Nenrinya

Hi! It was raining this afternoon! Maybe after a week or so. And needless to say, it was very hot and humid!!!

Today, my co-worker bought us Nenrinya's baumkuchens! I didn't know about the store, but she said it is very popular in Tokyo! She had to stand in a long line to get them!

Nenrinya's baumkuchens are different from those in Europe! They say they instill Japanese traditional sensibilities when they bake. Why I say baumkuchens (plural) is because they have 2 different kinds: firm rings (crisp coating) and soft rings (sponge cake type). This is their distinction!

Hmm. They both were great, but too complicated to understand the quality! I mean, I know many other baumkuchens said to be good and just couldn't compare with them... Anyway, I perfectly enjoyed the fancy snack ;)

Different story, but I could make an appointment with my orthodontist tomorrow morning because someone has canceled!

I'm drowsy now... so will stop!
Have a nice weekend ;)

Please click below and vote for me.

Fat-Burning Sour Drink

It is again hot and humid in Tokyo.
Glad not raining though!

Hmm. It is hot but I'm not losing weight!!!
Okay, here I'll translate my sour drink recipe, which helps burn fat ;)
I wrote about the sour drink before, but will explain it again!
Sour drink is a drink made by soaking fruits and sugar in vinegar for more than a week. The flavor of the fruits will be added to the vinegar after a period of time. When ready, you dilute it with water (or soda or anything you like) and drink.
The vinegar contains nutritional elements that are effective in relieving fatigue. Also it reduces blood cholesterol levels and there are many other good things for your health.

This time, I soaked white grapefruit and ginger in vinegar! I believe some people know but the grapefruit contains a fat-burning ingredient. Also a pungent ingredient of the ginger increases metabolism!

---------------------------------
Fat-Burning Sour Drink

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 5min + soaking time about a week
Number of servings: about 10

Ingredients:
200cc Mizkan's Rice Vinegar
200g honey
100g (about 1/2) white grapefruit
100g ginger

Directions:
1. Remove grapefruit peel, leave the pith on, cut into wedges. Peel ginger and slice.
2. In a scalded glass storage jar, dissolve honey in vinegar.
3. Add grapefruit and ginger, cover it with a lid, and keep in refrigerator (or in a cool, dry, dark place).
4. Shake gently once a day. After a week, remove grapefruit and ginger (you can eat grapefruit as is and can use ginger for cooking).
5. In a glass, dilute the mixture 4-5 times with soda or sparkling water (I recommend).

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

Oh my god. My braces broke off. I need to see my orthodontist tomorrow, if possible :(

Please click below and vote for me.

Konapun

Hello! It is hot and humid again. I feel dull.

I forgot to write about this, but there was an International Tokyo Toy Show 2008 at Tokyo Big Sight in June.
I didn't attend it, but the next day I saw on TV that Bandai (a Japanese toy making company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits, famous for Tamagotchi) has exhibited their toy called Konapun, which is the toy I wanted when I was small.

Konapun is a toy that you can make miniature dishes from the special powder and water. You won't be able to eat it, but it is harmless to eat. "Kona" and "pun" both mean powder in Japanese. The image shows how to make a donut in "Konapun Donuts Kitchen"!

There are many other series available!
The search at Bandai's catalog shows 35, so maybe there are 35 different kinds of series.
In July 2008, they are going to release "Konapun Kitchen Studio"!

Actually, Konapun was sold again after 20 years in June 2006.
I remember that my friend had one!
I asked my mom, but she didn't buy me!!!
Of course I didn't give up and made a creperie from cardboard and cooked some real small crapes (pancakes) in the kitchen and served... I remember that I made a mess of it but that was all I could do :(
It is about 10 to 50 bucks, so now I can buy one or all!
But I won't! I mean, I want a real kitchen!!! Ha-ha :)

Anyway, I am so excited to see it available again.

Please click below and vote for me.