Haagen-Dazs Flower Cup

Hi! We have rainy stormy weather with close thunders. Very scary... Our skies are gloomy all day long :(

Yesterday, I tried to start up our home PC after a while, but it didn't turn back :( It stops before it boosts Windows! I hope that power supply unit is not broken...
Anyway, I am glad that I did back up all my recipe images on 7/17! And the rest up to yesterday, I had them all in my camera.
A technician of our PC manufacturer is coming on Saturday. Hope everything will turn out fine!!! By the way, the phone company is still saying they don't know and they can't support about this.

Changing my story, I love Haagen-Dazs ice cream! In Japan, we have only 5 flavors for the pints (473ml), but we have 16 or more for the mini cups (120ml cups)! To tell the truth, these mini cups cost almost the same as the pints in the US!

This weekend, I decorated cute flowers on the green tea ice cream! Those flower petals are almond slices :) I drew around with a chocolate pen.

My boyfriend liked it ;)

You know what?! I love to have cold ice cream in a warm room in winter! Am I strange?

Tonight I have a plan to see my friend... Should I go in this storm?!

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When Do You Wash Your Fruits and Vegetables?

This morning I realized my goya has gotten moldy...
It was on sale this week and I bought it on Monday... only a few days ago :(
It sometimes happens if I don't wash before I refrigerate.

When do you wash your fruits and vegetables?
I sometimes do wash before I store in the refrigerator if I think I won't be able to use them for a few days. By the way, I never wash greens until I am ready to eat them.

Some people say that by washing them, you can remove harmful substances or putrefactive bacteria and block the oxidation process! However, some people say vitamins will run out by washing and lower the freshness...
I couldn't find out what is right or wrong by searching the net, but I think I'd better wash depending on the situation.

Recently, I realized some dish soap have direction for washing fruits and vegetables on their packages: dilute 0.5tbsp of dish soap with 1000cc water. Sounds weak though... Anyway, I use dish soap sometimes.

Today I had an interview after work. Then I had a plan to join my co-workers at a beer garden but I didn't... because today was one of those days! I missed a train in the morning and evening, and couldn't finish my work on time because of my supervisor's long story, so I thought I'd better stay at home...

Anyway, I'm drowsy now.
Time to go to bed!
Have a nice weekend!!!

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Kit Kat Flavors

Hi! It is again sunny here in Tokyo :)

This morning, I bought a watermelon flavored Kit Kat on the way to work at a convenience store. Yes. I bought it on impulse near the cashier. On the package it says that it has a slight salty flavor. I was just curious to try it out...

In fact, Nestle Japan produces the Kit Kat in many unique flavors for a limited time only. I will list what they had this year!

2008/06 double berries (cranberry and strawberry)
2008/06 triple berries (cranberry, blueberry, and strawberry)
2008/06 cherry
2008/05 mango
2008/05 brown sugar
2008/05 azuki bean
2008/04 banana
2008/04 kinako (soybean flour)
2008/03 soy sauce
2008/03 green tea
2008/03 pudding
2008/02 mandarin orange
2008/01 gianduja
2008/01 tea

I remember they once had a pumpkin flavor and that was terrible...
I got sick... I'm serious!

Well... the watermelon wasn't that bad! But one is enough! Ha-ha!!!
Just to have a break, Kit Kat would be nice ;)
I enjoyed my snack today!

Tomorrow, I will be interviewed by a TV station. I hope I can do my best!

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Mont Blanc aux Marrons

Just few hours ago, we had a heavy rain after a long time!!!

The past few days, it is raining hard in many parts of the country. Yesterday, there was a concentrated heavy rain in Kobe. 4 people were killed by a muddy stream! They were playing at a river area and suddenly the stream hit them!!! How scary...

