When Do You Wash Your Fruits and Vegetables?

This morning I realized my goya has gotten moldy...
It was on sale this week and I bought it on Monday... only a few days ago :(
It sometimes happens if I don't wash before I refrigerate.

When do you wash your fruits and vegetables?
I sometimes do wash before I store in the refrigerator if I think I won't be able to use them for a few days. By the way, I never wash greens until I am ready to eat them.

Some people say that by washing them, you can remove harmful substances or putrefactive bacteria and block the oxidation process! However, some people say vitamins will run out by washing and lower the freshness...
I couldn't find out what is right or wrong by searching the net, but I think I'd better wash depending on the situation.

Recently, I realized some dish soap have direction for washing fruits and vegetables on their packages: dilute 0.5tbsp of dish soap with 1000cc water. Sounds weak though... Anyway, I use dish soap sometimes.

Today I had an interview after work. Then I had a plan to join my co-workers at a beer garden but I didn't... because today was one of those days! I missed a train in the morning and evening, and couldn't finish my work on time because of my supervisor's long story, so I thought I'd better stay at home...

Anyway, I'm drowsy now.
Time to go to bed!
Have a nice weekend!!!

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Kit Kat Flavors

Hi! It is again sunny here in Tokyo :)

This morning, I bought a watermelon flavored Kit Kat on the way to work at a convenience store. Yes. I bought it on impulse near the cashier. On the package it says that it has a slight salty flavor. I was just curious to try it out...

In fact, Nestle Japan produces the Kit Kat in many unique flavors for a limited time only. I will list what they had this year!

2008/06 double berries (cranberry and strawberry)
2008/06 triple berries (cranberry, blueberry, and strawberry)
2008/06 cherry
2008/05 mango
2008/05 brown sugar
2008/05 azuki bean
2008/04 banana
2008/04 kinako (soybean flour)
2008/03 soy sauce
2008/03 green tea
2008/03 pudding
2008/02 mandarin orange
2008/01 gianduja
2008/01 tea

I remember they once had a pumpkin flavor and that was terrible...
I got sick... I'm serious!

Well... the watermelon wasn't that bad! But one is enough! Ha-ha!!!
Just to have a break, Kit Kat would be nice ;)
I enjoyed my snack today!

Tomorrow, I will be interviewed by a TV station. I hope I can do my best!

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My Accomplishments

It is very sunny here in Tokyo! We expect no rain for a week or so! But the sky is not clear... It's smoggy a little.

Okay. Today, I will list my accomplishments!

On 7/12, I won 2 dozen of Kirin Ichiban by submitting my Chinese recipe: Stir-Fried Chili Bean Sprout! It wasn't a contest, so I was just lucky enough to win :)
Surprisingly, my boyfriend was really happy with it! I asked him why and he told me that the beer I used to serve him was Happoshu (low-malt beer)! I don't drink beer, so I didn't realize it until then!!!

On 7/17, I won the grand prize at the Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg) contest! This was my second time to win the top prize :) This time, they asked for the summer sweet recipes using their eggs, and I submitted my "Danish French Toast with Lemon Sauce"! I wrote that I went to the cafe on 7/21, which was the prize.


On 7/21, I won "the Idea Pon Award" at Cookpad's Ajipon recipe contest. Ajipon is Mizkan's citrus seasoned soy sauce! They asked for stir-fried recipes using it and I submitted my "Ajipon Stir-Fried Colorful Vegetables".





On 7/28, I won 2 awards at mozuku recipe contest organized by Itoman Mozuku Sangyo in Okinawa. Mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) is noodle-like seaweed which is mainly produced in Okinawa. My "Mozuku and Nameko Soup Rice Bowl" won the second prize (outstanding performance award) and my "Ginger Vinegar Marinated Mozuku Tomatoes" won the third prize!

Then today, on 7/30, my "Watermelon Broiled Eels on Rice" was introduced in the Cookpad's e-mail newsletter as an amazing summer treat recipe ;)







I'm changing my story! Speaking of summer, we need to be careful of food poisoning! There was a news that 5 people fell ill with food poisoning at a yakiniku restaurant! The source of food poisoning was Campylobacter! It is said that chicken is the most common food implicated as the source of Campylobacter contamination. Any raw poultry - chicken, turkey, duck, goose, game fowl - meat and its juices may contain Campylobacter, including organic and “free range” products. We Japanese sometimes eat those raw, so we need to be careful, or cook thoroughly!!!

Tonight, my boyfriend doesn't need dinner, so I am kind of lazy not cooking anything!
It's OK sometimes ;)

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