Month: December 2012

The Dried Persimmon

When I got home to my parent’s place
guess what I found hanging in the kitchen?
Dried persimmon!
My mom made it outside the kitchen window
and had brought it back inside since it was ready to eat.
It was so delicious!
I love dried persimmon!
Persimmon season is over now but
I’m going to have to try this next fall for sure.

Here’s how to make dried persimmon!
Ingredients:
Hachiya Persimmon
(or any type of astringent persimmon)
Rope
Directions:
1.
Peal the persimmon
leaving a little around the stem.
2.
Tie the string around the stem.
Make sure they are far enough apart
so they don’t touch each other when hanging.
3.
Dip the persimmon in boiling hot water
for about 5 seconds to sterilize the persimmon.
4.
Hang the persimmon outside.
Preferably somewhere that is airy
and gets plenty of sunlight.
If it rains, bring inside so it doesn’t mold.
5.
After a week
when the outside skin is hard
massage the persimmon with your fingers.
This helps the persimmon not be sour.
Do this once or twice a week.
6.
After 2-3 weeks
it should be ready to eat!

The Udon in Takamatsu

Daisuke and Kumi-san were nice enough to
come pick us up at the airport.
Not only that, they took us out to dinner, too!
Kagawa Prefecture is famous for their Sanuki Udon.
It’s my favorite type of udon.
They are thick and chewy.
So good.
You can find it all over Japan
but this was my first time in Kagawa Prefecture.
Look at the real thing, you guys!
Apparently, most udon shops in Kagawa
also serve oden, too.
And they eat it with miso sauce!
(tofu pictured above)
That was new.
And surprisingly good.
I am loving Kagawa Prefecture.
Thinking about coming through here every time
I come back to my parents place.
Thank you
Daisuke and Kumi-san!!!

The Same Face

Photographer François Brunelle has a really interesting project.
It’s called “I’m Not a Look-Alike!”
and features portraits of people who are total strangers
but look like identical twins.
There are supposedly three people on earth
who have the same face as you do.
(Is this just a Japanese belief?)
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a twin.
Now I’m wondering where my non-related twin is.

(via PetaPixel)

The Year of Snake

2013 is the year of snake.
As someone who is deathly scared of snakes
I’m not so sure how great this year is going to be.
But the year of snake is known to bring
much economic fortune and healthy child deliveries.
Japan is in desperate need of both so
hoping those things come true!
In preparation for new years
a lot of people in Japan make Nengajo.
Nengajo is a traditional new year postcard
that every one sends to each other.
They’re kind of like Christmas cards,
which we don’t really do in Japan.
Most people just print out their Nengajo these days
but I still like to make mine by hand.
And I finally sent out the bulk of mine today.
Hope they get to everyone by new years!

The Aiport

We went to see my baby sister off at the airport.
Thank goodness this was Japan.
We don’t really go home for Christmas
so it wasn’t crowded at all.
Not that I really care.
I LOVE airports.
And even though there’s barely any holiday traffic
we actually DO decorate for Christmas!!!

At first I thought the owls were creepy but
after a while they sort of grow on you.
Kind of like a Harry Potter themed tree.
Aren’t they weird?
Anyways, Lisa Naomi got through security
and gave us a quick wave and headed down to her gate.
She’s such a grown up.
I loved having her stay at my place for a week.
I’ll miss having her as a roommate.
But at least I’ll see her at the end of the month again!
Can’t wait 🙂Â