Setsubun is coming...

It really isn't even that big a holiday, but maybe it is, because when I went to my favorite park this statue of an ONI had been erected and many signs advertising the bean throwing festival to banish the evil spirits.

Seems like just yesterday I was posting a photo of the Setsubun sweet.

Who is that big guy standing there.

My Winter Holiday

Winter Holiday 2013-2014

First Max and I went to Korea. This was Christmas dinner. We had a big seafood lunch where they boiled everything alive (including octopus, mussels, sea snails, scallops, and more) in front of us. Then went to Max's grandma's house. Then we went to his aunts house and had a big steak dinner, the next day we finally went back to his parents house and had a fried and grilled chicken dinner date with gelato dessert. Little did I know I had some sort of brewing gut virus which left me spewing the next day. I don't think it was anything I ate but maybe it could have been. It was short lived, only a few hours, but I spent the last 3 days of the trip in bed. It started at the shopping center which was the biggest most crowded most incovenient place it could have started at. I made the most nobel effort to keep a street food lunch of spicy rice cakes and a corndog and sundae down, but when I could hold it no longer we got of one bus stop early and I exploded into a bag I found in a restroom, which we then stuffed into a trash can. 

Here's a picture (of the seafood stew)

 You cannot appreciate the sheer size of this from the photo. Let's just say this could serve 4-5 people or more. Probably more. There were three pots of it at the party. That's a whole chicken in the pot. But I assume very healthy.

And my chicken dinner: 

We stopped by the sea and ate some dried and slightly fermented fish

It tastes like butter.

We had a fancy tea time. That's a cute little tea bag! 

We went back to Japan, feeling sick I had to wake up at 5:00 to get to the airport, but we got back and my friend Lindsay came to visit! It was great! I struggled to go to the shrine food fair where I got a chocolate covered banana like every year in Japan. And saw so many people of my city. Surprisingly I didn't see any students, but I did see one out shopping with his dad for snacks on New Years Eve. 

Choco Banana Action

(and Choco Pineapple) 

And then, the obligatory character Castella! 

Thanks for coming Lindsay.

My camera battery was dead so I was only able to get the highlights :D

From Heike Monogatari

(From Heike Monogatari)

When did my heart learn such ways,

of late I think so longingly of

palace companions I once knew

The past, too, has vanished like a dream

My days by this brushwood door 

cannot be long in number

Kureimon-in was bathed in tears, 

overwhelmed by memories of the past and thoughts of the future

Pretty much sums up how I've been feeling these days... 

Why

These are poems I wrote in my journal that I read when I was in college.

But I didn't forget them.

Why should my heart

remain stained

by blossoms,

when I thought 

I had tossed all that away? 

Trailing in the Wind

Fuji's Smoke

fades into the sky

destination unknown

just like my own thoughts

They are Japanese poems. I don't have the translations and I didn't even write the author's name down, so for asian studies scholars out there, let me know if you know who it was.

Feeling very much like this today... things abandoned, things I must abandon, things which can't be changed. Which just makes me think of AAA Wisdom poem. Even though I'm not addicted to anything. Except maybe tonkatsu, chocolate, and darjeeling tea. And kimchi.

That is all. 

At my Favorite Sushi

Bicycle in perfect fall lighting. 

My favorite sushi restaurant.

My students laughed at me because it was expensive, because double nigiri and sushi plates are not a dollar a plate. Actually, compared to American prices its cheap. And, when I go there I spent about 10 dollars. When I went to the cheap place, I spent the same amount because the fish to rice ratio was terrible. Also, they do not have my favorites at the cheap restaurants.

Anyway, I patted my belly and told my students that everything I own is cheap, and well, at least my belly and my body is expensive. This gave them all a good laugh and they sent me messages following up asking me if I ate my fill. They are cute. Those were adults, by the way. 

Perfect Fall Days

Perfect Fall Days are Here! 

After a typhoon. There still is a blue sky underneath all that smog.

These pictures are already outdated, the rice plants are starting to yellow a bit. 

A nostalgic view. This used to be the view on my way home from work. But since we moved far away, this is no longer the road "home". 

Welcome fall in Japan! Goodbye sticky sweaty days. 

Easy Mexican Tortilla Soup

Easy Mexican Tortilla Soup 

Ingredients needed:

1 1/2 cup salsa (homemade or store bought, in desired level of spiciness)

1-2 fresh tomatoes

1 onion

1-3 stalks of cilantro/coriander

1-3 stalks of green onion/scallion chopped thin

1/2 container of black olives

1 container black beans

1/3 cup kernel corn

6-8 mushrooms, crimini or white button

Favorite type of protein: chicken, beef, pork, tofu, 1 package

1 container of broth to complement the protein: chicken, beef, pork, or vegetable

Also tasty/complementary additions: spinach, zucchini, bell peppers

Serves: 5-6 or 2 people for 2-3 meals.

Toppings: lime, cheese, tortilla chips to taste (chips will give the), chopped cilantro/coriander to taste, thin cut green onion 

How to make:

-Chop tomatoes, black olives, onions, mushrooms and meat/protein as necessary into bite size portions

-cook meat with onion, mushrooms and garlic powder if on hand, also salt and pepper to taste and sparing with oil (Approx 10 minutes)

-add stock and water 2-3 cups when the meat is browned and the flavors have been activated

-Add beans, salsa, olives, kernel corn and any other heat-sturdy vegetables (no lime, green onion, spinach)

-Cook 20 minutes

-Add quick cooking/garnish vegetables: green onion, cilantro, squeeze of lime will give a pleasant flavor.  Also allow picky eaters to choose these garnishes for themselves. Also have plenty of chips and cheese slices on hand to be added to the soup according to taste and needs of each eater! 

ENJOY! :) Nutritious and delicious!