Christmas Cheer!

singing

Christmas is in full swing! This past Sunday evening a group of about 15-20 foreigners (and a few Japanese) got together and did some caroling downtown outside of the train station. My friends (a singer and guitarist) planned the event. They picked a song list and we stood in the snow and sang for the people passing by. Some stopped to watch, some took videos/pictures, and even some high school girls joined in with us!

As Buddy the Elf would say, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear!”

 

Dwindling Daylight

It has been months since I wrote a blog. So much went on in the summer I want to recap. I will try in coming weeks. I wrote a blog a year or two ago about winter. And I am back to write another one.

You know its becoming winter in Japan when:

Kotatsu

1. You bring out your kotatsu. Kotatsu’s are amazing tables with electric heaters attached under the blanket. A tent of warmth for your lower body.

Take your pick!

2. Haramaki (stomach wraps). Many Japanese people believe that you need to keep your stomach warm in order to stay healthy in the cold seasons. Haramakis are very popular. They are like tube tops for your tummy – but often have a pocket (like a kangaroo) where you can put hand warmers. These days, with their heightened popularity, they are sold in many colors.

warm up!

3. Hokkairo. These are the small heated packets. Often in America we only have them for hands. Here in Japan they sell boxes of these, in all different sizes, some with a sticky backing so you can attach it to your clothes (or the pocket of your haramaki). They also sell cute pouches for you to keep them in too! I want the mameshiba one (bean dog).

A bit similar to my totoro blanket

4. Hizakake (lap cover). This is a blanket for your lap. While driving or in the office, throw this baby over your legs and stay warm. They come in many colors and fabrics, but the most popular ones have characters on them. This is my first year with one – and as I type I have it on my lap – its amazing. Mine is the Giblhi animation character Totoro. As I look around the office I see Minnie Mouse as well as Stitch.

 

J-kids are too cute!

As a teacher in Japan, and probably anywhere, you are bound to receive tons of cute things. I always feel bad because I really do not have the space/place/or idea for what to do with it all. You feel bad throwing it out, so what to do.. I think we all struggle with that.

I was cleaning today and came across some cards I received from 5th and 6th grade classes at the end of last school year (in March).

Tesia Sensei

The Students

notes

Me

 

Using our noodles!

As you may know Japan has many delicious noodles, ramen, udon, soba…. This past weekend Makoto, two of my friends and I did a Soba Making Workshop. Soba is Japanese noodles made from buckwheat. It was very difficult. First we mixed the flour, added some water, followed the teachers instructions but we were always taking peeks of how our group was doing compared to others.

The set up

After enough mixture and then enough kneading we started rolling. After rolling it to a nice pizza sized circle, we wrapped it around the rolling pin and continued to roll, making the dough flatten even more. It was very fun.

rollin' rollin' rollin'

raw soba noodles

The final stage before boiling is very important – cutting the noodles. They are supposed to be very thin. First you place a board on top so you get straight lines and cut with a big knife. After we were finished our noodles were boiled, put in an ice bath and bone appetite!! Itadakimasu!

Let's Eat!

I also ate some soba soft serve ice cream after!!

 

Spring Growing

Aomori has finally started to get warmer so that means its time to start the garden!

A week ago Makoto and I went to his hometown in Hachinohe (about 2 hours from Aomori City) and used his mom’s large garden on the side of her house to plant some beans, zucchini and corn. We had a bbq with his sister and her two kids who helped us plant!

Planting Corn

Hopefully we will see growth soon!

This past weekend I worked on my garden at my home. So far I have planted – mini tomatoes, aiko tomatoes, green peppers, red peppers, shishito, eggplant, cucumber and basil and cilantro. Makoto is growing a couple types of flowers too.

my garden

 

Golden Japan

It has been a while since I have blogged and that is because of Golden Week and being busy.

