Pepsi Blue Hawaii

Yesterday, I couldn't wake up on time. Maybe due to the rainy weather... But today, we have clear and sunny skies, so I could! Ha-ha :)
I think my sleepiness is affected by the weather! As you see, I couldn't post my diary last night...

Day before yesterday, I tried a beverage called "Pepsi Blue Hawaii". It just went on sale on June 10th for a limited time. It comes in blue soda, reflecting the image of tropical ocean. It's pineapple & lemon flavor leaves a refreshing aftertaste!
One of my coworkers likes to try out such a weird product. Why I say weird is because Suntory (Pepsi's distributor in Japan) has sold many other funny Pepsi drinks: "Pepsi Ice Cucumber (2007/6/12)", "Pepsi Carnival (2006/7/25), "Pepsi Gold (2006/11/7)", "Pepsi Red (2006/6/6)", etc...
They say they want people to enjoy drinking Pepsi and become users. Just as they wished, we buzzed-about it!

Yes! I love hot stuff!!!
Last weekend, I went to Shibuya (popular shopping and eating district) to get summer clothes!
My favorite shopping mall is SHIBUYA 109. I used to shop there often, but these days I don't (because I spend more time at home cooking), so it took about 3 hours in the shopping mall to update myself!
Because I pondered over, the pierced earrings I liked were all sold out when I went back to get them :( Thus, I ordered all the way from Nagoya! Sounds crazy, but I really wanted them. And on Wednesday, I got them! Yay!!!

Don't you think this cool? I made a magazine cover with my picture :) Someday, for real, I want to produce a recipe book!

Anyway, I found many blog widgets that I want to add in my blog! I hope I can add them nicely!

Okay, see you next week!


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Oyakodon: Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl

Last night, I nodded off while writing my diary...

Yesterday was rainy and today is cloudy.
We are expecting rain this week :(
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the rainy season has begun on June 2nd in the Kanto region, 20 days earlier than last year! They say it is because of typhoon No.5, which is slowly moving northward, pushing up the rain front!
I hope it clears up this Saturday, as they say now!

Talking about my cooking, on Monday, I made oyakodon using Kibun's minced fish product called "Tamanegi-Ten".
Oyakodon, literally "parent and child bowl", is a Japanese donburi (rice bowl) dish. Chicken, egg, onion, and other ingredients are all simmered together in a slightly sweet dashi sauce and served on top of a bowl of rice. Why we call this oyakodon is because both chicken (oya=parent) and egg (ko=child) are used. It can be whipped up relatively quickly, so it is a staple for Japanese home-style cooking. Moreover, oyakodon is often served in soba restaurants and other traditional Japanese restaurants.
On Saturday, I won free samples of "Tamanegi-Ten", which is a satsumaage (fried minced fish) using a lot of chopped onion. It tastes little sweet and rich.
Usually, when cooking oyakodon, we take time simmering onion, so I shortened the time by using this satsumaage! I used less sugar for the dashi sauce, because satsumaage itself was sweet enough.
Just as I thought, this oyakodon was great :)

You know what!? I think my supervisor is a toast. He says he cannot start the next project until he has time... I'm sorry to hear this since my coworker has so little work to do. But whenever I see him doing slow, I try to remind myself that "there is no rush"...

I'm kind of busy and drowsy this week.
I hope I can write tomorrow ;)

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Rising Food Prices

Hello. It was rainy and cloudy weekend.
The weather forecast says that the tsuyu (rainy season) will start earlier than usual this year :(
I think we didn't have enough sunny days this spring...

In June, as the result of rising crude oil prices, gasoline and food prices are keep rising!
Gasoline prices are now about 170yen per litter (0.264 US gallon). Butter and cheese prices are up by 8%. Minced fish products prices (Kibun's products) will be up by 15% from July 14!
Hope flour prices won't increase again...

On the contrary, I found an interesting article.
Some food company says their premium products of high value (sold at higher prices) are in good form, because of the reduce of the price differential between regular ones (that increased prices but no more discounts).
Usually, consumers buy premium products when they want something of a luxury once in a while. However, now they are able to get those premiums by paying 100 more yen (1 more dollar) or so, which increased affordability for them.
This is true! I just bought premium bread because I thought in the same way!