Anyway, nothing related to the rain, but I will show you my Mont Blanc aux Marrons! But this is not a cake! It is EGG SALAD :) I made this few years ago to make fun of my boyfriend because he doesn't like sweet stuff! I served it for a dinner and I still remember his uncomfortable face! Ha-ha ;)
The recipe is in Japanese, but I think you can understand the procedures (images).

To tell the truth, I am finishing my diary in the morning...
I fell asleep again while writing last night.

Okay, see you again!

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Fortune-Telling Onigiri

Hi! This weekend I had a normal weekend.
My boyfriend was so busy every Sunday that we couldn't even eat dinner together! But finally we could, this weekend!!!

Today, I was going to summarize my recent events and accomplishments but some of them are not yet announced in public, so I will wait till then ;)

Anyway, do you believe in horoscope? Maybe I do... Every morning, I check my horoscope on TV. Actually, I don't check, they show us our horoscope!!! Sometimes I miss, but if I see, I will be concerned, especially when something bad is expected :( And things just come true and turn out bad, strangely! My boyfriend says I worry too much though...

Talking about horoscope reminds me of my fortune-telling onigiri (rice ball) recipe! I made this long ago. It is very easy! You just put a bite-size cheese in one of them, which is a winning ball! Yay ;)

I think I never mentioned this, but we eat onigiri every morning! Like a bagel, it is digested slowly, so you won't get hungry until lunch time! Also, to eat breakfast has dieting effects, so we try not to skip it! I'm not losing weight though...

Okay, I gotta go now.
Good night!

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Doyou no Ushi no Hi

Just me? It was extremely hot this EVENING and sweat dribbled down my back while walking back to home!

Yesterday was "Doyou no Ushi no Hi". It was a midsummer day when the oriental zodiac is ox. On this day, we eat unagi (eel) to take nourishment and beat the summer heat!

But why unagi?
I just searched and found that it can be anything that starts from "U" on this day! Can be "udon" or whatever! Interestingly, now we eat unagi just because someone has promoted to do so! Like getting a chocolate for your loved one on Valentine's Day! I couldn't find who started though.

Anyway, we had unagi last night! I served it with "Thai red curry marinated natto, mulukhiya (is a leafy gooey summer vegetable), and okra"! Why I used Thai red curry is because I won a free sample of it and had to use it. Also, yesterday I had natto and gooey vegetables for my lunch and got energy, so I used those vegetables for my boyfriend to get the same :)
I think I made a pretty entertaining dish.

Once in two years, we have another day to eat eel in summer, which is called "Doyou no Ni no Ushi no Hi" (8/5), so the next time I will serve the eel in an ordinary way ;) Of course I don't have to wait till this day though.

I'm drowsy now...
I'm so lazy tonight that I didn't even cook anything! (My boyfriend doesn't need dinner, so that is my excuse.)

Okay. See you next week!

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Nenrinya

Hi! It was raining this afternoon! Maybe after a week or so. And needless to say, it was very hot and humid!!!

Today, my co-worker bought us Nenrinya's baumkuchens! I didn't know about the store, but she said it is very popular in Tokyo! She had to stand in a long line to get them!

Nenrinya's baumkuchens are different from those in Europe! They say they instill Japanese traditional sensibilities when they bake. Why I say baumkuchens (plural) is because they have 2 different kinds: firm rings (crisp coating) and soft rings (sponge cake type). This is their distinction!

Hmm. They both were great, but too complicated to understand the quality! I mean, I know many other baumkuchens said to be good and just couldn't compare with them... Anyway, I perfectly enjoyed the fancy snack ;)

Different story, but I could make an appointment with my orthodontist tomorrow morning because someone has canceled!

I'm drowsy now... so will stop!
Have a nice weekend ;)

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A Treat from the King

Hello! We are having high (30C=86F) and humid temperature days continuously! The house won't get cool...
It is better to stay out at a cool cafe or office, rather than running an air conditioner at home.

In April, I wrote that the store called "SWEET MONAKA CREAM" has opened in Shinjuku station, but actually, it temporary closed after a few days. I wondered why but I don't know why.

