Dec 29, 2011

christmas cakes


I made three  cakes which spred whipping(heavy)  cream on sponge cake , with a diameter of about 16 centimeters, on Christmas Eve. One is for my son.  The second is for my daugher and her friends.  The third is for my husband and me. My family are  very fond of  cake for sure.

Now, My voice has been hoarse since the day before yesterday , ofen does not come out, yet  I don't have a sore throat at all.  But it hinders me in my working, so  I went see a doctor yesterday morning. To my surprise, the symptom was  from  not a cold  but  drying.  The doctor said to me "You should humidify in your  living room or bed room, and shouldn't use a Electric blanket at night. 

Evryone, Please give a lot of care to humidity .
It is already the end of the year. Please take care of yourself not to catch cold.

Have a Happy New Year 2012!

Dec 22, 2011

How to Cook Braised Pork Belly (Butanokaakuni)

Braised Pork Belly : Butanokakuni    (serve for 10)



This is my original simple recipe of "Braised Pork belly" : ever-popular menu in our family. This is very popular with our family.  Especially my son speaks very highly of it. This food  can also last one week in the refrigerator or at a cool  room temperature,
So I always cook a lot.  However, we run out  soon:)
Just try this melt, soft ,thick and delicious this dish.

Total Time:   1.5hours

Ingredients:  

2.2kilogram or  5lb   pork side (pork belly)


9 cups of water    ( just enough to  cover the pork belly  )
2otbsp(table spoons)   or  340gram     dark soy sauce
16tbsp   or  144gram      sugar
14tbsp   or  238gram      mirin
       (if you don't have it , use 1/2cup sake instead of mirin, and add  some sugar)
1/2tsp (tea spoon) sea salt
4-6cm   or   1.5-3 inches fresh ginger root , thinly sliced
4-9 garlic cloves  by size, sliced        
a little chili powder   or   1/5tsp  toubanjyan (broad bean chili paste)
a little pepper
begeable (leak, carrot,cabbage onion, parsley and celery and so on)

3tbsp  miso (if you have)


green onion  or  leak, cut  into 5-6 cm or 2-3 inches long pieces ( added as a garnish)





how to:

(1) Brown the pork on all sides on medium heat in a frying pan.



(2)Boil water in a stock pot or a  large pot  and add  pork, ginger and garlic .


(3)Cook on medium heat for 5 or so minutes and skim the scum from broth.
    Cover it and simmer the pork for about 10 minutes

 


(4)Put  soy sauce, sugar, mirin , salt,  chili powder, pepper,
    and bege and turn down the heat to low.



(5)Cover it tightly.


(6)Simmer the pork for about 30 minutes

(7)Add miso and continue cooking for about 5 minutes, then let it cool down.



(8)Remove the pork that you want to serve , put it and broth into frying pan ,
    boil  the liquid down  until it is half  gone . 

 

(9)Serve the pork garnished with  lots of green onion  and mustard
   ( if you like).

   It's very plain sailing, isn't it?





Dec 17, 2011

Christmas mural decoration

Today I had  a vet  cut my pet rabbit's nails.
Pyon had been wiggling its nose with tension.

Now, I made a christmas decoration  below a few days ago.
It's really easy to make it if only you have ribbon, cotton,
some nice glittering smll stickers or  buttons,  color paper  and felt and so forth.

My dear daughter who likes to have her photo taken &Santa Claus

I wish you a merry and happy christmas!!!

Dec 12, 2011

Bling Bling Cristmas Tree

I updated our livingroom and entrance hall with
Christmas Bling , disco ball and ornament.

We are really buoyant and excited during Christmas season.
If I had a blooming Chrismas rose this season ,
I 'd  be more joyful.(They  come out flowers in the middle of Feb here.)

Merry Christmas!  Everyone!!.......Happy Monday!

Dec 9, 2011

A mistake

This is  late-flowering small chrysanthemums .
Though they  are a bit subdued and sober,
the fresh white ones show other flowers to advantage, I think.


Anyway,  To  my embarrassment  ,   
 Newly  I knew that "  Duck-billed platypus"  is    a mammal .  
I have been thinking they are   a family of  bird ,
as they lay eggs and  possess  a bird- like bill. 
When I talked to my son about a duckbill  , I just discovered it. 
 knowing new thing is very delightful    at any age :-))     

Live and learn
             

Dec 6, 2011

Makeover!



I'm tired of straight hair. So i went to the hairdresser's , had my hair permed for the first time in two years.I got it cut ,too.
 The perm is called "the degital perm" (maybe Japlish ) in Japan .When you dry you hair with drier, it become wavy beautifully. This hairstyle is very manageable.
I want to have my hair colored soon too.


                                        

Dec 4, 2011

Only one Clematis flower!

A  small pink clematis (Ernest Markham) is in bloom in the cold.
Recently ,the high is about 13 degrees , and the low is 4 or so degrees
around here. It is really chilly. I do praise the teeny one for its heroic.


I've planted the seeding of violas in a pot.
 they are hardy , easy to grow , and usually profusely blooming plants 
 during winter when I have few flowers in my garden,
So I love them indeed.  I hope it grow bigger soon.