Last week…

Yes! This is the last week before we take a few holidays for the end of the year. So much to do at work before then that days will be really too short and I already expect getting back home late and having little time to cook properly. So my shopping basket at the farmers market was full of easy to prepare and versatile seasonal products. A lot if simple Japanese food ahead with the lotus roots, the carrots, the sweet potatoes and the sato imo. But before that, I prepared a spinach and tofu quiche with a whole wheat flour and wheat bran dough. I used olive oil for the dough rather than butter, and soya milk, drained moendofu and fresh spinach for the filling. With eggs it gets firmer, but they are not necessary. I didn’t steam the the spinach before using them, but steaming them would make them softer. I personally like when they’re a bit crispy. Have a very good week!

December 19, 2016

Sunday in the garden

There is quite a bit of work in the garden to get ready for spring. The plum trees are all cvered in buds and I can’t wait to see them bloom again soon! So with the beautiful weather, it was a good occasion to trim, clean again, and since days are so short now I didn’t want to stop until it got chilly. We ended up having lunch really late, so I needed something quite quick to prepare: rice with wakame, and frypan cooked vegetables: carrot, lotus root, sweet potato and salted salmon. Salted salmon is a little like salted cod, but much less salty, really delicious, probably better after a short time in water but I like it like than when while cooking the salt makes a kind of crust.

Have a good week ahead!!

December 18, 2016

Hazelnut and spices cake

It is not often that I make vegan cakes but sometimes there is no choice. I really wanted to make a cake, start mixing flour, baking powder, sugar, and when it cake to the eggs, I realized I didn’t had any. And I didn’t feel like buying cheap eggs from the kombini (not because they are cheap, but because they come from I don’t know where, and how). But since the cake was on its way I just added a reasonable amount of hazelnut powder, and a bit of vegetal oil and soya milk to moisten the dough until I obtained a normal consistency for the dough. Then I added some anise seeds, cinnamon, cardamom in a large amount. And baked at 150 degrees for 30min. The result was a delicious fluffy cake, perfectly balanced in taste between the hazelnut and the spices. Something to try again for sure!!!!

Have a nice weekend!

December 17, 2016

One-plate lunch

What best when it’s getting chilly outside than a bowl of hot and steamy white rice? And to complete the lunch, a plate with angelic (ashitaba-明日葉) omelette, grilled pork, grilled cherry tomatoes and turnips with miso. Very quick to prepare, tasty and warming!

I am also very pleased to use my new Arita yaki bowls!

December 14, 2016

Multigrain risotto with burdock

As I was telling you, I really love the mix fresh parsley and burdock. May be because it makes the burdock taste even more artichoky, a vegetable I love but that is not common in Japan (though I’ve spotted some lovely artichokes plants in my neighbor’s potager garden!). As we will be traveling to Sicily, I know I’ll have opportunities to eat plenty of delicious artichokes very soon! Yet, I prepared burdock with parsley in an Italian manner with a mix of grains for Italian soup (from last year Italian holidays!) and carnaroli rice, prepared like a risotto. I cooked in a bit of olive oil the burdock peeled and sliced, then add the rice and the grains, finally cover with water. Cooked until the liquid has vanished, add generously some fresh ciseled parsley, serve immediately. Perfect with freshly grated parmegiano if you like.

December 13, 2016

Butternut squash ravioli again

Last winter I made some butternut squash ravioli with a very simple filling and in small size, with the ravioli plate I bought in Roma last year. This time I decided to add some nutmeg to the filling and to make large ones, where there is plenty of filling. And since I had plenty of sage in the garden seeved them with olive oil and sage. Simple and soooooooo delicious! How do you prefer your ravioli?

December 12, 2016

Red onion and pickled plum chutney

That may seem an odd combination but it really was delicious and simple. I love to prepare some sour mix, one of my favotite is probably chrisanthemum chutney. This time I wanted to use pickled plum, umeboshi, in a non Japanese recipe, so I opted for some red onion kind of chutney. I used one large red onion and two large pickled plum with a lot of soft flesh and a bit of umeboshi juice if any. I slice thinely the onion by halves. Then I cook it in a pan at low heat, I add a bit of water if needed. When very soft and fairly dry I add the flesh of the plums and stir well. It’s ready to use. Perfect with pork, chicken, white fish, potatoes… I served it with boiled potatoes, spinach and grilled swordfish. Perfectly balanced.

December 11, 2016

Friday’s gnocchi

It is almost a ritual when we arrive at our country house late on Friday evening to have dinner based on gnocchi. Each time I prepare them differently, each time with some vegetables of course. Recently I really like the combination of burdock and parsley, I find the tastes match perfectly and the parsley color enhances the grayish white of the burdock. Both are also great with butter or olive oil. And with the gnocchi it fits perfectly. I cut the burdock in small sticks and blanched them, then in a frypan with a bit of olive oil I roast them, add the parsley, boil the gnocchi in the meantime and serve, with a bit more olive oil, and black pepper. It goes very well with parmegiano too!

All the best for this weekend!!!

December 10, 2016

Stuffed lotus root

It’s been quite a while I wanted to try making stuffed lotus root, but somehow, I never did… Probably because usually I buy rather small and thin lotus roots and I cannot imagine how to stuff them. Finally, I found some huge lotus root, very fresh and nice, so it was THE chance! I hesitated with different option for the filling, but finally opted for chicken. Just chicken. I peeled and washed the lotus root. Stuffing was very easy then I cut them in large slices and cooked them in a bit of oil in a fry pan, flipping them a few times and until golden on both sides. I served them with rice and nori, and with a few little pickled plums. And will try again to stuff lotus roots with some vegetarian or vegan options very soon!!!

December 8, 2016