is called Mediterranean Curry.
It's by French chef called Daniel Martin.
It's sales points are Mediterranean ingredients, such as rich Italian tomatoes and Spanish olives, that complement the spicy taste of curry.
It went great with shishitogarashi!!!

The recipe in Japanese is here.
I have standard curry and rice recipe, too :)

Okay, see you tomorrow again!

Please click below and vote for me.

White Day

I have a lot to write for Friday!
I mean, now it is Sunday midnight, but I just want to write about it.

On Friday morning, I sprained my ankle right after I left home.
At that time, I thought I couldn't move, but after a while, strangely, I didn't feel any pain!
I thought this was weird, so I called my mom and asked whether I can walk or not.
She said I'd better take a bus, so I took a bus.
One of my co-workers is absent for few days because of a stomach flu so I couldn't be absent!

When I arrived at work, I received macarons from my co-worker for White Day.
On White Day males who received a "honmei-choco" [chocolate of love] or "Giri-choco" [chocolate of courtesy] on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts, usually more expensive!
I gave him "Giri-choco" [chocolate of courtesy] not that expensive, but he was so kind that he gave me back macarons!!!
To tell the truth, at my work, I never got back anything on White Day, so I am seeing a new light this year!

Anyway, my foot was not that good, so I put a compress which I found in the office, which was 4 years after its validity date has expired... It seemed okay though...

At lunch time, I booked the plane ticket which I wasn't able to make a decision to book.
I found out that I could cancel anytime without cancellation fee for certain period, so this is why.
And now I'm relieved a little :)

Regarding the hotel, I haven't booked it yet since they require full prepay at booking (non-refundable)!
I need more time to decide.
Hope everything get settled soon...

In the evening, my boyfriend left for Osaka to attend the wedding of his younger brother.
Actually, I wasn't invited since I haven't got married yet...

After the work, it was raining so hard with thunder and lightning.
When I got home, I found a bouquet on the table, with a message saying that there is a sweet treat in the refrigerator!






I opened the refrigerator and found macarons again!!!
Oh my god, how could he know that I got them at work?
He is awesome!

Okay. I have more things to write, but I will stop for now.
I just wanted to write about this macaron story first :)
Will come back on Monday, hopefully.

Please click below and vote for me.

Western Style Green Pepper, Carrot, and Egg Kinpira

Yesterday, I was going to write my diary.
But again, I struggled with the booking stuff...
I mean, the plane ticket I was going to book online has disappeared.
I called the agency and they explained that they have changed the product rate recently.
They might again change the rate next week, so I was asked to go back at that time.
I hope not suffer from a nightmare.
Sometimes, I see a dream of my worries.
I think I should never play the market! Ha-ha!

Anyway, yesterday, 100th person made my Western Style Green Pepper, Carrot, and Egg Kinpira at Cookpad!
I explained about this function before.

Kinpira is a Japanese cooking style that can be summarised as a technique of "saute and simmer".
We usually cook root vegetables such as carrot, burdock and lotus root, seaweeds and other foods including tofu and namafu (wheat gluten) with the seasoning such as sake, mirin, sugar, and soy sauce.

However, I used green pepper and egg, which is unusual for kinpira, and used ketchup instead of sugar.
Also, I used sesame oil to add an appetizing flavor!
I released this recipe on 06/4/6.
I am glad to know that many people love this idea :)
The recipe is in Japanese, so I will translate it in English if anyone wants.

I will come back tomorrow if I'm doing fine!
See you!!!

Please click below and vote for me.

Ikanago no Kugini

I thought the spring has come but was a mistake...
This morning the weather forecast said that the spring is coming late this year...
Right! It was cold this morning and so as yesterday.
But somehow I could tolerate the cold since I believed that the spring is close.
Might better not seen that weather forecast to save utility charges.

Anyway, yesterday, 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.
My grand mother, who lives in Kakogawa city (Hyogo prefecture), cooks a few kilograms of "Ikanago no Kugini" every year.

Ikanago no Kugini is a famous Tsukudani in Hyogo prefecture.
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 Ikanago no Kugini every year.
I think I need to learn how to make this from my grandma someday.

Few years ago, I made lunch using Ikanago no Kugini for Ohanami (cherry blossom viewing).
Those flowers are Sakura (Cherry Blossom) made from thin slices of ham.
The green vegetable is field mustard.
The recipe in detail is here.
I never forget that my boyfriend forgot to take it with him.


Okay, I'm kind of drowsy, so see you again tomorrow.

Please click below and vote for me.

Spring Xxxx Salad

This morning, I got up late and couldn't do all the things I wanted to do on time. So, everything was getting on my nerves thereafter!!!

But on the train, just a random thought, but I realized that it has been already 10 years since I graduated from high school.
Then somehow, I calmed down by switching my mind to the other stuff.

Time flies.
The first 5 years, I spent my time in NY as a student & a member of society.
The next 5 years, I met my boyfriend and came back to Japan and working at the current company.

