Rice Porridge with Seven Herbs

Happy New Year 2008!!!
Today is the first day of work this year.
It was a long holiday but I still need more days off!!!
This morning, surprisingly I could get up!
During the holidays, I was keeping late hours so I was afraid of getting up early.
I need to be careful tomorrow morning as well.

This new year's holidays, I cooked new year's food (Osechi) as usual :)
I posted my Osechi here.
Also, I created 10 new recipes during the holidays.
I will show you some if I get a chance!

Anyway, today (1/7) is Jinjitsu.
It is also known as Nanakusa no sekku, "the feast of seven herbs", from the custom of eating rice porridge with seven herbs (nanakusagayu) to ensure good health for the coming year.
The image up here is the nanakusagayu I made last year.
The porridge is good for digestion after eating and drinking too much during New Year parties.
Also, those herbs used are rich in fiber and minerals, which may help improve digestion and blood circulation.
I am going to cook it tonight :)
(I have a recipe! But in Japanese, sorry... )

Hope this year brings everyone happiness and good health!
I believe there is nothing more valuable than good health!!!

Stay warm and see you again tomorrow.

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Zoni Soup

Hello. Today is the last day at work!
From tomorrow till the 6th, we have new year's holidays! Yay!!!

But unfortunately, it gonna rain tonight.
It seems like to last for few days, but I hope not, since I haven't finished the window cleaning yet...
It is said that the clean window brings in the happiness!

Anyway, yesterday, I showed you my Osechi-Ryori, so today I will show you my Zoni Soup.
My recipe is here.
"Zoni soup is a Japanese soup meal mainly eaten with rice cakes (mochi), and is nowadays generally eaten on New Year's Day and at least in the following two days.(shogatsu).
As for ways of cooking the soup, different regions in Japan spot many variations, but in most cases it is either a clear soup (sumashi-jiru) flavoured with dashi (stock usually made from flakes of dried bonito) and soy sauce, generally preferred in eastern parts of the country, or a miso soup generally preferred in the western parts. "
Mine is the miso soup.
I used white miso which is a specialty in Shiga prefecture.

Stay warm and enjoy your holidays!!!
See you next year!

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Osechi-Ryori

Yesterday, I didn't attend the second party after the year-end-party and went home.
It was still 9pm so I called my boyfriend since he said he's gonna be late at work.
He was in his office so we went home together.
But sometimes when he is hungry and tired, he talks impatiently.
I don't like him to do so! So, we ended up arguing...

Anyway, today I will show you my Osechi-Ryori.
My recipe is here.
Osechi-Ryori are traditional Japanese new year foods!

Ooops!
I'm running out of time!
See you tomorrow, hopefully!!!

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