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 :)

Please click below and vote for me.

Dashi Marinated Tomatoes

Hello!
Still cloudy out here :(
Hope not rain.

It's Friday!
I'm kind of busy, so I will translate my easy & popular recipe.
Currently, 47 people have made this and said good! You can find their photo reports down this page.

Same as yesterday, I used Yamasa's Konbu Tsuyu (3 times concentrated Konbu kelp seaweed soup stock) for this recipe.
Read here about this product.

---------------------------------
Dashi Marinated Tomatoes

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 5min + cooling time
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
200g (7oz.) cherry or grape tomatoes
1 tbsp. 3 times concentrated Yamasa's Konbu Tsuyu
katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes or shavings)

Directions:
1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, then dip the tomatoes in hot water for a few seconds to soften the skin. Wait until they cool down. Then peel off the skin with your hands.
2. Place the tomatoes in a Ziploc container and pour Konbu Tsuyu over them. Toss lightly. Chill for 1 hour or longer.
3. Sprinkle katsuobushi on top and serve.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
---------------------------------

Yesterday, I started to take a hot bath and massage cellulite (lymph).
I found this is the easiest way to remove the cellulite at home.
Am I easily swayed?!
But I always think it is better than doing nothing...

Okay, see you next week :)

Please click below and vote for me.

Tuna Gomoku Takikomi Gohan

Hello!
Yesterday I was going to post this diary but couldn't beat the sleepiness again.
I came home late last night. I had the LPG Cellulite Treatment, which is now becoming popular in Japan. I just got a chance to have it done for free. It was better than I thought! I wish I could continue but it's pretty expensive.

The recipe I translated is my popular one!
It is flavored gohan (rice) with gomoku (5 ingredients, including tuna).
The recipe is very easy!
You just cut ingredients and cook in a rice cooker.
We call this kind of dish, "Takikomi Gohan".
It's my boyfriend's favorite!

Currently, 31 people have made this and said good!
You can find their photo reports down this page.

The point is that you use a canned tuna with its oil and that gives the rice and vegetables a rich flavor!
It is really delicious!

For the seasoning, I used Yamasa's Konbu Tsuyu (3 times concentrated Konbu kelp seaweed soup stock).
This product is very convenient!
It is mostly used for nabe, but goes good with other dishes, too!
It comes in different sizes.
Hope it is available at Japanese grocery stores overseas.
I saw it in NY (including suburban areas) though.

---------------------------------
Tuna Gomoku Takikomi Gohan

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 5min + rice cooking time
Number of servings: 4

Necessary Equipment:
suihanki (Japanese rice cooker)

Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked Japanese rice (short-grain rice)
85g (3oz.) tuna in oil
50g (1.7oz.) carrot
10 sliced dried shitake mushrooms
100g (3.5oz.) canned takenoko (bamboo shoots)
1 fried tofu
A
* 50cc 3 times concentrated Yamasa's Konbu Tsuyu
* 1 tbsp. sake

Directions:
1. Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in water until they become soft. Immerse fried tofu in hot water, press it using chopsticks (remove extra oil from the fried tofu), and drain and wrap in paper towel to remove any excess water.
2. Cut carrot, takenoko (bamboo shoots), and fried tofu into short and thin strips.
3. Wash rice, place the rice and water (to the correct water level) in a Japanese rice cooker, then add A and mix well. Put 5 ingredients (shitake mushrooms, fried tofu, tuna with its oil, carrot and takenoko)on top and close the cooker and switch it on.
4. When it's done, don't open and leave it for about 10 minutes to blend the flavor.
5. Open, mix well, and serve!

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
---------------------------------

It was nice and warm yesterday, but raining again today...
Hope it clears up.

Please click below and vote for me.