In Japan there is a week in the beginning of May called Golden Week. It is a consecutive three days of holiday that Japanese people actually take off!! In the past I have used this golden opportunity to travel (last  year Vietnam, two years ago Philippines). But I always miss the famous Cherry Blossoms in full bloom.

This year I decided to stay in Aomori so I could see the Cherry Blossoms. Hirosaki is said to have the best cherry blossoms in Japan and they were great!

Night Blossoms

Castle

Blossoms and Mt Iwaki

Riding boats!

RIvers of pink petals

 

Cooking like woah!

With the cancellation of many of my activities and the discovery of foodgawker.com I recently have been a cooking/baking fool!

I have made an AMAZING carrot cake, and AMAZING pumpkin roll cake (boyfriend says the best thing I have made to date). And then I’ve tried a few more fun things.

Ricotta Gnocchi Pre-boil

The other day two of my friends came over and we made Ricotta Gnocchi. The recipe is so simple and does not even use potatoes! We will never buy gnocchi again and make these delicious ones. We tossed them in a pesto/spinach/chicken cream sauce.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Then the other day for dinner I made my childhood favorite ‘joes special’ (pasta/spinach/ground beef dish). As an appetizer I wanted to try a food gawker recipe I saw. Often when I go to the store I have seen Mascarpone cheese, and always thought it odd that Japan has that but like no other cheese. I had always wanted to make something – but not necessarily tiaramissu. So when I saw these Mascarpone Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, I thought yay! And that is what I made, they were really easy and delicious, and got rave reviews from Makoto. They will def be made again.  (sorry all pics are taken quickly with my cellphone, so no foodgawker quality)

Angry Birds Bento

Also, I have always been a fan of the cute character bentos that I have seen in Japan and wanted to try it. Makoto really likes the cellphone game Angry Birds and when I saw this bento I had to try it. Here is how it turned out – it was my first one, so its cute, but the flavor was just so-so.

And pineapple upside down mini cakes were also made this past week!

Pineapple Upside Down Mini Cakes

Tomorrow I want to make Raspberry Lemon bars that looked good. I have some frozen berries I need to use!

If you want any of the recipes I used let me know!

 

Clean feet with dinner!

As I have talked about in many prior posts, I love onsens (natural hot springs). It seems like onsens can be found everywhere, even sometimes there are just foot baths.

This past Friday me and some of my friends went to a foot bath izakaya (Japanese restaurant/bar). While you ate, your feet, under the table, were in nice hot water! It was a fun crazy experience. We thought it would be a great place to bring visitors, unfortunately the food was not too great. But it was fun! ( just make sure you dont wear stockings!).

Feet under the table

ordering, the little master was cute

 

Public Service Announcement

During the earthquake/tsunami disaster many companies pulled their commercials from TV. With the extra time on TV, AC – the advertising council of Japan decided to fill the time with public service announcements. They are very nice commercials, involving helping others, being nice to one another, or my favorite making friends through nice greetings. The commercials get very redundant and people have complained. But I think they are nice, but everyone has begun to memorize the commercials.

Here is the one minute version of the commercial I like. (usually they only show two or three greetings)

The commercial is a play on words

Konnichiwa-n (Hello Dog), Arigatou-sagi (Thank you rabbit) and so on!

With extra free time in the office, as schools only had half days, I decided to draw my own!

What’s your favorite?

Jyanezumi (see ya mouse)

Oysasumimizu (good night worm)

Itterrashairuka (Have a nice outing dolphin)

Tadaimaguro (im home tuna)

Okaerisu (welcome home squirrel)

Arigatou (ant thank you) (my friend didnt like the rabbit)

Gochisousamakoto (thanks for the food makoto)

 

 

Christmas Flashback

Let’s go back to a calmer time in Japan.

This past Christmas Makoto and I went to Hakodate, a city in Hokkaido that is easily accessible from Aomori (via under the ocean train or ferry). He recently created this slideshow video of our trip. Enjoy!