Rough and Dry Hands...

Hi! How was your weekend?

Mine was really busy that I cooked almost all day for 2 straight days. Now my hands got rough and dry :( Believe it or not, if I bend my fingers, my skin crack, so I put some cream and band-aids to keep those affected parts moist. But beyond my expectation, yesterday, my skin between nails split open! ow...

I wear rubber gloves to wash dishes, but seems not helping... Do I need thin latex gloves while cooking?! Hope not... Maybe I need to moist my hands more frequently with plenty of cream!

How are your hands?

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Cloned Hidagyu Beef on Tables?!

Hi! No snow today, but sleety rain is forecast for today :(

Day before yesterday, I saw an interesting news on TV and on the Internet.
"Japanese researchers have successfully cloned what is believed to have been the progenitor ox of Gifu Prefecture’s ‘‘Hidagyu’’ beef, prefectural officials said Tuesday. The successful cloning of the ox, which died in 1993 and was preserved by freezing, could help to revive cattle with higher quality meat."
Researchers clone ox known as 'father of Hidagyu' beef
Cloning breakthrough raises prospect of creating calves from supermarket beef
Image is from Takayama Green Hotel.

Why Japanese insist on quality?!
I don't much care for the beef, so I want scientists to put an importance on safety... I don't think I want to eat it although cloned beef is said to be safe in other countries.

Do you think cloned beef is perfectly safe?

Monday is "Seijin no hi" (Coming-of-Age Day), so we are off again! Three-day weekend, yay!

Have a good one ;)

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Nanakusagayu (Seven-Herb Rice Porridge)

Nanakusagayu is the seven-herb rice porridge that we eat in the morning of January 7th to bring longevity and health.

Below are the nanakusa (seven herbs):
- Seri (water dropwort, Oenanthe javanica)
- Nazuna (shepherd's purse)
- Gogyō (cudweed, gnaphalium affine)
- Hakobera (chickweed, stellaria media)
- Hotokenoza (nipplewort, lapsana apogonoides)
- Suzuna (turnip)
- Suzushiro (Daikon)

This morning we had it for breakfast. Every year, I cook it at the night of 1/7 because those herbs go on sale after work, but this year I bought them at the regular price to keep the tradition!

However, my boyfriend had a new year's party last night and he e-mailed me this morning that he couldn't come home. I was so shocked and told him that I wouldn't cook at night and then he came home immediately. Whew...

What a busy morning! I think I am done for today. Ha-ha!

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Nanakusagayu (Seven-Herb Rice Porridge)

Difficulty: Very Easy
Time: 10min
Number of servings: 2

Ingredients:
70g nanakusa (seven herbs)
250g (8.8oz.) cooked white rice (Japanese short-grain rice)
5cm dried kelp (or a pinch of kelp dashi powder is OK)
450cc water
2 mochi (Japanese rice cake) if desired
a pinch of salt

Directions:
1. Wash nanakusa.





2. Lightly boil nanakusa, cut roots, and chop.




3. Combine the water and kelp in a large pot. Bring the water to a boil.




4. When kelp softens, add the cooked white rice.




5. Add nanakusa and lightly season with salt.




6. Toast mochi. If desired.





7. Quickly place the toasted mochi in individual soup bowls and pour 5. over the top.




Traditionally, we don't add mochi but I add them to full my stomach in the morning ;)

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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Of course you can only use daikon radish or whatever ingredients you like to cook this porridge! Tastes good and good for your stomach after the new year's big meal ;)

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My Accomplishments

Hi! We are blessed with fine weather every day. I wish we could have more new year's holidays!!! My work started from yesterday :(

Today, I will list the rest of my accomplishments last year.

On 12/13, I received a copy of recently released Taiwan version of sweet recipes book which of the Japanese version was published by Cookpad in 2006/11. My recipe (Ginger Cheese Pancake Christmas Tree) is on this book, too. Can jose read this?




On 12/25, my Spiral Salmon with Black Vinegar Sauce using black vinegar won 3 bottles of black vinegar juice! This recipe is very healthy and interesting ;) I rolled nutmeg seasoned cottage cheese and shiso (Japanese basil) with smoked salmon, and poured dashi flavored black vinegar sauce.



On 12/26, I won a family award at Yodoran (iodine-enriched egg)'s contest. I hope I won... I mean, my name wasn't listed on their website but on their e-mail newsletter, which was confusing...






Last week, I counted the numbers of awards I received in 2008 and found not that many... I have been trying this contest stuff for about 3 years, but maybe it might be time to go on to the next step! Will see... I will try to move on this year!
But every time when I feel a pressure in my life, I try to think that I should be happy being healthy. Why do I want further?!

Changing my story, yesterday, I saw on the news that Wedgewood went bankrupt! Couldn't believe it!!! I wasn't that fan of the brand, but I feel sad since I knew the name for a long time...
Waterford Wedgwood files for bankruptcy

We don't know what might happen the next :(
Best wishes for our future!!!

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After Happy Days

How nice, we have clear blue sky almost every day! We feel a slight chill in the high of 50F (10C), but nice enough!

