Merry Christmas, everyone!
Have a wonderful and safe weekend.
Tomorrow we are going to my brother-in-law’s house to have a family get-together.
Today we are relaxing at home enjoying my new concoction, Apple Cider Sparkling Sake, and watching the Vikings game.
This Apple Cider Sparkling Sake is super tasty!
I mixed apple cider sparkling juice from Trader Joe’s and “Sayuri” nigori sake I got from Costco, half and half.
I’m on Instagram.
Okay.
Yes, I admit.
This was made from the leftover ingredients from the previous post, Pumpkin Dorayaki.
Well, what do you do when you have a lot of filling and a few pancakes left?
I make omelette!
Omelette is typically known as an egg dish here, but in Japan this type of sweet omelette is quite popular.
As the previous post of Dorayaki, this one has Japanese sweet red bean paste and spiced pumpkin cream cheese as a filling.
So tasty!!
Pumpkin Omelette
1. Make Dorayaki pancakes and fillings following this recipe. Place the fillings on Dorayaki pancakes and fold them like omelette.
Well, last weekend we were invited to a birthday/Halloween party.
We were planning to go to the party but we did not see the invitation say “please wear a costume” until a few days before the party!
So I decided to wear my old dress and go as a flapper!
This was a tryout the day before the party.
I bought a few accessories, like gloves, a boa, tights, headband, and a wig.
This was me with a headband.
I wasn’t sure about the headband, and I went back and forth about this.
With my facial features, I was afraid that I would rather look like Pocahontas!
I did go to the party with the headband.
It kind made me look ridiculous (lol), but that’s the fun part of going to a costume party, right?
This photo was taken after the party.
So here we are.
A (Japanese) flapper and D.B. Cooper.
I’m on Instagram.
Happy Friday!
How do you start your weekend?
Me?
Picking up fresh flowers is always a good way to start.
Also picking up a new food or drink to try is a fun thing to do for the weekend (or anytime for us!).
I was lucky to find this elderflower lemonade in a discount cart at the local grocery store. I have seen it before and I was interested mostly because I was curious about the “elderflower” flavor and the label was so pretty.
I was okay with the discounted price of $4.49.
(I later found out that the regular price was a little over 8 dollars a bottle.)
I didn’t know what to expect from “elderflower”.
I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not with my first sip, but I fell in love with my second sip!
This lemonade is delicious as it is, but I added a splash of vodka.
It was a BIG hit for me!
It’s a simple drink, but super refreshing, unique, sophisticated, and absolutely delicious!!
Elderflower Lemonade Drink
Elderflower Lemonade
vodka
ice cubes
a slice of lemon or lime
1. Pour elderflower lemonade in a glass over ice cubes.
2. Add a splash of vodka.
3. Serve with a slice of lime or lemon.
Who is ready for a party?!
I’m on Instagram.
We are on the 95% plant based diet, but we sometimes do eat a lot more meat than we are supposed to.
Interestingly, our bodies usually notice something is different and “tell” us that we need to go back to our diet.
After a few meat-heavy meals, we wanted to make smoothie.
Here are the main ingredients: Shungiku, pineapple, and apples.
Find out interesting nutritional facts about Shungiku.
Initially I was thinking about buying pre-cut pineapple, but when you compare the prices and how much you get, choosing a whole pineapple is a no-brainer!
Especially if you know how to peel and cut a pineapple!
Shungiku Smoothie
2 cups of peeled and cut pineapple
2 cups of cut apples
2 cups of shungiku
1/2 lime, peeled
soy milk (to achieve preferred consistency)
1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth.
I found this cool denim apron at a store attached to the restaurant called Machine Shed.
When I saw it hanging on a rack in the corner of the store, I knew I wanted it. When I looked for a price tag, I couldn’t find it, but I did see a name tag attacked to it instead.
That’s when I realized that it was not for sale but it was one of the employees’ uniform apron!
The store manager kindly went to look for a new apron in their office and sold it for me.
It’s funny but I tend to want things that are not for sale!
(Another apron I fell in love with was also initially seen at a store where the employees were wearing it.)
I love unique details like this button.
I’m on Instagram.
When life gives you oranges, make orange soda!
Well, ginger orange soda, to be exact.
Or make orange art.
Or a silly face (lol).
OK. Let’s go back to the ginger orange soda.
Growing up in Japan, we didn’t drink a lot of soda.
But my mom would let me and my sister choose a flavored soda after our swimming lesson.
She knew that I was always so reluctant to go to the class.
I still don’t drink a lot of soda, and when I actually drink store-bought soda, the flavor is a bit too strong to me.
Homemade soda like this one is perfect for me.
It’s so fresh and absolutely delicious.
(By the way, my choice of soda during my childhood was Fanta Grape.)
Check out what other cool things (this, this, or this), you can make when life gives you oranges.
Ginger Orange Soda
ginger syrup
– 1/2 cup sugar
– 1/2 cup water
– 2 tablespoons ginger slices
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice; I used 7 oranges
1 lemon, juice
1/2 cup soda water
ice cubes
orange slices, for garnish
mint, for garnish
1. Make ginger syrup. Combine all the ingredients in a pot. Boil and then remove from heat. Let it cool.
2. Combine orange juice, lemon juice, and soda water.
3. Add the ginger syrup one tablespoon at a time. Taste and continue to add until it achieves your preferred sweetness. You probably do not need all.
4. Serve over ice cubes. Garnish with orange slices and mint leaves.
The inspiration came from a picture at someone’s blog. I don’t remember exactly where, but her kiwi lemonade looked VERY green.
I had that color in my head when I made mine, but mine turned out to be this. Not VERY green, but probably more natural.
And I think I’m okay with it.
Food fun and food art as usual.
I can’t help it.
I love this jug. It’s so pretty!
Check out another awesome lemonade, too.
Kiwi Lemonade
2 cups water
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup kiwi, pureed
1.5 cup sparkling water
ice cubes
fresh mint
1. Combine water, sugar, and ginger in a pot. Boil the water. Stir and make sure the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Let it cool for about an hour.
2. Remove ginger from the syrup. Add lemon juice, pureed kiwi, and sparkling water.
3. Serve with ice cubes and fresh mint.
Hi! I'm Reiko. It's pronouced "Ray-Co". Yes, it's a Japanese name, and I was born and raised in Japan. I first came to the U.S. ...→
