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!

Long time no see!

That means hisashiburi.

What have you been doing lately?

I have been very busy getting ready for Christmas.

I LOVE Christmas.

REES is having a Christmas party next week.

We are all going to bring a plate of sweets to share.

What sweets do you like?

I like cookies.

These are my new favourite cookies:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Eggnog-Thumbprints/Detail.aspx

They are so good!

You should try them.

Yummy yummy* chicken stew recipe

My family loves stew. Beef stew, chicken stew, cream stew, tomato stew- any stew!

But I worry about using bought roux.

Have you read the ingredients on a packet of roux?

It's not very healthy.

So yesterday I tried making home made cream stew.

It was delicious!

So I thought I'd share the recipe with you.

Chicken cream stew:


2 chicken fillets

1 onion

1 slice bacon

1 Tablespoon oil

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups of vegetables (I used mushroom, pumpkin, beans, carrot and potato)

2 Tablespoons butter

1 1/2 Tablespoons flour

1/4 cup white wine

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 cup milk

1 laurel leaf



1. Slice the chicken into cubes, dice the bacon and onion.

2. In a big pot heat the oil and saute the chicken, onion and bacon until chicken is browned well.

3. Cut the remaining vegetables into cubes. The larger the pieces the longer it will take to cook.

3. Add the vegetables to the pot and stir over medium heat until al dente.

4. Season with salt and pepper and add butter.

5. When butter has melted sprinkle flour in and stir constantly over low heat until the mixture is gluey and not dry.

6. Add white wine abd water and stir until mixed in.

7. Add laurel leaf and return to the boil.

8. Add milk and soysauce and simmer over low heat until sauce thickens.

9. Serve with rice and a salad and enjoy!

*yummy is a cute way of saying delicious. Mostly used by children and young women(and me!) :)

Salt Lake City

Here's your Salt Lake City quiz! :)

1. Salt Lake City is the capital of:
A:Utah
B:Wyoming
C:Idaho

2. Salt Lake City has a population of just over:
A: 180,000 people
B: 1,800,000 people
C: 18,000,000 people

3. Salt Lake City and Matsumoto have been sister cities for:
A: 5 years
B: 15 years
C: 50 years

4. Salt Lake City is
A: Twice as high as Matsumoto
B: Half as high as Matsumoto
C: About the same height as Matsumoto

5: Salt Lake City has a basketball team in the NBA. They are called:
A: Chicago Bulls
B: Salt Lake City Jazz
C: Utah Jazz

Ready for the answers?

1. A. Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah.
2. A. Salt Lake City's population is 180,651.
3. C. 2008 is the 50th year that Matsumoto and Salt Lake City have been sister cities.
4. A. Salt Lake City is twice as high as Matsumoto. Salt Lake City is 1288m above sea level. Matsumoto is 660m above sea level.
5. C. Salt Lake City's NBA team is the Utah Jazz.

How did you go?

I didn't know anything about Salt Lake City before Sunday's event. I hope to see you at a future sister cities event!

We`re famous!!

Did you watch the SBC news on Sunday night?

No?

You should have!!

If you had watched the SBC news you would have seen Richard!

And if you have very good eyesight you would have seen Heather, too!

Why?

Richard, Kanae, Bree and Heather were part of the "Great Salt Lake City Day" event at M-Wing on Sunday.

Did you know it's the 50th year that Matsumoto and Salt Lake City have been sister cities?

No?

Neither did I.

I learnt a lot about Salt Lake City on Sunday.

I'm going to make a quiz so you can learn about it, too. :)

But first here's a link to the news piece with Richard in it.

Look out for Heather, too! ;)

Great Salt Lake City Day

more hamburgers

Yes, I'm still thinking about hamburgers. :P

What do you like to put on a hamburger?

I made my daughters hamburgers for dinner tonight.

My oldest daughter complained when she saw her meat pattie in a bread roll.

'That's not a real hamburger. I want rice and no bread.'

Ahhhhhh. 'You want a Japanese hamburg'. :(

There are so many variations on hamburgers.

In Australia we eat an Aussie Burger.

Sesame bun, lettuce, tomato, cheese, hamburger pattie...

No different from Richard right?

Well then we add a slice of ham, a fried egg, a slice of tinned pineapple, and some pickled beetroot.

Sound weird? No way!

If you ever go to Australia you've got to try it.

It's so good.

Maybe even as good as Richard's... ;)

Here's a picture for you.

See how the cheese is turning pink? That's beetroot juice.

Yum!