tofu "cheese"

Tried a new (to me) recipe that turns tofu into "cheese"

Recipe from Asajikan

200 grams firm tofu

2 chili peppers

2 cups olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

dried herbs: parsley, oregano, basil, rosemary

Set the tofu onto a paper towel with a weight on top to drain (at least 2 hours)

Cut into 1 centimeter squares and put into a 500 milliliter glass jar.

Add the chili peppers

Add the oil, salt and herbs.

Soak in refrigerator for at least 2 days.

Keeps for 5 days.

NOTES: I have a tofu container that has a removable strainer basket within the container, (which I bought at the 100 yen store many moons ago), so I put my tofu into this with some paper towel and a weight on top and had it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.

Then I cut the tofu into cubes and put it into jars.

I filled each one using only a total of 3/4 cup olive oil.

Then I added 3 shakes of this herb mix into each jar and used a total of 1/2 teaspoons of salt.

It is not as firm as the marinated feta I have bought in the past and doesn’t taste like cheese, but it is a very inexpensive way to make this salad 

Also, if you cannot have dairy I think this is a nice substitute.

With the leftover oil, I will mix it with vinegar to make dressing and/or use the oil whenever I cook.

Next time, I would mix the salt, herbs and oil before adding to the tofu.

I would definitely make this again.

this and that

The sunset last Friday.

Do you listen to the lyrics of songs playing in the supermarket?

I do, especially if they are in English.

So I was kinda shocked to hear the lyrics of this song by Lou Reed.

Huge kara mandarins...super sweet!

Tokyo people...Caught this man sitting on his ladder in deep thought.

First time catching these electricians changing two transformers at the same time.

Tokyo's numbers are going up, but the government is also considering not having to wear masks outside.

To be honest at the beginning of the pandemic I was kinda anti-mask, but now I don't think I could go without it.

Some of the Southern areas of Japan have started their rainy season, it will be a matter of time when we start ours.

Have a safe weekend.

tuesday

Tuesday, I saw a crow on the electric pole pecking away at something.

I thought he might be bullying the sparrows that live in the electric pole, but I saw something that looked "wet" and that was kinda swaying...it kinda looked like a bone of sorts...

And then with my phone's camera this is as close as I could get.

The thing that is hanging down does look like bones, maybe of a frog?! ew

But the dark thingy that is smushed into the metal shaft above kinda looks like a bird or as Satoshi said, looks like "doo doo".

Whatever it is, I hope it won't fall on me when I pass under it...

or you will be able to hear me scream where you are if it does....ha!

UPDATE: Wednesday afternoon, it is gone...eep! at least it won't fall on me or anyone else...

I guess I should also be thankful that the crow didn't leave it on my lanai....

reminiscing

There used to be a gadget that I had on this blog that would bring up posts on the same date but different years...

Eventually, blogger stopped allowing us to use it, or the people who created the gadget stopped updating it…I can’t remember which.

Anyway, I didn’t have anything to post, so I manually looked up these, and thought you might enjoy reminiscing...

One year ago...we were checking out Bakurry

Eight years ago, it was the first Mother's Day without mom.

Fourteen years ago we shared this article.

noriten

Have you eaten noriten before?

Pieces of nori that have a fried crunchy batter on one side.

Most times there is a sweet salty sauce on it too.

I was surprised to see it in the pre-made food (sozai/okazu) area of the supermarket.

We had this as part of our pupu party during Golden Week.

sad

Was going to get my hair colored on Friday and as I waited for the mall to open, I checked out the store directory and noticed that the shop's name was gone...

So, when the mall opened I went to the 7th floor where the shop is/was located and noticed that they closed last month...boo!

I hadn't been getting my hair colored monthly like I had pre-pandemic, so I wasn't aware they were closing.

On the way home, I bought this cream type coloring thingy.

Should only take 10 minutes to color and I can do it whenever I want.

Hope it isn't too messy.

I checked online and luckily they do have other franchise shops nearby, but for now I’ll try this.

this and that

Saw this cute dog waiting for his owner.
 

