Ad on Foods

Hello. It is still cold and raining outside today. On such day, I prefer to go to work than stay at home! Hope it clears up by the weekend.

Due to the recession, consumers are holding the line on spending. What kind of sales strategies do you see at stores?

Last week, I saw on TV that the company called Plus Impact has launched a new service called "Ad on Foods" in December 2008. It is designed to print ads on discount stickers on foods. The sticker is called ure-seal (happy sticker). The discount amount is about 30yen (30cents) and the cost of ads are covered by advertisers. In this way, both consumers and advertisers can be happy!

I haven't seen this sticker on food yet at stores, but I hope it helps us all save money someday.

This is all for today.
Have a good one!

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White Strawberries

Hi! The high today is 50F (10C) and raining every day! It seems like the weather went back to the winter!

Few days ago, I saw white strawberries called "hatsukoi-no-kaori" (scents of the first love) on TV. It is now available at $10 per piece at department stores!
Those berries are created by Miyoshi Agritech Co. in Yamanashi prefecture. They spent more than 10 years to create white berries which are as sweet and succulent as the red ones! Despite the high prices, they are a hit with consumers and used at hotel restaurants as well! The company says they can't keep up with production!!!
Very interesting, but I don't think I'm gonna get one to try out. It is way too expensive!

Anyway, there are too many stuff that I cannot go far enough to purchase. For instance, at the gym, they sell personal trainer program ($60 per hour) for people who can't make a change by themselves. Actually, my fat is not burning at all (it went almost back to the start), so I am thinking of taking this program, but still can't decide... Also, speaking of eyelash extensions, they sell mascara that you can wear over the extensions at $30, but this is too expensive for me to have it in addition. Moreover, the massage machine I wrote the other day, I still haven't decided to get it. They all are NOT necessary, so that is why I can't decide... I know.

However, my boyfriend bought me the juke tower for my Christmas present that he hasn't get me yet! Yay! But I just thought I should have asked him to buy something necessary... like L'OCCITANE products...
Anyway, it gonna arrive today, so I am looking forward to it ;)

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Sukiyaki

Hello. It is raining today. The forecast said this gloomy weather will last till next week. Too bad...

Yesterday, I cooked sukiyaki using the beef I won. It was really delicious!!!

Anyway, I have a very bad fortune today. This morning, my braces broke, I forgot my cell, the train delayed for 15 min, I heared that my cake I sent for the submission was hard when it arrived, and I lost the yodoran contest, which I really wanted to win. I somehow felt I'm gonna lose, because there is a certain rule that the same person won't win in a row... but kind of shocking if you make an effort, you know!!!

Hope the rest of my day ends peacefully :(

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Sukiyaki

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30min
Number of servings: 3-4

Ingredients:
400g (0.8lb.) thinly sliced beef
1 yaki-dofu (grilled tofu)
8 musubi shirataki (bundles of translucent konnyaku noodles)
6 shitake mushroom
2-3 long green onion
1 nama-fu (fu is made from wheat gluten which absorbs the broth)
200g (0.4lb.) shungiku (garland chrysanthemum)
beef fat (or cooking oil)
1 cup (200cc) warishita (commercially available sukiyaki sauce)
fresh raw eggs if desired

Quick recipe for "warishita": 1/3cup sake, 1/3cup mirin, 1/2 cup soysauce, 3tbsp sugar, 1/2cup dashi broth.

Directions:
1. Cut yaki-dofu into bite sized pieces. Boil musubi shirataki 2-3 minutes in order to skim the scum. Remove stems and cut shitake mushrooms into half. Cut long green onion into 7cm (2.5inches) slices on the diagonal. Cut nama-fu into bite sized pieces. Cut shungiku into half.

2. Melt beef fat in Nabe (large casserole) and move around to oil the entire base. Cook few slices of long green onion, add beef, cover and steam until half-cooked. Then remove the beef and set aside.

3. Add vegetables and "warishita", and simmer until half-tender. Then put back the beef and simmer until everything is done.



If desired, serve with beaten fresh raw eggs.

My original recipe in Japanese is here.
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We dip sukiyaki into beaten fresh raw eggs to eat!
I don't like raw eggs, though...

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