Tasting the finished product

Back in January, I was able to join a class making miso.  I really, really enjoyed the class.  The most challenging part was sticking my precious miso into a closet and leaving it alone for months. 

I pulled it out over a month ago.  It had a small amount of mold on the surface.  I was devastated.  How could this have happened?  Why?  Why?  My husband suggested we just scoop of the small amount of mold, spray it with alcohol again and put it back for another month.  With a heavy heart, I followed the suggestion. 

When I pulled it back out again last week, I discovered it worked.  I was elated.  Miso is such a special ingredient to all Japanese cooking.  I have wanted to make it for years.  I've tried and failed in the past.  Finally succeeding was so delicious.

After putting the miso in a jar and leaving it in the fridge overnight, it was time to do something with it. 

I decided to marinate some pork in it.  The recipe is simple and quick, but would allow me to really taste the miso.  I mixed equal parts of miso and mirin into a paste.  I rubbed the paste onto thinly sliced pork chops and let it marinate for 2 hours. 

While the pork marinated, I made a quick carrot salad consisting of grated carrot, toasted walnuts, and tangerine vinegar.  I also cooked rice and heated some frozen asparagus (because fresh is insanely expensive here at ¥500/$4.70 for 4 stalks). 

I simply pan fried the pork for a minute or two on each side.  Super fast and easy.

Everyone raved at the table.  My husband and son are really appreciative when I make something that takes effort and love to create.  Of course that could be said about anything, but special things like miso get special praise.

Dinner was fantastic.  I can't wait to make more things with my miso.  And I really can't wait to make it again.

Blustery night

In the wee hours of the morning, Typhoon 15 blew through our neighborhood.  This wasn't my first typhoon here, and certainly won't be my last.  But it doesn't make them any less stressful. 

Typhoon 15 hit just before 4 am.  The metal shutters that we had pulled before bed rattled and shook with each blast of wind.  The wind would slam rain against the shutters, sounding like nails being tossed into a bucket. 

I kept having thoughts of my son being frightened or not being safe.  After half an hour, I went to his room and brought him back to ours.  If we were going to be blown away, we could do it together.  My son took turns snuggling with me and my husband as he tried to fall back asleep.  He was finally successful in going back to dream land.  I, however, was not so lucky.  I laid there and listened to the storm, imagining the horrors going on outside, until after 6:30 am when I finally fell back asleep.  (If you think my fears are overly dramatic, 3 people died in this typhoon and over 40 people injured as reported by Japan Times.)

My son woke me up at 8 am when my husband was heading to the office.  I needed to get up to get everything done before it was time for us to walk to his school.  Opening all the shutters, I was shocked to not see any damage.  My pots in the rock garden were still in place and nothing seemed amiss.  I filled his bento box and made sure he completed all the school prep tasks (putting together his backpack and personal care).  As we were wrapping everything up, my husband texted me to say school was delayed due to the typhoon, pushing back the start time to 11 am.

Trying to think of how to fill the next two hours, my son asked if we could go to the park.  He suggested we could clean up the paths so people could ride their bikes and not get hurt.  Hearing that we received 232 mm (over 9 inches) of rain and gusts of winds were recorded at 180 kph (112 mph) during the storm meant the park would be a mess.  It also sounded like a nice thing to do, so I agreed. 

Wearing some work gloves, he walked determinedly toward the park.  The streets had lots of debris, but not as much damage as other typhoons we've experienced.  As soon as we arrived, he began picking up sticks from the pathways and moving them to the borders. 

He cleared lots of sticks and leaves from the path, only getting distracted from his mission when he saw a bug.  We found a bee eating a semi (cicada) as well as a small hive.  Fascinating, but also a bit scary.  There were tons of semi all over the ground, having been flung off the trees overnight.

On our way back home, we spotted the park staff using blowers to clear the main path of the park.  Their assessment was complete and they were ready to begin the clean up work. 

After inquiring where my son got the idea, he revealed he wanted to "be a helper" just like Daniel Tiger (a show he loved in the states) and others always talk about.  He knew there was something that he could do to help clean up after the typhoon and he did it.  He always makes this momma so proud.