Few hours ago, I saw Mt. Fuji with the sunrise, but now the sun has set... Isn't it sad!? Days are too short. I miss all my holidays which will end tomorrow...

Last night, my boyfriend and I had a dinner with my family. Maybe it was since last winter that we gatherd together. My dad now resides in China, so we aren't seeing each other that often. I was kind of lazy to see my family, but despite my feeling, it was fun!

Today, my boyfriend left for Shiga to see his parents. He just e-mailed me that his mom has recovered really well! Thanks to God!!! He will be there until Monday. I didn't go with him because my work starts from Monday. Anyway, isn't it funny that I feel lonely?! Didn't I hope to be alone?! Maybe not after happy days!!!

Tomorrow, I need to cook to fill my quota! I hope everything goes fine.

How was your holidays?!

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Happy New Year 2009

Hello! I hope everyone is doing fine.
This new year's holidays are passing very fast! We have only 3 days left until the first day of work.

As usual, I cooked new year's food (Osechi) on the 31st. It took me a day to complete it... whew! We had it for our brunch and dinner today with white zoni soup. Somehow, I was so drowsy all day long that I took a nap until evening.





Then we went to hatsumoude (new year's visits to shrine). There we pray for a wish to come true. My wish is always the same. There is nothing more valuable than staying healthy!!!

Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2009 ;)

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Kobeya Restaurant

Hi! Tonight we had a dinner at Kobeya Restaurant because I had some cash voucher which I won the other day. Kobeya is famous for its homemade bread and there are many bakery in various places. They also have restaurants and I love their all-you-can-eat salad bar and freshly-baked breads!


Anyway, it took us 3 days to clean our house but still not thorough enough... I haven't been cooking properly since Christmas because I was really busy doing other stuff!!! Maybe on the 31st, I will cook something. I need to prepare for osechi-ryori again! This year, I bought a nice set of tsukudani (fish boiled in soy sauce: the image on the right), so I can't wait to pack ;)

Okay, I think this is going to be my last post for this year.
Thank you all for reading. Also, I want to thank you for those who always leave me comments. You made my days!!!

See you next year!!!

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2008 Japan Figure Skate Championships: Mao Asada

I am off my culinary stuff, but I love watching figure skating, especially the ladies! Yesterday was short and today was free of 2008 Japan Figure Skate Championships. Of course the highlight was Mao Asada. Unfortunately, she was at the 2nd place yesterday, but she won it today with her nerves of steel! It was her third consecutive championship victory which she has aimed for this year.

I like her when she says she will bring the best out of herself. She is only 18, but her inner strength is built strong! Amazing!!!

Changing my story, I printed out my new year's card today. I need to send them out soon so they'll arrive on January 1st!!!

Tomorrow, I have to do the rest of the cleaning. I hope I could finish it by tomorrow...

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Merry Christmas!

Hi! We are having a warm Christmas this year!!! The temp is going up and down daily. Today, the high was 59F (15C) but it will go down to 44F (7C) tomorrow.

These are some dishes I made this year for Christmas.


My boyfriend is still busy. He came home late last night and left home early this morning. He liked the Gucci tie that I gave him and wore it this morning ;)

Christmas is almost end. Now there are only 6 days left this year. I believe time flies...

Happy Merry Christmas!

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BBQ Chicken - Korea's No.1 Chicken Restaurant

New Year holidays are coming in 3 more days! I can't wait!!!

Yesterday we had lunch at BBQ Chicken - Korea's No.1 Chicken Restaurant. They are located very close to our home, but we haven't been there ever since they opened in May this year! We had grilled salmon sandwich, fried chicken and avocado sandwich, crispy fried chicken, and soy sauce based fried chicken! They were all great ;) They sumptuously fry them with olive oil, so all the fries weren't greasy!!! I found that there are some branches in the US and Singapore, too. Hope you can find one in your area.

After lunch, we cleaned our house a little bit. I think we need 2 more days to clean. As always, I couldn't throw away that much...

I wrote to merce's reply, but I was out of luck at the company year-end party on Monday. It was very hot in the morning that I sweated through my brand new dress. Then the temp dropped and it got very cold with wind and rain at night that my boots got wet. Unfortunately, I didn't win anything at the party game... The stars were in my favor, though :( I took some pics with my cell. This is how the party looks like. Boring, right? Ha-ha!!!

I can't say it loud, but this year we aren't doing anything for Christmas... My boyfriend is busy and I just came back from the gym! But I got pretty cool Gucci tie for him at the outlet store near station. Also, I bought some Christmas food items which were at a discount of half-price. No cake to save calories! Last minute but better than nothing, right?

This December is so busy that I couldn't write anything about my Christmas recipe... Maybe tomorrow, I will list what I made recently for Christmas!!!

Oh no... I think I am unlucky with money today... I received back my flu shot refund document because there was a flaw. Also, I need to pay for annual adjustment. I never had a minus adjustment!!!

Snap out of it! Enjoy the eve ;)

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