Anyway, different story.
I have a lot of sausage products at home! Last week, I've received 8 packages of sausage products from Prima Ham. Then on Saturday, I received 2 gift boxes of sausage products from Nippon Ham. Speaking of Nippon Ham, they asked for the breakfast recipes using their sausage product called Winny (sounds like the P2P software but not that). I received 2 outstanding performance awards (not the highest). I don't know why, but my luck always leans to one side...

Tomorrow is rain.
I am very drowsy today.
Good night...

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Birthday Cake Idea

It is raining today. Last night, I fell asleep while typing my diary.
Rain makes me drowsy!

Actually, I was waiting for my boyfriend. He had an English class late in the evening and after that he went drinking with his co-workers and didn't come back...
This morning I found him slipped out from his suit trousers (I guess he might have been uncomfortable with those on), lying on the floor... He said he has got a hangover. Right... he looked painful. I gave him a medicine for headache and left home. Hope he is doing fine now...

Oops! I just realized that I forgot my cell at home!
It's because of disrupted routines in the morning :(

Talking about my boyfriend, I didn't have a chance to write about his birthday cake for quite a while! This is the cake I made for his 33rd birthday. It is a strawberry shortcake with pink whipped cream. I decorated it with heart-shaped strawberries. Don't you think it's cute? Or, too cute for a guy? Ha-ha.



Different story.
Yesterday, I received a high-grade bousaizukin!!! It is a hat that guards your head from fire and other dangerous things. I choose it from "a wedding thank-you gift catalog", which is actually my boyfriend's. He says that I take things too seriously, but I think if you are prepared, you don't have to worry.
I forgot to bring it with me today, but I'm gonna keep it handy at my workplace!

In addition, my boyfriend won a 2 dozen water (tennensui) bottles, which I also won the other day!
I was thinking of keeping some bottled water on hand in case of emergency, but too many...

I wish I could use my luck evenly.



I'm changing my story again.
Lately, I am completely disillusioned with my job. My supervisor has no ambition. I am trying to think no one is perfect, but sometimes I can't take it.
But the way I think is better than before. I used to not know when to give up things, but now I try to take it easy and go on to the next, enjoy cooking after work!
I am kind of perfectionist, so I hate wasting time. A non-productive day is unthinkable...
(Then why don't I change my job...?! That's a different story.)
But but but! I have a bad habit. If I've got quite a lot to get through, I put things off... such as housework, e-mail replies to my friends, etc... My priority is always cooking (creation), so I barely have time for anything else!!!
I need to do things more sensibly.

Sorry for my rambling.
The shortcake story (my main story) is buried in details.
Please wade through...

Today, I have the second facial stuff!
Hope they remove my makeup thoroughly!

Will come back tomorrow, if I can :)

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Global Food Crisis

Hello!
This morning, the wind and rain were very strong!
I took a bus to go to the train station.
It cleared up in the afternoon though.

Yesterday, I received a notice about the reward card I use at a supermarket. They say that they gonna change the reward system. Currently, 1000 points = 1500 yen, but from September, 1 point = 1 yen. I think I won't be interested in accumulating points at that supermarket any more...
Too bad!

Bad things are happening on the food market as well!
The government raised the price of wheat in April, which pushed up prices for many food products, including bread, noodles and confectionery from this month. They have already raised the price last year, so this was the second time! (Higher prices to hit hard in April)
Hope this could be a solution: Japan looks to rice flour as wheat prices rise.
Also, prices of butter and cheese are going up! (Butter supplies running short at supermarkets)

Global food crisis is closer than we think.
This article was very interesting: 8 Ways to Fix the Global Food Crisis.

We consumers can't easily change things, but we can try not to waste food!
I always try to get clearance food products to save money, but maybe need to do so to save our food.
Someday, we all might need to grow vegetables for our own consumption, just like it used to be!

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Recipe Cards

I think it is hot today!
It was like winter a few days ago though.
I still can't get rid of the cold :(
Hope I could get over this soon!!!

Recently, I realized that the nearby supermarkets stopped offering recipe cards with pictures. Now they are all text and no pictures. In Japan, most supermarkets offer such cards to promote new products and seasonal stuff. I thought they were useful. Hope it is not a strategy for cost-saving! Some of the recipes are printed on the product packages or the accompanying tags with pictures, but recipe cards were something different. They add a great deal of enjoyment for our shopping!!!
Hope they put back pictures someday...

