typhoon malakas

It is only April and there is already a typhoon approaching.

Sign that global warming is real, yeah?!

Yesterday, I went to pick up food for the next couple of days.

Satoshi still needs to go to work though...

Stay safe everyone.

fish grill door

I have been wondering about the fish grill door.

I thought the door and the tray did not separate and also thought it was such a p.i.t.a. to wash because it did not separate.

And then, it "accidentally" separated, which is how I figured out that it “can” separate.

Since I do not have a manual for this gadget, I am glad I did not break it (since it isn't ours) and I now know that I can easily wash the tray now by separating the door and the tray.

Cool, yeah?! 

salad chicken

Salad chicken, as the Japanese call it…poached chicken in English, has been trending here for awhile now as a good way to get lean protein into your diet.

You can find them pre-made in the markets and convenience stores.

I’ve even seen fish versions called salad fish…ha!

I found a recipe online and tried making it.

Adapted from the internet

250 grams chicken breast, skinless

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons sugar

1 tablespoon sake (rice wine)

Poke holes into the meat with a fork.

Rub in the salt, sugar and sake.

Place chicken onto a plate and cover lightly with plastic wrap.

Zap for 6 minutes in a microwave at 500 watts.

Leave covered until cooled.

After it is cooled, you can shred or cut into slices.

NOTES: super easy and the meat comes out tender and moist.

Instead of rubbing in the salt, sugar and sake onto the chicken, I mixed the salt, sugar and sake together then "swished" the chicken in the liquid and then zapped it.

(If you don’t use a microwave, you can wrap the chicken in plastic wrap then put it into an airtight bag.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, then put the airtight bag with chicken in and turn the heat off, leave in the pot until the water cools.)

I didn’t save the liquid but will the next time I make this since I read you can use the liquid like chicken broth.

I’m ready for salad weather.

CAUTION: when zapping the liquid overflows onto the turntable.

24544

About 1 hour 15 minutes walking from where we live is Kawasaki Daishi, a large temple in Kawasaki, Kanagawa.

It is a popular spot for hatsumode, the first prayers for the new year.

On the way, we saw a heron.

The Kawasaki River sluice gate which according to Satoshi isn’t in use.

Hello.

Kawasaki Daishi.

Daishi Park.

Lunch from Aideen Kebab.

Satoshi ordered his with garlic sauce while I ordered mine with non-spicy (more like a thousand island) sauce..550 yen (tax included)

So ono, with lots of cabbage.

But, it was so windy and it made for lots of flying cabbage...

Lots of daruma.

Lots of candy makers along this shopping street.

They get your attention by tapping a rhythm on their cutting boards...short video here (if you are viewing this at work, turn your sound down)

 

Tsuboyaki yakiimo...roasted sweet potato that is roasted in large ceramic pots from Amaiwa.

Beniharuka...so sweet!

Himeayaka...delicious.

They roast 4 different varieties and sell them depending on size.

The ones we bought were 500 yen (tax included) for each.

Both had slightly different textures but both were super sweet, tender and very moist.

I'm glad we got out and about, but I think I got sunburnt.

Amaiwa

2-1-2 Showa

Kawasaki, Kanagawa

Phone:080.8835.4619

Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays

Hours: 12:00-17:00

Aideen Kebab

1-12-18 Higashimonzen

Kawasaki, Kanagawa

Phone: 090.8486.1116

Closed Sundays, Wednesdays

Hours: 11:30-20:00

this and that

When I went to Le Petit Bonheur, I also checked out National, an import supermarket.

They have one shop near Azabu, and this one near Denenchofu.

I purchased "American" deodorant for summer...and a can of baked beans.

Would not like to have this parking space...

First freesia from the lanai.

Glad the bulbs I planted last year bloomed.

Love the fragrance!

Leftover nikujaga, turned into curry.

Just add some water (if your nikujaga does not have much liquid), your favorite curry, I used some garam masala and curry powder and added a slurry at the end.

We said goodbye to our kotatsu futon and mat (had to make space for Satoshi's stuff)

(We got rid of the kotatsu when we got our dining table back in 2018)

Still not sure what type of work Satoshi does, but he did say that they turn off the lights during lunch time (12:00-13:00), to save electricity.

I’ve heard many companies do this too...so he has to eat lunch in the dark...WT?!

Cyclamen, going strong since 2004-ish.

Temps forecast to go up to high 70s this weekend…eep!

Have a safe weekend. 

out for a walk

Monday, it rained all day, the temps went back to February temps!

Tuesday, it was gloomy and a little drizzly but I got out and about and went to Kugahara.

I love the parking area at the Tenrikyo church.

They have several large sakura trees.

Bummer most of the petals had fallen to the ground from the rain and wind.

Wednesday, was slightly sunny, slightly overcast...

As I went down the street to get some groceries, I went past the intermediate school.

Past a condo's camellias.

Huge camellia tree in front of a house.

I think this is witch hazel.

Cherry blossoms in front of Yasukata Shrine.

First time seeing the "terrace" seating in front of this coffee shop.

Thought it was cool that you could see the cherry blossoms flurry-ing from the "terrace".

There is one street nearby that a group of ladies take care of and they have all sorts of flowers and plants planted.

Ranunculus

Straw flowers

Not sure what all the different flowers are but it has been nice to be able to see them.

 

le petit bonheur

Been wanting to check out Le Petit Bonheur for some time now and finally got to do so on Friday.

I purchased the fruit tablet, pate de fruits & yuzugette (chocolate covered candied yuzu peel)

I love that the pate de fruits came with a flavor map to tell you what fruit flavors they were.

So delicious!

The fruit tablet was delicious as well. 

I chose the tablet made from dark chocolate and it had different dried fruits on it.

The yuzugette was delicious too. Covered with dark chocolate! 

The shop closes June to September, so I'm glad I got to try these.

I'll be back.

Le Petit Bonheur

6-28-6 Okusawa

Setagaya, Tokyo

Phone: 03.5760.6110

Closed: Sundays & Mondays

Hours: 11:00-17:00*check social media for days off & hour changes