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Holidays bring families together, gifts around the Christmas tree and sweet carols. Or candle lighting of the Menorah with loved ones. In Japan, Christmas is typically a commercial holiday; so, Christmas cake appears. (Bestsellers tend to have tons of strawberries, whipped cream and cute chocolates.)
Keeping with the good cheer of the season, I want to share some sweet news.
1. For you or the foodies in your life, click this link to a... Read More |
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“If you do not waste, you will never have lack.” (無駄なければ、不足がなし) The Japanese version of “waste not, want not.”
Canned pumpkin and chocolate candies are always purchased in abundance during the holidays. (What’s the point of a stocking if Santa doesn’t deliver chocolates?) Start the violins…luscious chocolates are the typical “leftovers” from the holidays at this Ninja Baker's home.... Read More |
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A Mother's Love, Miracles & The Breakaway Bakery
A mother’s love for her daughters miraculously saved her own life. Exhausted and without energy, Janice Lavine continued to care for her children. Including trips to the doctor. When one daughter was given a list of allergies and foods to avoid, Janice kept her company. She joined in on the restricted regime. Janice suddenly found the prescribed gluten-free, dairy free... Read More |
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Clap your hands if you believe in fairies! Sugar plum fairies from The Nutcracker! Ballet in Japan is a big after-school activity. Many Japanese moms chauffeur or take trains with their ballerina princesses to class. So, The Nutcracker is a familiar figure on stage and in stores at Christmas time in Japan.
Need a Nutcracker ballet refresher? In a nutshell (tee hee): Toys around the Christmas tree come alive at midnight. Including... Read More |
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Once Upon a Time in the faraway land of ancient Japan, families made their own miso. Soybeans and sea salts were tossed in with rice. Barley and wheat were used to make miso, too. (Rice was pretty pricey for a few centuries.) Japanese koji (fermented cooked rice and soybeans) was key to the storage of miso during snowy winters in the olden days. (Way before refrigeration and supermarkets.)
Each home had their unique take and flavor of... Read More |
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Halloween is now a booming business in Japan. Like Christmas, the sweets shops concoct cute treats for the holiday. The holiday is strictly commercial. Halloween costume parties (and Christmas parties) are ever popular. Still, it’s just a reason to celebrate and have a good time.
There is no trick or treating on Halloween. Growing up in Tokyo, my friends and I would trick or treat in “gaijin” (foreign) compounds. The lucky... Read More |
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Under the Tuscan Sun, 20th Anniversary Edition, Lemony Honey Lavender Glazed Japanese Yuzu Cake
Anniversaries bring reflection and hopefully celebration. Reading Frances Mayes' 20th birthday edition of Under the Tuscan Sun delivered both reflection and celebration to this reader. Long before Under the Tuscan Sun was a blockbuster movie; I picked up the first edition of the book. Journeying with Mayes the first time was wonderful. ... Read More |
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Yuzu is the elixir sought after by Japanese cuisine maestros. Like lemon, the Japanese citrus, brightens any savory or sweet. Just in case you’ve not been introduced, yuzu is the citrus cousin of lemon and lime. Yuzu produces a bigger pucker. Containers of yuzu juice line the pantries of home cooks to gourmet chefs in Japan. Yuzu liqueur is pretty spectacular, too. Think Limoncello. Just better. To quote the husband: “It’s just... Read More |
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日本語での説明はスクロール・ダウンすればご覧頂けます。
Like a phantom leaving quiet clues and chills, autumn is once again a reality. Halloween, the celebration of ghosts and goblins is near. After departing platform 9¾ the magical train of time is heading for Harry Potter’s Hogwarts-esque world of Halloween tricks and treats.
Do you believe in magic? I do. Numerous complaints have been filed by friends stating “gluten-free products are not tasty!... Read More |
