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.

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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!

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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 :)

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