Sunday, October 11, 2009

I made NABE!

Nabe is Japanese stew. I posted about it before when I had the Nabe Party with my Chorus Club.

But this was my first time to make Nabe by myself!

What's wonderful about Nabe is that whatever veggies or meat you like, you can put in!


I think the soup base flavor is the most important ingredient of Nabe. I chose a salt-chanko soup base. It's one part base and two parts water.
For my veggies and meat, I chose shredded pork, Chinese cabbage, carrots, and tofu.

Common ingredients include shitake mushrooms, inoki mushrooms, and long green onions.




Since I live alone, what I made is called Hitori-Nabe, meaning Nabe for One.
So all that on the cutting board fit into this pot!




I am not sure the "proper" way is to put stuff into the pot, but I chose to put the meat and carrots on the bottom and let the cabbage and tofu be on top.
My reasoning was that the carrots would cook thoroughly and be tender and the tofu would absorb all the flavor from the steam.




And finally, nabe is a STEW. So it should be cooked on low heat and simmered for a long period.
So after 20 minutes, I had dinner! AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!!!


My new winter dish is NABE! Next time, I am going to try a kimchi soup base, which is Korean spicy pickled cabbage.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Silver Week (Sunday)

Since I am shutup in my apartment due to a typhoon, I have had unexpected free time. YAY. So this means I can do more uploading of pictures.

Wow... my English has gotten so bad.

Please follow this link to see pictures from Silver Week (Sunday)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2108524&id=71004761&l=27f8af4901

You're welcome.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Atagawa

I spent an awesome weekend (back in August) with the Sasahiras at their second home in Izu-Atagawa!!! It's in Shizuoka prefecture, but it's on the far size of the eastern peninsula so it took me just as long to get there by train as it took them to drive there by car from Tokyo! Ha!

Please follow this link to see the pictures.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2106449&id=71004761&l=f1ac2ab646

Even if you do not have Facebook, you can see these pictures.
Themes: Fireworks, Beach, Nature, Food (of course!)

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Apartment 2.0

Before...





AFTER!


Happy Anniversary in Japan to me! New bed set + reading lamp + tatami chair.

Thanks goes to Nitori, the amazing home decor store!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Earthquakes! Tsunamis! Typhoons! Oh My!

Here's a piece of advice: If you are looking for a thrill, move to Japan. If you want to live into your golden years, move someplace else.
Here are some of the "thrills" I have been experiencing this week.

Tuesday Morning.
The earthquake shook my apartment so much I had to crawl on hands and knees to hide under my computer desk in the spare room. I think the quake lasted 8-10 seconds.



When the quake was over, a tsunami warning came on the news. Apparently, it amounted to nothing. But hey, I am a first-timer on these things so just say the words "tsunami warning" and I will start panicking.


Thursday morning.
Another earthquake in the ocean that did not affect my area, thankfully, but still close enough to be a cause for worry.

Thursday evening.
Earthquake No. 2 of the day. My apartment shook a little and I dove under the futon blanket/mattress that I had just brought in from airing. Lasted maybe 5 secs.

You may have also heard on the news that Japan has suffered landslides from these earthquakes and due heavy rainfall in the west. And don't forget our seasonal typhoons... I think No. 9 just passed to the south of Japan this week.

I used to live in Tornado Alley; now I live in Natural Disaster 3-Ring Circus of Fire.

Did I mention Mt. Fuji is right outside my window?

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

How I know I live in Japan


1) I was woken up at 5:07 am by a 6.6 earthquake.
2) A tsunami warning was issued for a 0.5 m prediction.
3) A typhoon is making its way east to the south of the main islands.
4) In August, the temperature is in the mid 90s and work keeps the A/C at a "cool" 83.

While I have sick-days, can I get a "scared out of my pants by natural disasters" day?

http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/20090811051326391-110507.html