jugoya

Monday night was jugoya, which is literally "the 15th night".

I've written about this before here.

The moon was beautiful but the humidity was still awful.

I'm definitely wishing for some cooler weather.

furoku

Oh my gosh, the weather went from comfortable to totally miserably hot and humid. The sun feels like a broiler.

I don't know why I even put make-up on my face, it just starts to drip off as soon as I go outside (sometimes even before I go out).

When I go to the supermarket, I am just dripping with perspiration. They say this weather should only last this week.

I hope so.

Anyway, also with the new issue of "Elle a Table" was a furoku (freebie), a furoshiki with handles.

This furoshiki is 70 cm x 70 cm.

Perfect if you are bringing something over to a pot luck or even out to a picnic.

I hope to use it the next time I go on a picnic, probably when the weather gets cooler though.

coedo

Coedo is a brewery in Saitama prefecture...this particular beer is called "Ruri".

It is a 5% alcohol pilsner...delicious with spicy foods and easy to drink.

Satoshi recently received this from a co-worker. (Thank you!)

remembering

10 years ago, I moved from Hawaii to Japan. It was during this year that we travelled to NYC and also to Tohoku.

Today is the 10th anniversary of a tragic disaster...what everyone calls 9.11.

It is also the 6th month anniversary of another tragic disaster, the one in the Tohoku area of Japan.

Though one was man-made and one was natural...both carry helpless feelings in my heart.

While I do not know anyone personally who died or who is missing, I feel for their families.

Sending out hugs.

random eats (drinks)

Some things I've been eating (and drinking) since I returned to Japan...Drinks...this Tropicana boxed juice.

Last year, I tried a similar item. It had mango, pineapple, grapefruit & papaya, which I wrote about here.

This year the blend is pineapple, lychee, apple, grapefruit, lemon...I like that the lychee flavor is really prominent.

The other day Satoshi had a dentist appointment so while I waited for him, I had this...a Chocopresso at St. Marc Cafe...370 yen (about US$3.70)

Espresso topped with steamed chocolate milk and a dollop of whipped cream, this was good but I wish this place had wi-fi, I could see myself spending more time here.

A strawberry smoothie made by a popular young woman's magazine, "Hanako" and Ohayo, a beverage company.

This was good, lots of strawberry bits in there and not too sweet.

Eats...For dinner, we've been having some spicy foods. The daytime is still rather hot, but surprisingly (and I'll probably jinx myself by saying this) the nights are rather cool and comfortable.

The other night we had goma-iridofu (soy bean curd with sesame seeds) topped with okra (splash of shoyu), and veggies (eringi, corn, red bell pepper, eggplant) with a miso butter sauce.

The original recipe calls for minced pork, but whenever I want to cook it without meat, I just saute the veggies in a little oil then used the measurements for the sauce.

You can find the original recipe here.

Another spicy dish was curry. I usually don't use the roux that comes in a box because most have lard or shortening in them.

I found half a box in my pantry so I wanted to use it up.

This one was really spicy! Made by House Foods, it is called Spicy Blend and the spice level is 5, which is the hottest...talk about mouth on fire.

This photo is of the curry when we had it as leftovers, I put it over spaghetti noodles...mouth still on fire.

Corn from Hokkaido...so sweet.

Butterfinger Snackerz...whenever I go to Hawaii, I always pick up different candies, stuff I can't get in Japan.

This was good, little butterfinger pillows. Nice and crispy.

I also tried Island Princess' Choco Mochi, a chocolate covered arare made in Hawaii...these were bloomed because of the heat but still just as good.

Not only do I bring back candy but snacks too... Island Princess' Royal Crunch...caramel corn, chocolate covered caramel corn and mac nuts...sweet but yummy!

Island Princess' Mochi-Pop...caramel corn with arare (rice crackers)...sweet salty delish!

Lunch at Chabuton because Satoshi just watched the movie "Tampopo" for the first time and needed to soothe a craving for ramen.

It was quite hot this day, so I ordered their Wafu hiyashi torisoba which didn't look like the picture on their menu but tasted oh so good.

Chicken steamed tender, cold noodles, cucumber, sliced radish, grated daikon and myoga (a type of ginger) with a shoyu-based sauce.

Dinner at Chaina...seafood and chingensai (bok choy) sauteed in XO sauce (a spicy seafood sauce)...800 yen (about US$8)

This neighborhood place always serves food that is good, only thing is that the chef cooks alone, so the food does take some time.

Satoshi's at work today, what have you been eating?!

a different kinpira

I bought the latest issue of "Elle a Table" and as I was flipping through it, this recipe caught my eye because I like cashews...

A variation of kinpira.

I think if you search my blog for kinpira, a couple of variations will appear.

Anyway, I looked at the list of ingredients and had everything, so that is what I tried making last night.

Jakko, eggplant & nuts Kinpira
adapted from "Elle a Table Sept 2011" : for 2 servings

1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
pinch of dried sliced chili pepper

1 medium sized eggplant, cut in half then sliced thinly
2 small eringi, sliced thinly

10 grams jakko (small dried anchovy)
1/4 cup cashews, unsalted

1/2 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tablespoon shoyu
1.5 tablspoons sake (rice wine)

In a heated pan, add the oil and chili pepper
Add the veggies and toss to coat with the oil
Cook until all veggies are cooked through
Add the jakko and cashews, toss well
Add the last three ingredients and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated

NOTES: This was good, though I think I would add the nuts at the end instead, they got a bit "soggy" with the liquid and I think I would add a little more chili too.

I'm making this again, maybe using other types of veggies like bell pepper and/or carrots.

It's Friday, have a good weekend!

whoa?!

While I was away, I had these bottles with strings in it "feed" my plants. I think I've told you about these before.

Satoshi doesn't really have a green thumb and usually kills the plants whenever I go to Hawaii, so I figured that if these feeders fed them, they would have a chance to live. All Satoshi does is re-fill the bottles every week.

Well, I went to check the lanai the other day and guess what?!...I guess this plant was really thirsty, its roots made its way into the feeder string and down into the bottle...dunno how I'm going to clean this one unless I cut off these roots...

At least all the other plants are alive...

UPDATE: I cut the main root that was attached to the string...hope to get the roots out of the string next...