However, today I found that the new store called "Ousama kara no Gohoubi", which means "a Treat from the King" has opened at the same location. They have a variety of Jersey milk based sweets. (Jersey milk is very rich. It is best suited for cream and butter.) They have Jersey Pudding Rolled Cake, Cheesecake, Jersey Milk Pudding, and Jersey Souffle. Hope I can try once before it closes down...

The truth is, I am posting this in the morning, the next day...
I couldn't stay up last night!
I was going to translate my recipe but maybe tonight ;)

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Watermelon Recipes

Hi! Weather here is unstable. We expected to have rainy days this week, so I carried my umbrella with me every day, but didn't rain! Anyway, the temperature went down, so we had bearable weather. That was good. Please don't rain on Sunday!!!

Anyway, every summer, watermelon recipe contest by the farmer in Tottori prefecture (Kurayoshi city) is organized at Cookpad. The grand prize is 100,000yen, so it is pretty competitive. I never won the highest, but luckily I'm receiving a prize every year. Flying by the seat of my pants, I was not thinking of submitting my recipe this year because I don't think I'm having a chance to receive a prize again. However, last Friday, I won free samples of watermelons. Sounds like I have to create something! And I did! On Sunday, I made 4 new watermelon recipes.

Talking about watermelon, it is very good for your health!
It helps to beat the summer heat! Sugar (fructose and glucose) of watermelon gives you a power to your tired body. Also, it purifies your body. It eliminates toxins from your body and has antioxidant properties!

I will link to some of my fun watermelon recipes!
Sorry, all are written in Japanese. Please enjoy looking at those pictures :)

- Watermelon Chocolate
- Watermelon Tiramisu
- Watermelon Cookies
- Watermelon Kabobs
- Watermelon Sushi
- Watermelon Minced Meat Rice Bowl
- Watermelon Pizza
- Watermelon Chirashizushi
- Vinegared Watermelon
- Watermelon Salad
- Watermelon Sangria
- Stir-Fried Watermelon

Okay! I'm leaving for NY in a few days, so will come back after 7/8!
Please enjoy browsing my recipes till then ;)

Oh my god! I just heard that the fuel surcharge for the plane will increase (+$140) from July again! I think we were right to leave in June!!!

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I Love Daddy Chocolate Cake

It was sunny and cool this weekend. The temperature was about high 25C (77F) and we had a tender wind :) Also, today, we had a nice weather! It was cool at night and was great to have a walk! I like this kind of weather. I hope it lasts long... (The weatherman announced that it is going to rain from Thursday)

Anyway, another big earthquake (magnitude of 7.2) hit in Iwate prefecture on Saturday morning. It shook Tokyo a little, but I didn't think that it was this big!
Last time, I said I've received a high-grade bousaizukin but I kept forgetting it at home. However, today I finally brought it with me to my workplace!

Talking about Saturday, Tokyo metro's new train line called "Fukutoshin Line" opened!
Wow! It was already on Wikipedia! As it describes, Fukutoshin Line connects three of Tokyo's secondary city centers: Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya. I hardly ever go to Ikebukuro and I live close to both Shinjuku and Shibuya, so I didn't even know about it until I see it on TV this morning. There should have been many people taking the new line on the weekend. I hate the crowd, so I'm glad that I stayed local!

Writing about my cooking, I baked a chocolate cake for my dad. On Friday, I called my mom and she said he is back in Tokyo on the Father's Day! I thought he is still in China (he resides there for his work) so I didn't have a surprise for him. My mom told me that he might want to eat a cake, so I made it. Actually, I don't know about the taste but I heard he was happy :)

I have a lot to write but have to stop now. Today, I had a haircut and kind of tired. Time to go to bed!!!
Hope I can come back tomorrow, but I have a meeting to survive, and pretty sure that I am going to be exhausted...
Okay, see you later ;)


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