Tahini-YasaiMiso Marinated Coral Trout wrapped in Crispy Prosciutto

Tonight I tried a new recipe which I had just thought up. Using some of the YasaiMiso I had made last week, mixed with tahini, sake, mirin, as a  light marinade for a fillet of Australian Coral Trout. I then wrapped the fillet in prosciutto. I sealed the fillet and fried until the prosciutto was slightly blackened and crispy, then sliced into 2 cm slices, and served over steamed green beans and edamame soy beans tossed in sesame dressing.

Vacherin - first attempt

This was my first attempt to make a Vacherin. I followed a recipe from Tasty Diaries blog, using soy ice cream instead of traditional ice cream. Overall, the taste was nice, but I missed a step when preparing the Vacherin, I didnt mash the raspberries before mixing with the ice cream.... oops, next time I wont skip this step. Also I would put the merinque pieces closer to the centre leaving a 1 cm space around the edge to fill with ice cream to make a smoother shape.

I am pleased with the effort though. Was fun to make, and tasty.

Rice Noodles with Fermented Garlic and steamed Vegetables, mixed with Shichimi, Ginger, Lime, and Chili Sauce.

Meringue - first attempt at home

Last night I found a recipe for Vanilla and Raspberry Vacherin which I thought seemed reasonably easy. The first step was to make Meringue, that would later be crushed into 1cm pieces and pressed between layers of Vacherin in ramekins and frozen over night. Vacherin is a mixture of cream, ice cream, fruit, meringue pieces.

I used Soy ice cream instead of traditional ice cream. The rest of the ingredients I took from the recipe. Raspberries and Lemon juice mixed into soften ice cream, meringue pieces pressed into layers of the ice cream mixture, until the mold is full. Freezing overnight, and then knocked out onto a plate, topped with fruit and a prepared sauce.

I have baked the meringues, mixed the vacherin, layered, and re-frozen. I'll consume one tomorrow.

Here are some photos of meringue before and after baking.

Tea from Teddy and Lapita is back to Tokyo

I've got a parcel from Australia today, from Adam. :)

in side was a tea cup and tea.

same cup and same tea that he uses, I will enjoy the same things with you in tokyo!

Thank you Teddy.

And I have Lapita back with me today!

He seems a bit tired, looks sleepy... even though he eats hay.

I'm really happy to be with him now.



Refreshment by the Sea

This evening I drove down to Shorncliffe, to a park near the jetty. I cooked dinner, boiled tea, read a book. The temperature was nice, a soft breeze blowing in from the ocean. I could relax and connect with each moment, with what I was doing there, which was simply taking my time, drinking hot tea, reading... without wanting anything extra. I felt refreshed, calm.

 I managed to fit a stove, food, tea leaves, a gas cartridge, pots, a bowl, a mug, and utensils in this bag.

I heated the pumpkin soup which I cooked the night before, plus I added some vegetables.

I had a really nice evening.

Workshop in Okayama ~ Photos

These are the photos taken in Okayama April 2011

 Sensei used to go this shrin when he was child.

there are huge stones, secret stones.

                                             Okayama's famouse fish called "sawara" they are expensive fish.
                                               I enjoyed this sahimi :)



                                                            By the river in Okayama city, with beautiful sakura hehe.

                                          the Castle Okayama

                                                           at the park near the castle, called "kourakuen"

居酒屋料理 Izakaya Cuisine

This evening I prepared some food based on recipes from an Izakaya (Japanese Pub) Cookbook.

First I prepared YasaiMiso,Vegetable Miso, 野菜味噌。From what I can see in this book, YasaiMiso is used in various ways. One way is as a coating for Grilled Rice Balls, YakiOnigiri, 焼きおにぎり。Another use is as a condiment for Fried Whole Garlic, AgeNinniku, 揚げにんいく。

野菜味噌の写真
photo of Vegetable Miso











I only prepared the Miso tonight. I will use it for Onigiri or for Fried Garlic, another time. Time will help the flavor develop.


This evening I also prepared Ponzu Sauce, ポン酢。
I will use the sauce after it matures. Two to Three days from now.
There is a recipe for Sliced Duck Breast with Ponzu Sauce, KamoToNegiNoOroshiPonzu, 鴨とネギのおろしポン酢、 which I will cook a few days from now, so I needed to prepare the sauce before hand.
Since I was in the mood to try duck tonight anyway, I defrosted one of the free range organic duck breasts from my freezer, cooked and sliced it for an small dish with a Dijon Mustard and chinese Chili Sauce for dipping. I did not like the chili sauce much, but the duck was nice with the mustard.

Here's a Photo:
A pretty simple meal, anyone Tom could make this. My gratitude for the duck which once lived before becoming sustenance for my body, my education and living. I am sometimes at odds with my career choice, for a chef who has never prepared a simple dish of roast or pan fried duck, can hardly gain much respect from his peers. If I could have it my way, I would not prepare food using any land animals, I would make an exception for fish, although there is another issue in itself. I do make an effort to purchase meat from companies that have respectful raising techniques, preferably organic, raised on an open farm, not in cages, and fed their natural food. And the fish I buy, I only buy wild caught preferably from Australian waters. Fish are also being exploited and diminishing at a concerning rate.
It's beyond my ability at the moment to know how these animals are fed, although some information is given as far as wether the animals have been organically treated and raised, and wether has lived on a free range or in cage.
If anyone reading this knows how to obtain more detailed information about the companies raising animals for consumption in Australia I would appreciate some help.

Thank the World for Tea

Chamomile 

I recently bought a tea mug with a filter.

