new addition (to the cookbook shelf...)

I wanted to use up the pesto that I made, so today's breakfast was an omlette with chopped onions and pesto in it, tomatoes on top. Plus, a scoop of rice, and sliced apple.

While on my walk to the grocery store, it began to drizzle, I "happened" to be near a bookstore, so I ran in....This is my new addition to my cookbook shelf ,(I counted and have 80 Japanese ones and 18 English ones. I am a sucker for the kind of cookbooks which have "good enough to eat" photos in them.) a book about dark chocolate confections called "Otona no Valentine", which means Grown-up Valentine. It is written by Shigeno Sawako. In Japan, bitter or dark chocolate is considered to be for adult or grown-up tastes (otona no aji). The recipes look rather simple, but the photos!!

Wouldn't you be sold if you saw something like this? (I "bought" it; hook, line and sinker...)

A little early tidbit about Valentines Day in Japan. The girls give the guys chocolates on Valentines Day (unfair if you ask me..) There is the "honmei" (real feelings) and "giri" (obligation) "choco" (they shorten the word for chocolate to choco here). For example, you would give your boss "giri" choco (unless you like him...), but give a guy you really like "honmei" choco. A lot of department stores bring in high quality chocolates and chocolatiers from around the world during this time of year (Girls, this is the time to buy your own high quality chocolates!! reason why in a minute....) If the guy likes you back, then on March 14, they would give you something white, like white chocolate(eeww!...although diamonds are sort-of white aren't they??), this day is called "White day". (As you can tell, I'm not a big fan of white chocolate...)

I wanted to show you some of my kitchen appliances. My kitchen is a really "cute" space. Only 1 tatami mat (a little less than 1.62 sq. m. (17 sq. ft.)) big. My counter space is the size of an 8-1/2" by 11" piece of paper in the U.S. or an A4 size (210mmx297mm) sheet in Japan.

Some of you have seen some of the interesting appliances (because you've visited) that I have in my kitchen, but for those who haven't...here is my "easy-bake" oven. Too small for a 9"x 13" pan to go in and bake nicely. The element only heats in certain areas of the oven. Round pans bake well (because the turntable is turning evenly below the element...Square pans can fit but, there is a ledge which props the pan higher than it should be, thus burning the side closest to the element.) The other functions, such as fish grilling, yakiimo(roast sweet potato) and popcorn are great!! And it is all programmed into the key pad on the side, just press the food you are cooking and the time and way of cooking is set for you (no thinking! only trouble is if I try to cook somewhere else, I won't really know the time or how to cook the food!!).

Next, is my refrigerator. I love this one best...because you can open it from the right side.

And open it from the left side....I also have a plastic sheet in front of the refrigerator shelves to stop the cold from escaping when opening the door.