It was our first time seeing "Kiki's Delivery Service" and enjoyed it.

It was also our first time seeing "Breakfast at Tiffany's" but we thought the story line was all over the place and confusing

My latest weakness...Doritos under Family Mart's private brand and only 108 yen (tax included) ...eep.

Have a safe weekend.

children's day

This is the first Golden Week since the pandemic that there have been no restrictions (no state of emergency).

So, "everyone" is out and about.

Every night there have been reports showing the crowds and traffice jams.

We've been laying low because...1) I don't like crowds

2) I don't like crowds.

Tried this kashiwa mochi filled with sweet bean paste and a whole kuri (chestnut) from Ookuniya.

Delicious (and huge!)

Some of the flowers we saw on the way to Ookuniya.

Satoshi goes back to work tomorrow.

Hope you are having a great week.
 

around senzokuike

In 2019, the Katsu Kaishu Memorial Museum opened up to the public where the Seimei Bunko Library used to be on the grounds of the Senzokuike Park.

We went to check it out today.

There were many videos and artifacts explaining the life of Katsu Kaishu, who founded the Japanese Navy, and who was a peacemaker.

Loved the tile!

Katsu Kaishu and his wife are buried next to the museum.

Nearby is Myofukuji.

Super peaceful.

Down the street is Yukigaya Hachiman Shrine.

Shusseishi : stone to pray for success

Before becoming yokozuna, sumo wrestler Taiho, taught some children sumo in this area.

Then, in 1959, when Yukigaya Hachiman Shrine was built, and Taiho was promoted to yokozuna, he donated this shusseishi to the shrine.

Pretty flowers.

Lots of koi nobori decorated by children in the area.

Many had wishes and prayers written on them.

It was nice to walk around and get out and about.

Katsu Kaishu Memorial Museum

2-3-1 Minamisenzoku

Ota, Tokyo

Phone: 03.6425.7608

Closed Mondays

Hours: 10:00-18:00

Admission: 300 yen (adults), 100 yen (children up to Junior high age)

musashiya

Two doors or so down from Kaei is Musashiya.

Most of their items on their menu can be taken out, so we did just that on Sunday.

Sweet sour meat balls and tamagoyaki (rolled omelette)...980 yen (tax included).

It also came with some simmered konnyaku and veggies.

I enjoyed the sauce because there were nice pieces of takenoko (bamboo shoots) in it.

Lots of rice!

Satoshi ordered the double yakiniku....1000 yen (tax included).

His meal looked like it had quite a lot of food too.

Our food came out pretty quick and was still warm even after we walked home.

We look forward to trying other things on their menu and hopefully eat there in the future.

Musashiya

2-6-12 Higashiyaguchi

Ota, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3759.6341

Closed: Tuesdays & Fridays

Hours: 11:30-14:00 (lunch), 17:00-20:15 (dinner)
*cash only 

ryushi memorial hall

About 30 minutes walking from where we live is the Ryushi Memorial Hall.

Artist Kawabata Ryushi, donated his artwork and house to the Ota Ward after he passed away.

The admission is 200 yen for adults and once you get past the snarky guy at the front desk, you can enjoy the different art pieces that they have on display.

The pieces change during the year depending on what they choose to display.

There were several pieces that I enjoyed but we weren’t allowed to take photos of the artwork.

One was what looked like clouds but were kannon (peace deities). ..if I find it online, I’ll post it here.

Across the street from the hall is where Ryushi Kawabata lived.

You can walk around the property.

It was beautiful.

I'm glad we got to check out this "museum" and learn about Ryushi Kawabata.

Ryushi Memorial Hall

4-2-1 Chuo

Ota, Tokyo

Phone: 050.5541.8600

Closed Mondays

Hours: 9:00-16:30

Admission: 200 yen (adults up to 65 years old), 100 yen (children 6 and over), free 65 year old and children under 6

(photo from Ryushi Memorial site)  p.s. I found the painting online.  It is called "hanatsumikumo" (Flower picking clouds).

If you click on it, I hope you can see the details.