Office Relocation

Hi!
This Friday, my company is going to move to a new building.
So from today, I am packing my stuff.
It is pretty messy everywhere...

Anyway, due to the relocation, we will be closed on Friday. In other words, it will become a holiday! Yay!
So, I am thinking of cooking nabe for my boyfriend, which I promised :)
(But instead, I have to go to work on Sunday though...)

I don't think I can write something this week.
So hopefully, I'll come back on Monday!

I will post a photo of cute sushi!
I decorated heart-shaped sushi with salmon roe.
Those pink flakes inside are seasoned shredded cod fish "Sakura Denbu".
Hope you like this idea :)

See you then!

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Do My Best But Take It Easy!

Hello!
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Actually, I don't know how many people are reading though.

This morning was a burnable garbage day. I was collecting garbage at home and realized that my boyfriend hasn't thrown away trash in a garbage can.
There is a reason to this.
In Japan, as you might know, we take of our shoes before entering the house. So, some people (like us) lay a carpet on a floor and put a low dining table and sit on the carpet.
For that reason, you tend to put things (such as garbage) next to you...
I think we need a table and chairs someday.
Then you won't drop things from high place!

Anyway, my birthday is coming soon.
My resolution for the next year is to do my best, but take it easy!
I should remind myself that being perfect is impossible, but don't get lazy about doing something.

Tonight I am going out with my boyfriend!
I can't wait!!!
I will talk to you about it next week if I have a chance :)

Oops, I'm not writing about my cooking.
Instead, I will post an image of a big strawberry shortcake that I created last year.
The recipe is here.
Sorry, in Japanese...

See you next week!

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Should I Enroll in the Cooking School?

It's nice and warm again!
But little bit hot in the office...

As I said before, yesterday I went to the cooking school after work.

The class was fine and fun.
I cooked "Simmered Hamburger".
I think this one lesson was enough to learn what I needed (knife skill etc.) for the upcoming cooking contest.

However, I wonder whether I should continue to commute (enroll) or not.
To tell the truth, overall level was low :(
But I liked an enjoyable atmosphere!

The school is located right in front of the nearest station, so it is very convenient to commute.
The class is about 2 hours (including tasting and cleaning), so I can go home by 8pm (if I commute after work), which is good.

However, I can't make a decision!!!

Do I need to pay for such an inspiration?
I know I don't get nothing if I don't try...

Anyway, I cooked the "Simmered Hamburger" again at home for my boyfriend.
He loved it :)

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Bonjour Chef's Torch

Good news!
I won a Bonjour Chef's Torch :)
As a condition of winning, I need to create a new recipe using this Torch.
However, I am looking forward to using it, since I wanted to buy it someday!

Bad news :(
Again I realized that I lost the prize at Stew contest...
(Unsuccessful candidates are usually not notified so I realized it by myself...)
I should forget everything that has happened so far.

Anyway, today the weather in Tokyo is sunny and warm.
It doesn't look like winter.
Hope this weekend is going to be warm like today.

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Finesse Cooking

Next week, I am going to take an introductory class at cooking school near station.

To tell the truth, I have never learned how to cook.
However, next week, my finesse is going to be screened in a cooking contest, so I have to be prepared.
Few times in the past, I participated in this kind of contest but I always ended up handling badly. So this time, I want to try my best!
Especially the knife skill, I want to improve!
One day I want to clean fish!!!

The photo here is "Steamed Chicken and Vegetable Salad".
It requires a good knife skill :)

Recipe in Japanese is here.
I will write in English if anyone wants.

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Everything is Kept Intact...

As usual, Monday is very busy.
Actually, I was busy from the end of October!
I haven't replied to the comments at cooking site and my e-mails since then.
I know I should do it if I have time to write my diary, but my diary is something special.

Also, my cooking is something special, too.
Yesterday, I created 6 new recipes.
Maybe this is why I keep everything intact.

Today, again I lost prizes at 2 contests held at cooking site.
When it rains, it pours...

