Nasu(Eggplant) & Green Pepper's Miso flavour

Nasu are often cooked during the summer.  They can be grilled, steamed, fried, pickled etc.

This is fried Nasu and Green pepper with Miso, Say sauce, Sake, Mirin and sugar.  It is good with beer or white rice. 

Bento(home packed meal) for Kids

Bento is a home packed meal or a single portion takeout common in Japanese cuisine.  Kids are growing so fast.  They need 2 layers bento box for school lunch these days.  I made this bento today.

It's rice with bonito flake with a drop of soy sauce and seaweed on top.  Teriyaki chicken, Ham & Green pepper and a lady finger and grapes. 

Otsumami

Otsumami is a small dish you can eat with beer, wine, sake, or other drinks.  Usually I serve it just before appetizer, but there are lots of Izakaya(Tapas) in Japan and you can keep on having otsumami throughout the dinner. Izakaya has a lot of kind of Otsumami such as Yakitori, Tofu dishes, other dishes. This is a Otsumami I made yesterday.  It's just a mix nuts, but I put rosemary, salt and pepper with brown sugar and cayenne pepper then roasted in the oven.  I bought this local brand nuts very cheap, but it became a fantastic Otsumami.  It's delicious.

Umeboshi (Plum)

Umeboshi are pickled ume fruits.  Umeboshi's texture is like the apricot, but taste is sour and salty.  Umboshi are made by salt and vinegar.  We usually eat with white rice like the photo below or put in the rice ball.  It's very good for Bento(taking lunch box) as it's prevent from going bad.  It's good for digestion, prevention of nausea, systemic toxicity and against aging.  When you are hangover, put one Umeboshi into a cup with warm water and mix well.  Drink slowly then you will feel much better.

We say "Eat one Umeboshi in the morning then you will have a good day!"

Gambare Japan! (Cheer up Japan!)

How about this Sushi??

Ikebana

I feel always very happy when I have some flowers at home.  I pick some flowers from my garden and just put them in the vase and decorate at the entrance or our dinner table.  Sometimes I go to a market and buy some roses or lilies etc.  However, when I am having guests at home for dinner, I usually do Ikebana.  It makes more comfortable and would like my guests to feel Japanese Omotenashi way.

Spinach with Sesame sauce

"Spinach with Sesame sauce"

Ingredients:
1 pack of Spinach
White sesame paste 2tsp
Mirin 1tsp
Sugar 1tsp
Soy Sauce 1tsp

1. Mix White sesame paste, Mirin, Sugar and Soy Sauce well and put aside.

2. Boil the spinach and soak in a water so that bitterness will be gone.

3. Gently squeeze the spinach and cut smaller length.

4. Mix it with the sesame sauce.