Now I am worried about the next 5 to 10 years.
If I don't start anything new, I'm gonna be having the same years as the latter 5 years...

Last year I started this blog.
Oh my god! It has been almost half a year since I started!!!
How fast the time passes...
I will try to keep up, anyway!!!

Today, I will show you my cute spring recipe which I made last year.
The title Xxxx = Worm.
I didn't write it since I didn't want to offend you.
I sometimes love to create this kind of 3D dish ;)
It's a salad using Brussels sprouts, bacon, and corn.
I built them up using toothpicks.
You simply eat with a dressing of your choice. The recipe is here.
I will translate it into English if anyone wants.
Those images would explain, so I guess you don't need it though.

Okay, see you tomorrow!

Please click below and vote for me.

Field Mustard Corn Chowder

It seems like the spell check function came back :)

Yesterday, I won the Vegetable Soup Prize at Original Soup Recipe competition!
This competition was organized by Kewpie (a leader in the history of Japanese mayonnaise and dressing production business)at Cookpad (No.1 recipe search/posting site in Japan).

The soup is soy milk based, so it has a very mild taste.
With less flavoring, you can enjoy the rich and sweet taste of vegetables.
In spring, we see a lot of edible Field Mustard at a supermarket.
It is something like broccoli and we eat before the bloom.
Thus I used it with corn, which also goes good with broccoli!

It is getting warm.
It seems like spring has come!

Time to write about my spring recipes :)

Please click below and vote for me.

Italian Hina Arare

Today, I took a half day off to see dermatologist since my skin was dry and itchy.
Also, I went to the bank since I cannot go during the weekday.
I had such a productive day!

However, before I go home, I bought a bag of Hina Arare (because it was at half price) and ate them all and felt sick...
I think it should be eaten moderately.

So, today is Hinamatsuri!
I made Italian Hina Arare for appetizer.
I used tomato for pink, mozzarella cheese for white, and avocado for green. (I explained about those three colors last week.)
I marinated them with wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper to give an Italian touch :)
My boyfriend was surprised with this idea!

Okay. This is all for today.
See you tomorrow!

Please click below and vote for me.

California Roll for Hinamatsuri

Last night, my boyfriend attended the after-hours party with his work mates.
He often gets a bite to eat when he gets home, so I made "California Roll for Hinamatsuri" for him.

The recipe is simple.
It is a regular California roll but you give it a twist.

You make 3 different colored sushi rice (pink, white, and green) and draw diagonal strokes on a sheet of nori.
The white color is plain sushi rice.
For pink, you mix "Sakura Denbu", which is pink colored & seasoned shredded codfish.
For green, you mix "Aonori", which is a type of edible green seaweed in powdered form.
The order of colors must be pink, white, and then green.
These are the colors of Hishi Mochi (diamond shaped rice cake), commonly consists of three layers; pink, white, and green, from top to bottom. Hishi Mochi is usually presented with hina dolls, which I showed you yesterday. It is said that pink represents peach flowers, white represents snow, and green represents grass.
Those colors have a meaning to get the power of nature.

Don't you think this is a good idea?
My boyfriend enjoyed eating it :)
By the way, I didn't know the actual meaning of Hishi Mochi until I translate this into English.
It was a good lesson for me!

Okay. This is all for today.
I hope you have a nice weekend!!!

Please click below and vote for me.

Recipes for Japanese Doll Festival

Hi! I'm back!!!

As I said yesterday, I'm gonna write about my cute recipes for Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri).

The Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri), or Girls' Day, is held on March 3rd.
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.

2 years ago, I made the Emperor and the Empress using "chirashi sushi rice balls".
I made their court dresses using crepe style fried egg (usuyakitamago).
Their heads are too big, but adorable, right?
The recipe is here.



Then last year, I made them in a different style.
This time, I just made rice balls.
I used candy cheese for their head.
It was pretty easy, but very abstract :)
The recipe is here.





Also, on Hinamatsuri, we eat colorful rice puffs (hina-arare).
You can make this easily from sticky rice (mochigome).
The recipe is here.






Now I am thinking what to make this year.
Hmm...
Will see :)

Please click below and vote for me.

Simmered Chicken in Grated Potato

Oops again!
I was so drowsy last night that I couldn't write my diary.
But here I'm back :)

It was pretty warm yesterday since it rained at night.
Also, today, it is like spring weather!

Yesterday, at lunch break, I went to the post office.
My workplace is located near the post office after the relocation, so it is very convenient now!

Anyway, I realized that I am not hearing from many of the contests I have applied for...
I guess I shouldn't look back but go on to the next!!!

Yesterday, 10th person has reported my "Simmered Chicken in Grated Potato" at Cookpad!
I wrote about this report function before.
This is my mother's recipe :)
Actually, the original recipe was pork, but I used sliced chicken breast instead to make it healthier.
The point is you simmer the chicken in grated potato.
The potato adds thickness to the cooking liquid and this comes out verrry delicious!
I love to pour it over the rice ;)
If you are interested in the recipe, let me know.
I will certainly translate it into English!