Anyway, yesterday my spinach recipe was introduced at Megami's Recipes site again!
I wrote about this site before.
This made me happy :)

Recipe in Japanese is here.
I will write in English if anyone wants.

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What a Bad Day!

Usually, I go to work 45 minutes before the start time.
This morning, there was an injury accident on the Tokyo subway (Marunouchi line).
It happened 2 minutes before my usual train.
At that time, railway station staff said there is no prospect for the recovery.
So I decided to take a different line using the free railway ticket that he gave out.
However, since I didn't know another way to go to work, I ended up taking a taxi.

I arrived at office as usual.
Of course no one was there.

I thought no one could come before the workday begins, but somehow everyone came on time.
My supervisor said that the train was packed but was in service!
(he usually come just in time)

Even worse, I forgot to get a receipt.
(I can't bill my company for my transportation expenses...)

It's not my day today...

"The early bird catches the worm" is not true.
I thought I'd rather be late than coming early.

Back to my cooking.
I don't feel like introducing something today.
Yesterday, I lost the prize at Salt Kelp competition.
It might have been a sign of my bad luck to come :(

Anyway, today is Friday!
See you on Monday!
Have a good weekend! (to me as well)

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Busy Monday

Today I had a checkup.
Also, I went to the dentist.
It was a long tiring day.

Regarding the dentist, I had a very bad time.
I asked my dentist a question but he didn't listen to my question and just beef up his speech.
I think I will never see him again...

Anyway, on Sunday I created 4 new recipes.
One of the recipes is "Simmered Okara".
Okara is a white or yellowish pulp consisting of insoluble parts of the soybean which remain in the filter sack when pureed soybeans are filtered in the production of soy milk.
Okara is very healthy so I always eat it before the checkup to ease my mind.
It is really good if you like sweet stuff.
It makes your blood smooth :)

Recipe in Japanese is here.
I will write in English if anyone wants.

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Not Yet Get Used to Write :(

Somehow, my link banner image was missing...
I Edited html to add it, so I might have missed something :(
Hope I can get used to edit stuff here.

Writing about my creative cooking, I won the highest award for "salt dessert competition" at shio-navi.com.
shio-navi.com is the site to search & learn & evaluate about many different kinds of salt (mainly in Japan).
My piece was "Grapefruit Salt Jello".The salty taste enhances the sweetness of grapefruit.My boyfriend loved this since he doesn't like very sweet stuff.

Recipe in Japanese is here.
I will write in English if anyone wants.

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Megami's Recipes

Today, my recipe "Tomato Tuna Piccata Sandwich"was introduced at Megami's Recipes site.
http://www.cooking-megami.com/index.html

This website is directed by Yukio Hattori, best known as an expert commentator on the Japanese television show Iron Chef.
It started in June 2007 and is now getting very popular among recipe posters!
Basically, only 2 recipes are introduced daily (about 60 recipes a month) and this month, there were 323 postings! So it was highly competitive!!!

I'm so happy that my recipe was accepted :)

Recipe in Japanese is here.
I will write in English if anyone wants.

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Sunday is My Cooking Day

Hello! I came back!
I guess I can keep a diary.

Yesterday was my cooking day.
Every Sunday I create at least 5 new recipes.
It usually takes about a day, but I enjoy!

Cooking is the way I deal with stress.
If I could take a nice photo, that makes me happy, too :)

Anyway, my boyfriend had his wisdom teeth pulled.
So I made a soy milk based mixed vege soup for him.

Recipe in Japanese is here.
I will write in English if anyone wants.

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Hello :)

My Japanese diary is getting longer so here I want to keep simple!
Also I am starting this to make friends overseas who likes to cook!
I started to translate my recipes in English but I can't really do until I need to.

My recipes in Japanese:
http://cookpad.com/ami/
http://www.lettuceclub.net/mypage/toukou_top.html?user_code=00153826

Trying to translate...

Today, the weather here(in Japan) is nice.
Want to go home now...(at work)

I know it is not that easy to write everyday but will see...

Peace,
Ami

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