Discover Osechi Ryori (2) Tazukuri – Baby Fish for Building Wealth

Posted on Dec 31, 2016 in Hiroko's Blog, Recipes

              How to make wealth with baby fish? Tazukuri is a dish in which tiny dried baby sardines are roasted in a skillet until crispy and fragrant (I mean fish fragrant), and flavored with sugar, shoyu and sake (rice wine). The direct translation of Tazukuri is to build nutritious and healthy soil. In the past baby sardines were used as a fertilizer in the rice paddies and vegetable fields. Eating these tiny fish at the beginning of...

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Discvoer Osechi Ryori (1) Kuromame for Health

Posted on Dec 31, 2016 in Hiroko's Blog, Recipes

                Every Japanese citizen starts a New Year with auspicious Osechi Ryori meal. Osechi Ryori is a celebration meal like the one enjoyed at Thanksgiving dinner. There is a whole set of rule of what to be served for the celebration. Osechi Ryori has many dishes in the meal. Each ingredient used is related to something which bring us luck, prosperity, health and happiness in the New Year. I have begun making Osechi Ryori dish...

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Latest News From Japan

Posted on Dec 30, 2016 in Hiroko's Blog

Here is some news from Japan on my latest stay just before the Christmas this year. Christmas has become a popular annual event. It is a necessity. No religious connection. Christmas-featured pastry, goods, gifts, Christmas tree, street light illuminations, songs related Christmas is everywhere. Christmas Eve Dinner has decided to be chicken thanks to Kentucky Fried Chicken’s decades long campaign. Restaurants (eat-in and take-out) feature and promote chicken Christmas...

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Hardy Winter Root Vegetable

Posted on Dec 6, 2016 in Hiroko's Blog, Recipes

Are you interested in winter root vegetables? Find a gobo burdock at your neighbor farmers market or food stores. You can make delicious kinpira dish at home. In Japan gobo is a long (20 inch), thin (1 ½ -inch in diameter at the thicker end), brown root vegetable. Locally grown gobo from the farmers market in my neighborhood is short and plump. Gobo in general has a pleasant crispiness and earthy taste. The flavor of this American cousin is much richer and tastier than the...

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