games!

Richard went to the USA over the summer break and brought bag a lot of games. We have new games for adults, games for kids and games for everyone. Ask your teacher if you want to try something new!

cooking class

Every month at Richards Easy English Schools we have a cooking in English class.

This month we made Indonesian satay with peanut sauce and a pineapple and mint salad.

Pineapple and mint?

Yes!

And it's really easy to make:

1. Thinly slice a pineapple.

2. Using a mortar and pestle (すり鉢) mix together 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 cup mint leaves.

3. sprinkle mint and sugar mix on pineapple.

4. You can eat it as is or with yoghurt.

Enjoy!

Next month we're making Shephard's Pie.

Tomato

誕生日にへザーからトマトの苗をプレゼントでもらいました。
その時に青いトマトが既になっていましたが、そのトマトがとうとう赤くなりました。
毎日毎日『いつ赤くなるかな～』と待ちわびて、
できた最初の一個です。
私はトマトがだ～い好きなので、このプレゼントはとても嬉しかったです。
Thankｓ Heather!
これからいくつトマトができるか、また皆さんにご報告します。

カナエ

Don't be stupid...

Last week America's President Obama said the police 'acted stupidly' when they arrested someone.

Lots of people agree with him.

Lots of people disagree with him.

Most people think he shouldn't have said the word 'stupidly'.

Stupidly means to do something stupid.

Stupid is English for ばか.

On some Japanese television shows many people say ばか.

It's not so common to hear people say stupid on American TV.

I don't think the President of a country should say something is stupid. It sounds a bit childish. There are many other words that mean the same thing like: illadvised, mindless, unthinking, senseless, ludicrous or nonensical.

What do you think?

summer salad

This is a really easy salad that tastes delicious, too.

1. Slice a tomato into rounds.

2. Slice a baby mozzarella into rounds.

3. Rip some basil leaves in half.

4. Arrange the tomato, cheese and basil in alternating slices on a plate. (See picture)

5. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

6. Eat!

REES has a monthly cooking class so if you like cooking and want to practise English at the same time come along for fun, food and a fresh way to learn English!

a cool drink on a hot day

It's really getting hot lately, isn't it?

I don't like mugi-cha and I can't drink chu-hi all day long so I am always looking for a refreshing summer drink.

On the weekend my friend Sue taught me how to make Perilla juice:

1 big bunch perilla (red shiso)

10 litres water

500ml vinegar

2 cups sugar

1 lemon sliced

Pull all the leaves off the perilla and wash them.

Boil with the water in a very large saucepan.

When the colour drains out of the leaves strain the juice into another pan and discard the leaves.

Bring the juice back to the boil and add the vinegar, sugar and lemon.

When the sugar is dissolved the juice is ready.

Some people drink it straight but I like to mix it 1:3 with water, soda water or gin.  But then it's no different to drinking a chu-hi really, is it? 

Isn't it a great colour?

Long time no blog.

Hello!

Summer already.

2009 is flying past, isn't it?

Do you have any plan for Summer Vacation?

I want to use the new 1000 yen tollway deal and drive from Matsumoto to Akita along the Japan Sea coast.
I love living in Matsumoto with the mountains and rivers but in Summer I really want to go to the beach!

What's something you love to do in Summer?

Last Summer I went to Norikura.  It was beautiful but the water was so cold!