Since Aco introduced me to the special Black Tea from Japan I have started to appreciate the feeling, aroma, taste, and health benefits of drinking tea. Thanks Aco, and thanks to the world for producing such wonderful teas.
My favorite is the tea Aco sends from Japan. It is a black tea, which is fermented for many years I think around 20-30 years?? I might be wrong about that number.
Anyway I love the taste of that tea. It tastes so much like it has been taken straight from the earth itself. It taste clean, woody, not at all bitter. Now that the weather has started to cool down I can appreciate even more a hot mug of tea in the morning or evening. I especially enjoy a hot cup right before bed :)

French Cafe´(we could enjoy together)

Yesterday, I went to the Chermside shopping centre to visit the Apple shop and see if I can have my old iPhone fixed. After I had finished at the Apple store there wasn't anything else that I needed to do there, but I fancied a coffee.

There is a French "style" cafe´ in the mall. It's uncommon to find French style cafe´s and restaurants in Australia. I know Akiko really likes French things :P and I know it is very common and popular in Japan but in Australia I have never been to any French shops. I decided I would try this one in Chermside.

As I sat there, drinking my coffee, I noticed a few couples walking by, they appeared to be happy, maybe it was youth's charm, puppy love, or the simple joys of human attraction. Whatever may be the reason for those people looking happy was not important, they appeared to be happy, enjoying their attraction and their companionship. It was nice to see it, but at the same time it made me feel lonely.
I realized, "here I am alone, looking around, longing, suffering." Sometimes reading the news on my phone, and sometimes looking around to take in the view. I realized in the moment that I noticed the couples, and the feeling of longing rose within, that I was alone, looking at people walking by, wishing I was somewhere else, or with someone else (Akiko). I felt I looked desperate sitting there alone, wishing I wasn't.
I got up from my seat shortly after I finished reading the news. Headed through the mall toward the bus terminal. Still noticing couples laughing, exchanging looks of desire and enjoyment with each other. As they smiled, kissed, touched each other softly, I again felt sorry for myself. I dont look at people for more then a second or two, but I couldn't help notice what was in front of my eyes and to notice how I envied them.
When I sat on the bus, heading home, as the evening closed in, and the sun set, I read The Lotus Sutra Guide and again realized I was alone, but this time it didn't matter. I wanted nothing other then to feel alive without wanting what I don't have. A calmness came from with and without, I let go and allowed myself to be as I was, but I didn't not suffer in being in that moment.
I told myself, "why not be as a tree, expressing my nature, standing tall wherever I am, without suffering when the sun sets and darkness is all around. just to be as I am, without attachments to what may be outside of myself, or what is not within reach."
I do wish that I may live many more years though, so i can be together with Akiko, to express my attraction, my appreciation, live as lovers do. There may be dark times there too and I would be a fool to think we would live without challenges and levels of sorrow. I can only prepare myself to be like a tree. To stand by her as I am, in darkness and in light.

The Lotus Sutra

I am sitting in a cafe reading a guide to The Lotus Sutra.

It is written by Nikkyo Niwano.

Over 8 years ago I had started to study the original text of The Lotus Sutra, which is a record of the last sermon giving by the Buddha Shayamuni before he died.

Before the last few years, almost all I would read were books on Spiritual Philosophy and Psychology. Most of all I was attracted to the Sutras of the Buddha, and other Buddhist and Taoist texts. I appreciated their illuminating nature and their medicinal and meditative attributes.

At the moment, I am also reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Letting my mind and imagination float between a beautiful fantasy, and clear illumination. Since I had mostly been reading non-fiction for many years, I had started to wonder if I could find a satisfying fictional novel. I had bought a few novels. Some old, some new. I attempted to read a few of them, but only managed to finish one of them, with much effort. There was something, which I can't explain, that gave me a feeling of inadequacy while reading them. I guess they just weren't suited for my tastes.

Now that I am reading Lord of the Rings, I can see that it was a matter of taste, and timing, that prevented me from enjoying the other novels that I attempted to read. The Lord of the Rings novels are exactly what I have been looking for. Stories rich with imagination, well planned and written scenarios, an alternate world full of beautiful and fearful lands and animals... at times the story is joyous, a feeling of innocence in wisdom, of dancing freely in high spiritual realms... and at other times, there are great challenges and suspense...

It is certainly far fetched, but it doesn't matter, to me. LOTR provides a good break from the strict and sharp insight of the other books I often read.

The Lotus Sutra guide that I am now reading is concise and an extremely shortened summary of what the author feels are the main points of merit of The Lotus Sutra. It's convenient since it is quite a small book, so it can be carried around easily. However it lacks the richness and unique language and energy of a Sutra's original text.

It is useful in that it helps clarify my mind and enables me to take a step back, and see how I am doing, to see what I am becoming, and points me towards what is useful, and what enables a stable, free and peaceful state of mind. For the Lotus Sutra accepts me as I am, and is an example of what I will be if I keep on reading, walking, sitting, moving and loving with a present mind and a heart full of love. A motivator to stand up and climb up out of myself. A picture of what might happen if I can move beyond fear, and leave my self behind.

Sakura in Shimokita

On a way to the station i passed by the same path that i walk everyday where i can enjoy seeing many green trees.
i found Sakura is now blooming beautifully as last years.
i hope we can bloom like this Sakura trying to opening flowes waiting for spring patiently.
it gives me the energy to live.

Much Appreciated Gift from Akiko

Akiko bought some special gifts for me, and I really like them!
ありがとうございました！

Special Organic Miso,
Positive Ion Air Purifier,
Fermented Garlic Paste,
Salt Seasoning, and a Sleepy Rabbit Toy :P

 These gifts are useful and have some meaning for me. The Seasonings, Miso, Air Purifier.. these things enrich and support my efforts to be well, to live well and improve my health.

The Rabbit, well... Akiko knows why I appreciate this one. She will be with me while I am living alone. Thank you Aco.