Chirashi

We have company coming over tomorrow.  My son's best friend from the US has been in Japan visiting family and he is spending his last night in Japan at our house.  My son is beside himself with excitement.  These boys have known each other since they were a few months old.  Being apart has been really hard for both of them.  They both have been counting down to this day for a while now.  We've had it circled on the calendar since we first learned of his visit.

Since we are going to have such a big day tomorrow, I needed tonight's dinner to be super quick and easy.  After thinking about what I already had in my kitchen, I decided tonight would be chirashi night.

Chirashi is basically sushi in a bowl.  Mix cooked rice with seasonings - dashi, sake, mirin, sugar, and soy sauce; add a few julienned vegetables - carrots, mushrooms, bamboo shoots (or cheat like me and use a packet that contains both); and then top it with whatever you want!  I grabbed sashimi (raw fish without the balls of rice underneath), octopus, peas, and ikura (salmon eggs).  A few sides are not required, but they were super simple to add. 

I could have just grabbed a sushi plate or gotten takeout, but we wanted something different and homemade.  Chirashi is just different enough, especially since it is build your own. 

We are so excited for tomorrow.  Time with friends is one of the most important things in the world.  After a light dinner and an early bedtime, we are ready for some quality time.