This Gujarati dessert is delicious, filled with probiotics, and is super easy to make! I learned about it from an Indian restauranteur in Okinawa, who showed me how to make it and offered instruction after my first botched attempt. It’s called shrikhand and is often made with lots of plain white sugar. Continue reading
Raita is a cooling dish that accompanies many spicy curries. It is usually made with a yogurt base, but I use milk kefir because they are very similar and the kefir is easy to make at home. The cooling properties of milk help to balance the heat from many Indian dishes. One of the most common varieties is cucumber raita, so I made one with raw lotus instead. It goes perfectly well with the Lotus Stalk Curry from last week. Continue reading
Lately at the Waki Farmers Market I find interesting and unidentified plant stalks. I don’t know what they are, so obviously I want them. I’m told that they’re lotus stem, and that they can be cooked, or rubbed with salt and eaten raw. You may be acquainted with the lotus root (a rhizome, though sometimes called a tuber), but this is something entirely different that I’ve never previously encountered. Continue reading
Hey, smoothie lovers! It’s time to think about swapping that raw, cold smoothie for something to balance the cooler weather. The autumnal equinox is right around the corner; time to shift gears and start nourishing our ojas for the winter. Continue reading
Did you know that you can eat the seeds and rind of a watermelon? I didn’t know growing up, even though I always enjoyed that white part between the melon and the skin. The rind and seeds provide plenty of nutrients that you won’t get from the melon flesh alone. The sweet and bitter tastes that come from eating all parts of the melon are a nice combination for the heat. Continue reading
We are in the midst of a move from Okinawa to Iwakuni. The kitchen isn’t quite set up and we’re still waiting for the bulk of our household items to arrive. I’m looking forward to expanding my wardrobe outside of this suitcase. Three pairs of pants…what was I thinking? I would also really like to sit at my desk to write. It’s the middle of summer, but I’m not complaining. I’ve got all the windows open and the ocean breeze is blowing. I’d like something to cool me down while I set up the house. Lucky for me, the rarely used, but always appreciated Popsicle molds ended up in our quick shipment. Sweet! Continue reading
I’ve never been a huge fan of carrot soup. I think it’s the limited texture and mouthfeel, so I get bored eating it. Lately we’ve been blessed with an abundance of beautiful purple carrots so I decided to make a soup that would satisfy my tastes. I jazzed this up with corn, sesame seeds, and chives. It makes for a great light dinner with plenty of crunch.
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In Japan, Houzuki is a “ground cherry.” It’s not that the fruit is mashed up, but that it is a low growing plant. When ready to be eaten, it tends to drop its fruit on the ground, hence the name I suppose. They ripen in their husk to a golden hue. I’ve heard the ground cherry likened to a gooseberry, but can’t attest to the similarity.
The ground cherry has a lively flavor that is at once sweet and acidic, like pineapple or tomato. The local farmers markets are flush with beautiful fruits, so I wanted to make a fresh fruit salsa. Continue reading
I’ve been on a chutney kick lately. Chutney goes well with rice, pasta, corn cakes, and idli (fermented bean and rice cakes). It makes a great dip, but it’s so good that I’ve been known to eat it by the spoonful. If you struggle with finding new ways to pack a ton of vegetables into a meal, then chutney is a great choice. Continue reading
I spent the past week working at an organic farm on Okinawa. Gee whiz, the life of a farmer is rough! The work is hard and the rewards are great! In addition to feeding pigs (blech!), I learned about the farm-to-table concept. Husband and I talk about a small farm of our own one day, so I was testing the waters. I think it will be a good fit, so long as we can find farmland, in the middle of the suburbs, for a great price. This experience afforded me plenty of opportunity to practice Japanese and eat delicious organic food. Continue reading