Okay, tomorrow I will show you my cute recipe for Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri).
Please come back and check it out!
If I don't fall asleep. Ha-ha!

Please click below and vote for me.

Bunapi Recipe Competition

Hi there!
It is again warm and sunny today!

Talking about last Friday, I got honorable mention for Bunapi (white shimeji mushroom) competition at HOKTO KINOKO COMPANY (they produce and sell Kinoko mushrooms).
Since I tried my best, I am not that satisfied with it...
My boyfriend says I'm greedy, but I am just frustrated with the result!

Then yesterday I received a lot of Bunapi character cell phone straps.
Those were the prizes for participation.
In other words, my efforts...

My prizewinning recipe is "Stir Fried White Shimeji and Chicken fillet Split with Oyster Sauce"
It seems like all the prizewinning recipes are healthy using less or no meat but a lot of vegetables.
I wish I could know this in advance...

Anyway, I will continue to do my best!!!

Tomorrow is Friday!
I can't wait to be over!

See you again :)

Please click below and vote for me.

Buri Daikon

It is warm and sunny today!
The weather forecast says that it is spring weather :)
Hope it lasts for a while... I hate cold.

Good news!
Today, 100th person made my Buri Daikon(Japanese amberjack simmered with daikon) at Cookpad!
At Cookpad, there is a function to post a feedback with a photo image of the dish you've created. If you scroll down the page, you will find 100 people's photo of my recipe. Isn't it amazing!?
I posted this recipe on 10/31/2005, so it is more than 2 years to reach 100!!! When reached to 10 or 100 or 1000 etc., the recipe will be introduced on the front page of the site.
Anyway I am happy to know that 100 people loved this recipe for sure :)

I used to write about this, but my most popular recipe is Sauteed Pork with Salt Sauce.
At the time I wrote, there were only 395 people but now it increased to 458 people!

Okay, time to go.
See you!

Please click below and vote for me.

Aojiso Flavored Natto Dressing Salad

Last night, I watched TV till 1AM since there was an interesting TV program.
I thought I couldn't get up early this morning, but somehow I could :)
Maybe because it was warm and I wasn't freezing in bed.

Anyway, last week, I won Riken's new non-oil dressing samples: Aojiso (shiso leaf), Herb & Lemon, and Teriyaki.
As I mentioned before, people who won these samples should think some recipes (new ideas) in return.
So on Sunday, I made a very healthy salad: Aojiso Flavored Natto Dressing Salad.
I mixed non-oil Aojiso dressing with natto (a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans) and poured on a salad.
It was delicious.
If you like natto, please try it out!!!

Okay, all for today.
See you tomorrow!!!

Please click below and vote for me.

Grand Marnier Earl Gray Tea

Hi!
It is very chilly these days.
I wake up freezing every morning.

On Saturday, my boyfriend had to attend a training class at his work, so I had a breakfast with him at Dean & Deluca and stayed there for about 6 hours organizing my stuff, thinking recipes, and so on.
But after a while, I realized that the ladies next to me were very chatty and I couldn't concentrate on anything...
I think I'd better change the place immediately if this kind of thing happened again.
I mean, this weekend, my boyfriend has the class again, so I'm planning to spend my time at a cafe.
I love to relax with a cup of coffee :)

Anyway, on Sunday, I created 5 new recipes again.
But badly, I misunderstood the assignment and created sushi...
My bad habit... I sometimes skim through the text :(
I think I need to try to read thoroughly.

Never mind!

One of the recipes I created is Grand Marnier Earl Gray Tea.
This is very easy.
You just add a tablespoon of Grand Marnier in a cup of Earl Gray Tea.
The bitter orange taste of Grand Marnier gives the tea a rich flavor!!!
Please try.
And then, if you have, have some chocolate with it!
It goes great with chocolate!
I had a happy tea time :)

Shall I write sad news?
I guess not in detail.
Things never work out as I hope... my work wasn't valued... that's all!

Okay, the bright news!
I once moaned about it but finally I won the grand prize at Lettuceclub!
I simmered cod fish in curry flavored yogurt.
On the day I created this recipe, I quarreled with my boyfriend and I didn't feel good, so I wonder why this won the prize.
Anyway, the recipe is on the Lettuceclub's magazine which was just released on 2/9!
I checked it out yesterday and was on P.107 :)

Wow, I wrote enough today!
Bye for now.

Please click below and vote for me.

Shrimp And Broccoli Tartar Croquettes

Hello!
How was your Valentine's Day?
Mine was great :)
My boyfriend loved my croquettes.

The theme is "spring colors"!
I mixed chopped boiled shrimps, broccoli, and eggs in mashed potatoes.
For the seasoning, I used salt, pepper and mayonnaise.
They were rich and delicious!

Here I posted the recipe.
Sorry in Japanese.
I will write it in English if anyone wants.

This weekend, I have a plan to cook again ;)
I wish I could have more time but I always thank my boyfriend.
He shows respect for my time.

See you next week!

Please click below and vote for me.