Rising Food Prices

Hello. It was rainy and cloudy weekend.
The weather forecast says that the tsuyu (rainy season) will start earlier than usual this year :(
I think we didn't have enough sunny days this spring...

In June, as the result of rising crude oil prices, gasoline and food prices are keep rising!
Gasoline prices are now about 170yen per litter (0.264 US gallon). Butter and cheese prices are up by 8%. Minced fish products prices (Kibun's products) will be up by 15% from July 14!
Hope flour prices won't increase again...

On the contrary, I found an interesting article.
Some food company says their premium products of high value (sold at higher prices) are in good form, because of the reduce of the price differential between regular ones (that increased prices but no more discounts).
Usually, consumers buy premium products when they want something of a luxury once in a while. However, now they are able to get those premiums by paying 100 more yen (1 more dollar) or so, which increased affordability for them.
This is true! I just bought premium bread because I thought in the same way!

Anyway, different story.
I have a lot of sausage products at home! Last week, I've received 8 packages of sausage products from Prima Ham. Then on Saturday, I received 2 gift boxes of sausage products from Nippon Ham. Speaking of Nippon Ham, they asked for the breakfast recipes using their sausage product called Winny (sounds like the P2P software but not that). I received 2 outstanding performance awards (not the highest). I don't know why, but my luck always leans to one side...

Tomorrow is rain.
I am very drowsy today.
Good night...

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Creamy Avocado Doria (Japanese Rice Gratin) - Video Recipe

Yesterday, I had a long meeting at work. It was raining all day long. And is still raining... Because of the weather or whatever, I was so tired that I wasn't able to finish my diary and went to bed.

This morning, I woke up at 6!
My boyfriend had to leave home at 7:30 (to attend on-the-job training), so I made him breakfast.
I left home with him and relaxed at a cafe in front of the station, thinking new recipes for few hours. Since I worked early in the morning, I could organize my ideas by noon! I shopped all the food stuff I needed for tomorrow and came back home.

Is it because of the rain and cold? I have a pain in my knee :( One problem after another... My ankle has just healed!

Anyway. I won't be writing my details! Ha-ha.
Today, I will translate one of my popular dishes!
Up to now, 24 people have made this and said good :)

Please try it out if you have a chance!
It's my boyfriend's favorite!!!

Print on your Postcard

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Creamy Avocado Doria (Japanese Rice Gratin)

Difficulty: Medium
Time: 30min
Number of servings: 20cm (8inch) pie dish

Ingredients:
((Fried Rice))
400g (14oz.) cooked white rice
100g (3.5oz.) thick sliced ham *sausage is okay
50g (1.7oz.) onion
50g (1.7oz.) green pepper
30g (1oz.) carrot
10g (0.3oz.) butter
salt and pepper
((Avocado Cream Sauce)) *200cc ready-made white sauce is okay
100ml consomme soup
100ml soy milk *milk or whipping cream is okay
2 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. corn starch
1 bay leaf *if you have
10g (0.3oz.) butter
salt and pepper
1 avocado
shredded pizza cheese

Directions:
((Fried Rice))
1. Dice ham into 1/2inch (1cm) pieces. Chop onion, carrot, and green pepper.
2. Heat butter in a pan on medium. Fry the diced ham until browned. Add onion, carrot, and green pepper, and saute until soft.
3. Add cooked white rice, mix well, and season with salt and pepper.
((Avocado Cream Sauce))
1. Dice the avocado.
2. Pour the consommé soup into a pan. Mix flour and corn starch with the same amount of water and add to the soup. Add the soy milk. Add a bay leaf if you like. Heat on low, stir constantly until the sauce thickens.
3. Turn off the heat, add butter, remove the bay leaf, then add the diced avocado.
4. Heat again on low for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
((Finish))
1. Butter an 8inch (20cm) pie dish. Put the fried rice mixture in the bottom, and spread the avocado cream sauce evenly over the rice.
2. Sprinkle with shredded pizza cheese and bake in a preheated oven at 480F (250C) for 10-15 minutes or bake in a toaster oven until the top is lightly browned.

レシピ（日本語）
http://cooklabo.blogspot.jp/2008/10/blog-post_10.html
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I'm gonna take a nap!
I can barely keep my eyes open...
See you next week!!!

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Birthday Cake Idea

It is raining today. Last night, I fell asleep while typing my diary.
Rain makes me drowsy!

Actually, I was waiting for my boyfriend. He had an English class late in the evening and after that he went drinking with his co-workers and didn't come back...
This morning I found him slipped out from his suit trousers (I guess he might have been uncomfortable with those on), lying on the floor... He said he has got a hangover. Right... he looked painful. I gave him a medicine for headache and left home. Hope he is doing fine now...

Oops! I just realized that I forgot my cell at home!
It's because of disrupted routines in the morning :(

Talking about my boyfriend, I didn't have a chance to write about his birthday cake for quite a while! This is the cake I made for his 33rd birthday. It is a strawberry shortcake with pink whipped cream. I decorated it with heart-shaped strawberries. Don't you think it's cute? Or, too cute for a guy? Ha-ha.



Different story.
Yesterday, I received a high-grade bousaizukin!!! It is a hat that guards your head from fire and other dangerous things. I choose it from "a wedding thank-you gift catalog", which is actually my boyfriend's. He says that I take things too seriously, but I think if you are prepared, you don't have to worry.
I forgot to bring it with me today, but I'm gonna keep it handy at my workplace!

In addition, my boyfriend won a 2 dozen water (tennensui) bottles, which I also won the other day!
I was thinking of keeping some bottled water on hand in case of emergency, but too many...

I wish I could use my luck evenly.



I'm changing my story again.
Lately, I am completely disillusioned with my job. My supervisor has no ambition. I am trying to think no one is perfect, but sometimes I can't take it.
But the way I think is better than before. I used to not know when to give up things, but now I try to take it easy and go on to the next, enjoy cooking after work!
I am kind of perfectionist, so I hate wasting time. A non-productive day is unthinkable...
(Then why don't I change my job...?! That's a different story.)
But but but! I have a bad habit. If I've got quite a lot to get through, I put things off... such as housework, e-mail replies to my friends, etc... My priority is always cooking (creation), so I barely have time for anything else!!!
I need to do things more sensibly.

Sorry for my rambling.
The shortcake story (my main story) is buried in details.
Please wade through...

Today, I have the second facial stuff!
Hope they remove my makeup thoroughly!

Will come back tomorrow, if I can :)

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