I get a lot of potatoes in my bi-monthly CSA box, so I have been making Small Potatoes in Sweet Sauce with fresh Ginger recipe quite a bit. It makes for a great and easy side dish. Small Potatoes in Sweet Sauce with fresh Ginger Recipe And since I freely admit to being a historyRead On >
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A Poetic Treat Called Ohagi (aka Botamochi)
Though many of them would deny it, the Japanese are notorious sweet-eaters who indulge in a multitude of cakes, most often during teatime. This penchant for snacking dates back to the early Edo period (1603-1867), when eating two large meals a day was the norm – repasts punctuated by endless sweets and cups of greenRead On >
Enjoying A Cherry Blossom Picnic Bento (Ohanami) At Home
A favorite Japanese past time is Hanami, or Japanese flower viewing celebrations. In this case, Sarah B. Hodge is back to talk about the viewing of Cherry Blossoms (sakura); needless to say, delicious foods and drinks are always a part of this! It’s Cherry Blossom Season in Japan 2020 has proven to be a strangeRead On >
Black Sesame Pudding
When my college-aged daughter was home this past summer, we explored a lot of Japanese places in the Bay Area. One hot day, we dropped by Uji Time Dessert in Berkeley, CA. I love their motto: “Our goal is simple – Think of us when you crave Japanese fusion style desserts.” They offer a wideRead On >
Rafutei: Okinawa’s Slow-Simmered Pork
I was lucky enough to visit Okinawa once and loved it! Here is one of my favorite recipes from there. Modern Okinawa cuisine is based on dishes enjoyed by the rulers of the Ryukyu dynasty, which controlled Okinawa from 1372 to 1879, and traditional island homecooking. Originally, royal Ryukyuan cuisine was served only during specialRead On >
Yuzu-Meyer Lemon Poundcake
I love all things citrus, and for the past year or so, I have been very captivated (okay obsessed) by yuzu (Japanese citron), which has such a delectable and aromatic citrus bouquet. Both the peel (fresh or dried) and juice can be used. It is used as a condiment in savory dishes such as nabemonos,Read On >
Uosuki: Fish Sukiyaki
Ask anyone about sukiyaki, and most will nod knowledgeably and say, “Ah, yes, a famous Japanese dish.” Mention Uosuki, though, and even most Japanese will react with a blank look. Uosuki is a form of fish sukiyaki, a famous regional dish from the Osaka area that originated on fishing boats in the Inland Sea. FreshRead On >
Nanbanzuke: Marinated Fried Fish from Nagasaki
Portuguese and Spanish missionaries started trickling into Japan to spread the teachings of Christianity near the end of the Muromachi era (1392-1567), and their first foothold in Japan was Nagasaki. The Japanese took to referring to all Europeans as Nanbanjin or “Southern barbarians,” and gradually the term “nanban” came to mean anything related to EuropeanRead On >
Yakitori: Skewered, Grilled, and Garnished (Part 2)
Walk out of almost any train station in Japan in the evening, look for a restaurant with an akachochin (red lantern) outside, and inside you’ll find groups of salaried workers talking, drinking, and consuming countless skewers of yakitori, this country’s version of shish kebab. There is something very seductive about the smell of meat grillingRead On >