Results matching “travel” from Jeanette Hada's Wellness and Happiness Blog
For dinner we had yummy tempura zucchini with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce, and braised portabello mushrooms that were marinated to perfection. As our main course, we had tofu steaks that had pretty little heaps of mashed potato, crisp greens, and grilled sweet onions. Served on the side was a garden fresh mix of salad with juicy citrus and crisp pears. A deep purple, sticky sweet rice was also served. Everything was absolutely tasty and you could tell cooked with care.
We moved to the sitting area for a cup of light flavored chamomile tea from Korea and special treats prepared by my girlfriend. More crisp Asian pears and sweet oranges served with tiny whale toothpicks added just the right sweetness, and to make it even more perfect, she prepared a cake that wasn't too sweet and had bits of pistachios that added crunch and a complimenting flavor. See recipe below...
2 cups of sweetrice cake powder
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I hadn't seen my friend in two years, so this get-together was a very special one. It was our first time meeting her absolutely charming, talented and interesting husband. It was a blessing to meet a couple that pair together so well. Both are musically inclined, share a passion for traveling and fine food, as well as seem to be very in love with each other (after being together for 10 years).
~ pictures to follow at http://jeanette.hada.us
We just arrived in Japan yesterday after a long journey by car, plane, speedboat, and minivan!
Our first place to visit was my in-laws in Mie. My lovely mother-in-law, Misako-san, prepared a wonderful assortment of dishes of different types of sashimi, homegrown edamame (soybeans), lots of fresh vine-ripened veggies from their garden, and mixed rice loaded with yummy bits of shitake mushroom, tofu, and other greens. In addition to their green tea, they also have a huge garden of tomatoes, cucumbers, shiso (a type of basil), grapes, and much more.
For breakfast this morning, we had grilled mochi (rice cakes) wrapped in seaweed, miso (w/tofu, seaweed, and more mushrooms), fishcake stuffed with cucumber, and more melon and white peaches...yum!
This is "omurice" (Japanese-style omelette rice topped with demiglace sauce) from Clover Bakery in San Jose.
Last night I found two teabags of my favorite organic mulberry tea and enjoyed it alongside my pastries filled with spicy fish roe (mentaiko) this afternoon. The flavors brought back memories of our travels to Taiwan and Japan two years ago. Taipei is where I purchased this wonderful tea. Naoki and I often ate Japanese style pastries/bread while we were running around Japan hosting presentations and promoting our business.
I'm so excited about the opening of Nijiya here in San Jose! It will be the closest market to us that sells locally grown, organic produce, Japanese/Asian food items, delicious cooked lunch box sets, and yummy desserts!! We've been traveling to the Mountain View location to purchase their special organic brown rice and to Mitsuwa off of Saratoga Avenue to find other ingredients. This is so much more convenient.
Hopefully there will be other wonderful retail stores and restaurants that come to San Jose's Japantown!
* 100% Pure Organic Blackberry Honey from Oregon. - My dear friend introduced us to the best honey that makes everything you put it in tastes dreamy! That's not an exaggeration either. She is also able to get other wonderful natural bee products like propolis and royal jelly from the same beekeeper. Honey is currently on hand, so if you'd like to make a purchase let me know.
* All Natural Gelatin-free Gummy Bear Snacks - These contain a blend of freeze-dried fruits and veggies, along with other added essential nutrients. (No colors, fillers or preservatives) They are so tasty, I find them hard to resist eating by the handful.
* Natural and Super Fresh Tasting Japanese Green Tea - Brewed hot or cold, this is honestly the best green tea I've ever had. Most of the tea we buy at the supermarket has been sitting forever on the shelves or have been overprocessed. This tea is actually green and makes the perfect substitute to coffee in the morning. Does contain caffeine, but does not cause the jitters like coffee.
* Travel size Aloe Gel - Oftentimes most aloe products do not contain the active ingredients that fresh aloe does. This easy to carry gel is soothing to burns, cuts, and irritations. The healing ingredient of aloe has been stabilized in this product. Sunburns, papercuts, scrapes and bug bites are a few of the things we use this get on.
* Preservative/Paraben-Free Skincare - This line will launch in the U.S. in March of 2007; however, we are able to have our family ship it to us from Japan. It isn't anything like what is currently on the market and the results are remarkable! Did I mention I love the eye cream?
Please contact me directly via email at jeanette337 at gmail.com
During the hot summers, my favorite things to eat are foods that cool the body.
The wise Chinese view seasonality of foods in a more complex light, through the application of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) wisdom to dietary habits. In short, certain foods are considered too yang, or hot to eat in excess during the warmer months, while others are prized for their yin ability to cool the body, useful in the heat of summer. If all that sounds a bit too wacky for you, simply try to avoid eating things like beef tripe or sauteed snake meat in summer. Much too much yang! Save it for Spring Festival, or your next trip to Iceland, or something. Overall, the goal is internal balance between yin and yang forces within the body.http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/citylife/2006-06/08/content_611929.htm
I learned this while on one of our travels last year to Taiwan. It was such a treat to enjoy grass jelly desserts, fresh island fruits (pineapple, dragonfruit, guava, and lychee). The vegetarian restaurant our friend introduced to had the best selection of cold noodle salads, veggie sprout handrolls and blended ice drinks!
Slices of crisp English cucumbers between lightly toasted wheatbread, slathered with seasoned cream cheese are especially wonderful since they require little work and have lots of flavor. Fish, mushrooms, watercress, and chilled salads are also great at helping beat the heat.