Keep on practicing

Today we revisited the local disaster preparedness fair.  Not much changed from last year to this year, but it is always good to remind oneself of what to do in an emergency.  Japan is hit with a lot of natural disasters every year - earthquakes, typhoons, and mudslides are common occurrences. 

Since my Japanese language skills are less than desirable, I find myself being extra diligent.  Will I be prepared if something happens?  Will I find the help I, or my family, needs in the time of need?  Questions like these come to my head any time the topic of preparing for a disaster arises.

Knowing that the Japanese governmental agencies are so prepared calms my mind.  Well, it calms it a bit anyway.  I'm impressed with their volunteer corps and plans for disasters.  More importantly, I am impressed with how they get the message out to the public.  Disaster preparation is continually discussed and promoted, so everyone knows the basics.  And that is most comforting of all.

Today's fair was fun for my son because he ran into a couple of his classmates.  He was thrilled to fight fires as well as eat lunch with his friends.  He enjoys doing all sorts of activities at these fairs.  The dreams about being a firefighter are reignited each time we attend something like this.  Being allowed to propel across a line made him super excited.

Although these fairs stress me out, I'm so glad we continue to attend.  After all, being prepared is what is most important.

A little sweet thing

When company is coming over and you don't want to make a dessert, there are tons and tons of options at the department store.  One popular shop is Ginza Cozy Corner.  They sell all sorts of cakes in single servings.  We've bought several birthday cakes there and as a special treat, we've enjoyed sundaes in their café.

Every month Ginza Cozy Corner has a special tasters set.  To celebrate our 2 year anniversary of coming to Japan, my husband picked up their Summer set.  We enjoyed the little cakes and pies over a few days.

The treats included: star cake, cloud (coconut) pie, melon cake, peach pie, pool cake, sunflower (matcha) roll cake, watermelon cake, pineapple pie, and shave ice pie. 

The biggest different between these treats and what you get at American grocery stores, is these taste good.  They don't just taste like sugar. 

Even though we ate all of this ourselves, it is a great set to buy when guests come over.  We've been known to buy them for that purpose several times.

Thirsty girl

It seems as if I am always thirsty.  I grew up drinking water and still consume large amounts of it every day.  Whenever the heat hits over 25°C/77°F, I drink even more than normal.  When I'm at the park or wandering around all day, I always try to have a water bottle with me.  Every once in a while I forget it at home and find myself using vending machines to quench my thirst. 

When I go to a restaurant I like to sit down and enjoy a glass of water while I peruse the menu.  Since it is still so warm out (today is 34°C/93°F!), by the time I get to the restaurant I want a big glass of water.  Unfortunately, the standard size water glass in Japan is tiny.  I have kid's cups that are bigger than what is normal for water glasses here.  After ice, there is barely any room for water!

Some restaurants provide water pitchers on the table.  Even though the water glass is small, I can refill to my heart's delight.  I know I am always going to have the pitcher at ramen shops and most Chinese restaurants.

Conveyor belt sushi restaurants always have hot water spouts at the table so patrons can make as much matcha tea as they want.  My husband loves this and will drink 4 or 5 cups of tea during dinner.  They also typically have self-service water, but it requires getting up and getting it from a water machine.  When this is the case, I usually have two glasses for myself and refill them both at the same time.

Whenever I am at a restaurant that uses small glasses and I have to ask for refills (they RARELY refill glasses without being asked to do so), I feel like such a pest.  My husband kindly gives me his glass and I drink both, but I still have to call someone over again and again.

Recently, I was at a restaurant where you have to ring the bell to ask for someone to come over.  I was feeling embarrassed at how much water I was wanting, so I just refilled my cup with water from my water bottle. 

I kept debating which was more rude - calling them incessantly or pouring my own drink from my own stash.  I still don't have an answer to that question, but at least my thirst was quenched. 

I've heard in Europe that they don't even give you tap water at most restaurants.  So, maybe I should just consider myself lucky that they give me anything at all in Japan!