Today, I won 2 bags (about 10kg/22lb) of specially-cultivated rice!
They use less chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
We eat rice everyday, so I'm glad to win those.
I submitted my recipes to apply.
Winners were selected in a drawing, so I was lucky.

I posted this diary for Friday, but actually, it is Saturday morning.
Last night, I felt very drowsy while writing, so went to bed at will.

Okay, see you again!
Have a good weekend :)

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Vinegar for Salad 2

Bad weather here today :(
Again, it is raining and will last till tomorrow.

In past days, I wrote about Mizkan's new product, "refreshing apple vinegar for salad".
Last month, they held a contest at Cookpad (recipe site) and asked for recipes using the product.

I made a simple pork salad and that was awarded as a "great for salad recipe prize". Here is the recipe.
I stir-fried shabu-shabu pork and strips of vegetables with slices of garlic. Then marinated them with the vinegar and served in Boston lettuce leaves. Shabu-shabu pork is very soft and the vinegar is very refreshing! All ingredients are healthy but increase your stamina!

Anyway, I am kind of depressed about what I am doing right now.
Do all feel the same? Only me?
My boyfriend told me I can find what I can do at my pace, but I want to make my day more productive! Especially during the daytime on weekdays...

Sorry about this gloomy stuff!!!
I'm fine, but sometimes I have a conflict.

Yesterday, I was so tired that I went to bed early.
I dozed off while taking a hot bath...
Hope to see you daily :)

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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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SWEET MONAKA CREAM

Hello!
It is nice and clear today.

Last time I wrote that my boyfriend has Golden Week holidays from 4/29-5/5 though we regularly work on 30th, 1st and 2nd.
You know what!? I'm gonna take 3 days off, too!
Actually, we don't have that many plans, but we have a plan to stay the night in Yokohama!
During Golden Week holidays, people go somewhere, so it must be crowded everywhere. Also, it is pretty expensive to travel, so we planned to visit a place nearby!
We have reserved a nice hotel, and luckily, it happens to have a chef Wakiya's "Turandot" restaurant! I won a meal voucher for the restaurant in March!
Of course I reserved the restaurant!
I will write about it if I have a chance :)

Different story.
On April 22nd, very cute monaka ice cream store called "SWEET MONAKA CREAM" has opened in Shinjuku station!
Monaka is a Japanese sweet made of azuki bean filling sandwiched between two thin crisp wafers made from mochi.
Instead of azuki filling, MONAKA CREAM uses ice cream filling!
I haven't tried it yet, but I always pass through.
There are 12 different flavors: strawberry, chocolate, milk, green tea, banana, raspberry, mint chocolate, pumpkin, melon, blueberry, caramel, and purple potato.
Those wafers are made by Japanese cake confectioner, made of 100% mochi ! Those ice creams are made by Italian gelato chef, use a lot of milk!
Hope I could try out someday soon!

Okay, I might see you after the holidays!
Bye for now :)

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Vinegar for Salad

Hello! Nice weather here today :)
Yesterday, I went to see the dentist.
Last Friday, I found a cavity by myself!
I regularly visit the dentist but it was not found because it was hidden in between teeth :(
Strangely, I had no pain in that tooth, but it was too late and the dentist had to kill the nerve.
I do brush and floss my teeth after every meal but the dentist says I am prone to tooth decay.
I guess I'm totally out of luck these days.

Anyway!

One of my vinegar recipes is now introduced at Mizkan's website!
As I wrote many times, Mizkan is famous for it's vinegar products.
In January, I won their new product sample, "refreshing apple vinegar for salad".
It has a spicy flavor of clove and cardamom, and a rich flavor of chicken and scallop.



I made Garlic Chicken Saute Salad using this product.

They also have "mild tomato vinegar for salad".
I didn't win this.
It has a spicy flavor of thyme and oregano, and a rich flavor of chicken.

They launched those vinegar products for people who want to cut calories and salt content.

This year, I see a lot of healthy food products on the market in Japan.
For example, many beer companies have started to release sugar-free beer!
I believe this is because, this year, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare proposed measures for addressing metabolic syndrome in its efforts to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. People aged 40 to 74 are required to take medical examinations to check for signs of excessive internal fat, high blood pressure and a high blood-sugar level, and to receive health guidance if necessary.
From here on, people will make healthy choices about the foods they eat, so the demand for healthy food products will increase!

