When you are cooking, do you ever have a lot of things out on the cooking table and before you know it, they are all in a mess?
This is especially true when you are cooking something you don’t usually cook or when you are cooking a recipe for the first time. In such cases, I would like to recommend this cooking utensil.
I used to make miso soup with chopsticks in my right hand and a spoon in my left, and it took a long time to dissolve the miso. However, since I started using this miso muddler, I can cook with only one hand, and miso dissolves quickly in the broth, making the cooking time shorter. You can measure the larger one as 2 tablespoons and the smaller one as 1 tablespoon.
It is called a miso muddler, but it is useful not only for making miso soup, but also for making homemade dressing, mixing eggs, making pastries, and stirring little things. I really recommend this kitchen tool!
In this short video, I will show you how to store carrots in the freezer. The recommended method is to slice carrots diagonally into thin slices, then cut them lengthwise into small pieces. Then, wrap them in plastic wrap in appropriate quantities and freeze them. When cooking, you can make kinpira gobo, baked goods, pickles, etc. without thawing.
I had given up on the idea that there was nothing structurally to do with the area around the grill’s ventilation openings. Then I found this exhaust port cover (vent cover), which hides the hole so that I don’t need to worry about some food getting into the hole while cooking or cleaning. What’s more, it’s sturdy enough not to dent no matter what you put on it, and height enough not to get in the way while cooking!
Chinese cabbage is a vegetable rich in potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and other nutrients. It is also effective for weight loss because 95% of its total content is water and it is low in carbohydrates.
Have you ever had trouble finding a place to put a lid while cooking? Especially if you don’t have a place to stand it against a wall or something.
If your cooking table is small, you will run out of space just to put the lid on the table. And it gets dirty over a wide area, doesn’t it?
This freestanding lid can be placed quickly and easily, takes up little space, and is easy to clean because water droplets fall in one place. We use it in our cooking classes, and everyone is impressed. It makes cooking time more enjoyable and comfortable!
Chives are an effective vegetable for nourishing and relieving fatigue. It also contains vitamin E, which helps prevent lifestyle-related diseases and antioxidants, so it is an ingredient that should be included in your daily diet as much as possible. Because of its unique flavor, it is best to use it up quickly, but if you cannot use it up, it is recommended to wash it well before refrigerating or freezing it.
Japanese Leek (Green Onion) has the effect of promoting the secretion of digestive juices and increasing appetite. To preserve the Japanese Leek, cut them to the same length and wrap them tightly in plastic cellophane. After that, put it in the refrigerator in an upright position. This way you can keep it fresh for a week.
Every region has a custom to hold some kind of celebration on the night that falls on the seventh day after the baby is born, which is called the “Oshichiya” (お七夜).
In the past, relatives, neighbors, matchmakers, godparents, midwives, and others were invited to a feast, where the baby’s name was announced and the baby was recognized as a member of society for the first time.
This is a remnant of this tradition, and this gathering is also known as the “celebration of naming called “Meimei Shiki“(命名式).
How to celebrate the Oshichiya
The standard celebration meal for Oshichiya is a red rice (sekihan) served with a fish head. Other auspicious items such as kombu (kelp) and red and white fu (wheat gluten) are also used, but they vary from region to region. You may also serve simmered dishes, sashimi, etc. according to the taste of the guests.
Since it is impossible for the mother to prepare the food for the Oshichiya, it is common to ask the grandparents to help, or to have the food catered.
It would be a pity to take a seven-day-old baby out to a large gathering, so it is best to put the baby in a separate room and allow the guests to see him or her before the feast begins.
Who to invite to the seventh day
The seventh day of life is the time when the mother and the baby are discharged from the hospital, and the mother is easily exhausted. Therefore, today, it is common to invite only the grandparents from both sides of the family for an informal celebration.
If you are invited to the seventh night
Although there is no specific custom, it is a good idea to bring a gift of some kind. It is common to bring a bouquet of flowers, a cake, sake, fruit, a small toy, or baby items.
Memo: Are you interested in more about Japanese culture & events? Check here!
To increase the absorption rate of beta-carotene, it is more effective to cook carrots in oil than to eat them raw, and to cook them in oil rather than stewing them. When eaten raw, with vinegar or lemon is recommended. To store carrots, wipe dry and cut off the leaves at first. Then, wrap each one in a piece of newspaper. After put them in a ziplock or plastic bag, and store upright refrigerate. It can be refrigerated for 2~3 weeks!
