Hachihai-jiru (tofu soup) - A tremendous gift

One of the hardest things in my life was to bring his things from his office to home. 
Some of those were his favorite worn-out igloo lunch box and a magic kaleidoscope tube wand that he looked into many times while designing his passion - sound system -

I never thought that I would feel that way, because I was just fine while gathering his things to clean his office with his co-workers, while walking to my car with them helping me to carry his things, while saying good-bye to them, while situating myself into my car seat for a long drive to home and while watching the co-workers fading away from my sight through my car window. I was just fine.

Then, when I was about to start the car, all of a sudden, it hit me...a reality that I was sitting in my car with his things from his office not because he quit his job but because he no longer existed.

For the first time in my life, I truly sobbed uncontrollably pounding my head against the steering wheel.
For the first time in my life, I truly felt lonely and noticed that all the feelings that I had ever had was nothing compared to the feeling I had at that moment in my car, in front of the steering wheel.

That moment was a beginning of a journey to discover how courageous, strong and compassionate I am. 
The moment came to me suddenly and it was transformed to a tremendous gift - a discovery of a new me- a gift that you never, ever want to miss.

I remember a great soup that I was fed by my great aunt long time ago in Japan, when I was so exhausted after crying so much over my mother's death.  The soup was called "Hachihai-jiru", which was made by dashi soup with lots of silken tofu, green onions and mushrooms.  It was so good that I gulped the soup and ate seven more bowls, and she said  "Hachihai-jiru was named after exactly how you are eating, eat more.."

八  = hachi =  eight

杯 = hai =  times

汁 = jiru = soup

I thought she was joking but she was not.  The soup gave me energy, courage and hope to live so that I can be stronger and more compassionate woman like those amazing ladies, my mother, aunt and great aunt, and all those people who fed their children.

Hachihai jiru

Ingredients:

• 1 package Tofu (silken), cut lengthwise
• 3 bunch Green onions, cut lengthwise
• 5 pices shiitake or shimeji mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 4 cups dashi soup stock (dissolve 2 teaspoon gragules or 1 stick)
• 4 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoon Mirin
• sea salt

Cooking:

• Cook mushrooms in 4 cups dashi soup stock until the mushrooms become tender
• Add green onions and tofu
• Add Mirin and soy sauce
• Bring to a boil
• Add a pinch of sea salt

Serve immediately and eat eight bowls if you can...

Miso soup - a surge of happiness

I was driving from Austin to San Antonio to join my soul mate's half sisters' Thanksgiving dinner and looking up the cloudless blue sky which spreads unlimitedly in front of me, and almost suddenly, felt a surge of happiness.

Never imagined that I was able to feel like this by just looking up the sky when driving to such occasion, because such occasion should remind me of many memories with my soul mate... the occasion that I used to joyfully ride with him. Those days, I never imagined that a life could end instantly without any preparation.

This sky I was looking up was a magic, I thought.  

Then, I realized that there was no magic in this substantial world.  

I realized that magic was in me.

And I discovered that a surge of happiness could happen even in the most unlike situation.

As I was smiling and looking up the sky, I felt that maybe I have been living all my life just for this moment. 

Here I am,  I feel an urgency to share a surge of happiness but it is a glimpse of happiness, just like Miso soup that gives me an instant joy because of its taste but I have no doubt that its nutrition is not an instant but lasts forever in my body, which could be a magic of Miso (fermented soy beans) in this substantial world.

Miso Soup

Ingredients:

3 cup Japanese soup stock (bonito fish or sea kelp, called "Dashi")

1 table spoon dried wakame seaweed

1/2 package of Tofu (or any vegetables you like)

2 table spoon Miso paste

chopped green onions

Cooking:

• Heat up the dashi soup stock (dissolve 2 teaspoon gragules or half stick)
• Add hard ingredients such as vegetables until tender
• Add dried wakame seaweed and tofu
• Take the miso in a ladle, and add a little bit of the hot stock, Mix the miso and stock together in the ladle with a chopstick until the miso is dissolved. 