Okay, this is all for today.
See you again!
Hope I can translate a recipe tomorrow :)

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Vegete

Hi! It is very sunny today!
Hope spring has come.

Yesterday, my supervisor was again very annoying.
He always comes to work late.
Also, he goes to lunch after the lunch break.
I hate him do that because no one knows where he went suddenly...
He says we can assume, but I think that makes no sense!

Anyway!

Last week, I didn't have a chance to write about my prize-winning piece so I will write about it today.

In March, Asahi (the 2nd largest beer brewery & soft drink company in Japan) gave out free samples of alcoholic beverage called "Vegete" and asked for recipes that goes good with it.
Vegete is low alcoholic beverage that contains 20％ each of vegetable juice and fruit juice.
It uses 21 different sorts of vegetables (such as carrot, spinach, asparagus, red bell pepper...) and 4 different sorts of fruit (such as orange, lemon...).
Asahi jointly-developed this product with Kagome (manufacturer of food and beverage products based on tomatoes and other various vegetables) combining their strengths.
Last Year, in September, they first launched tomato based alcoholic beverage, "Tomate" and was relatively successful.
Judging from it's reaction, they say that the new product "Vegete" will definitely appeal to and be a hit with health-conscious consumers!

I tried "Vegete" and was great!
It is uncarbonated and easy to drink :)
I think it will be hit with people of all ages!

So, my prize-winning recipe is "Ginger Marinated Bacon and Vegetables"!
Can you find mine at the linked page? :)
I used soy sauce and maple syrup to give a salty-sweet taste.
Also, I used a lot of grated fresh ginger to make it refreshing!
The recipe is here.
I will translate it in English if anyone wants :)

By the way, this week, I'm doing bad. Losing prizes...
I don't have time to bum out, so I'm gonna do my best!

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Moffle Maker

Hi! Again, I didn't have a chance to write my diary on Friday.
I have a lot to write and I have written a draft but I'm not ready to post it. I hope I can catch up.

Today is my sister's 18th birthday.
I bought her a Moffle Maker that makes "mochi" waffle.
This is very popular now in Japan!
Mochi is a Japanese rice cake.
You place it in the machine and cook it like you make a waffle.
You will get a crispy outside and soft & airy inside waffle shaped mochi, moffle.
You can eat it in many ways. With toppings, dipping sauce, or you can even sandwich your favorite ingredients inside. But to sandwich, you need to use thin mochi for shabu-shabu!

However, unfortunately, my sister said she doesn't like mochi...
I never knew that!!!
I thought she ate zoni soup at New Year's.

Anyway, I should better ask her from the next time, because I did the same thing at Christmas.
I gave her a toy cat but she didn't like a cat...

Okay, I need to stop!
Will come back next week!!!

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Tokyo Sweets: Strawberry Mochi-Feuilles

Last night, I was going to post my diary, but I couldn't beat the sleepiness :(

Yesterday, it rained hard all day long.
My trouser bottoms got wet when I arrived at my workplace.
But I had a company uniform, so that helped a lot.

Also, yesterday, I had a long long meeting, for about 3 hours, at work.
It was my supervisor's fault!
I reconfirmed that he is hopeless.

Writing about Monday, I went to see an orthopedist near the station.
To tell the truth, I still had a pain in my ankle since 3/14.
I tolerated the pain till that day but one of my co-workers recently knew she had cracked her knees by seeing a doctor, so I got scared and went to have an examination ...
Luckily, my bone was fine.
But the doctor told me that if I had sprained the ligament, it might have been serious.
I didn't know that, so I would go if I (hope not) sprained my ankle again!!!

Anyway, on that day, my boyfriend bought me "strawberry mochi-feuilles" for a souvenir.
He got them at Shinjuku station after his business trip to Saitama prefecture.
It was neither a special day nor special trip. I guess he bought it because it is my favorite color: pink!
Mochi is a Japanese rice cake.
It was sanded with strawberry confiture (jam) on and in between almond sponge cake.
Very interesting and new taste! I never thought of this idea :)
Thank to my boyfriend!

Okay, all for today :)
I think I have a delay in my diary, but will keep it up!!!

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