• Dissolve the miso mixture in the soup
• Don't let it boil or the flavor will dissipate
• Serve immediately

Wakame salad - Simply beautiful

Old days in Japan, a breathtakingly handsome man (or woman) was expressed in a very interesting way.

Water dripping from a good man (or woman)

I never knew this expression's derivation until I came to US and started paying more attention to my own culture. 

The expression derived from a Japanese traditional theater called "Kabuki". It is known to be played by only male actors who wears heavy makeup to create a brightly painted mask. They applies oil and waxes on his face to help the makeup stick to the skin. Then a thick coat of white makeup is put to cover the whole face...therefore, those handsome actors, national celebrities, are shinning with beeswax makeup while they are performing the dance drama erotically and beautifully.  (Hope this does not sound strange.)

I also learned that, in Japan, a beautiful face does not mean a perfect features like a chiseled Greek sculpture but with a perfectly beautiful skin. 

The beautiful skin is dewy shinning skin, which prevents skin from aging and maintain a good PH balance. 

Therefore, the dewy shinning skin is illuminated and sexy skin like Kabuki actors.

It sounds funny but every time I eat very simple dish which contains excess water and fiber, I feel that my skin is becoming like those Kabuki actors' not in an excess makeup way but the illuminating and dewy way.  

Wakame (seaweed) salad is one of those simply beautiful food. 

I am almost intoxicated in this simplicity...that this simple dish flushes the toxins  from my polluted body and I am becoming Kabuki male actors with sexy and dewy skin...

Wakame Salad

Ingredients:
1 ounce dried wakame seaweed
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons seasoned rice-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted white sesame seeds (optional)
Sesame oil (optional)

Cooking:
1. Put the wakame in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak 5 to 10 minutes until softened and expand. Drain in a colander. Pat dry or lightly squeeze to rid of excess water.
2. Add sliced cucumber.
3. Mix with rice-wine vinegar.
4. If you like, add a dash of sesame oil, soy sauce, or sugar to adjust the flavor the way you like. 
5. If you like, Sprinkle the salad with sesame seed.

Hijiki - Ultimate way of living

After spending my life in US about 24 years, I have come to an realization that after all, aging is not so bad... in fact, aging can be exciting if you discover an ultimate way of living in your best way possible.

For me, the ultimate way of living is to appreciate and cherish my heritage.

I was born at a northeastern portion of main island in Japan, where the 2011 Tsunami and earthquake attacked, where I remember a breathtaking scenery but a harsh cold climate, where I am so proud of coming from, but I can no longer call as my hometown since I have lived in US for so long and felt at home at my small duplex in Austin Texas every time I come back from Japan trip.

For me, the ultimate way of living is a lot to do with what you eat, how you eat and when you eat.

I discovered that living in my best way possible is to eat what I like when I am hungry with much appreciation and pleasure.

I feel so clear when I eat good food, and feel that every ounce of the food I ate was not wasted in my body but it makes who I am from the core of my entire being physically and mentally.

Hijiki (seaweed) is one of my super foods that I enjoy to eat once a while when I need power and energy.

Hijiki is rich in fibre and essential minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium. Also, it aids health and beauty, and thick black lustrous hair like mine!

Hijiki

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dried Hijiki - such as welpac brand

Water to soak Hijiki

1/2 cup julienned carrots

Edamame or green beans (sliced) - or Shiitake mashroom (sliced)
1 cup Japanese soup stock (bonito fish or sea kelp, called "Dashi")
1Tbsp Sugar or less
1.5 Tbsp Soy sauce
1Tbsp Mirin (Sweet Japanese cooking rice wine)

Cooking:

• Rinse hijiki to remove any sand.
• Place hijiki in a bowl with water. Let soak for 15 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, heat sesame oil over low-medium heat. Add carrots and vegetables and cook until softened.
• Add hijiki, soup stock, mirin, and bring to a full boil.
• Add soy sauce, and bring to a simmer.
• Cover, lower heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Remove cover, turn up the flame a bit and boil off most of the liquid, stirring gently as you do so.

Serve cold or hot...