Beautiful Camellia flowers! I got bunches from my local friend the other day. Such a lovely colour of spring Camellia. The arranged flowers reminded me of Japan, and an idea came into my head. "Let me try to dress Renon in the Yukata!"
Yukata is a kind of Kimono, a Japanese traditional summer clothes. Because of the complexity of dressing way, many people cannot wear Kimono by themselves today. Compared with the Kimono, Yukata is worn at casual scene and the dressing method is not so complecated. But there are some roles, and the knowledges are still needed to be done beautifully. I took lessons of how to dress it during my stay in Japan last June.
**************************************************************************************** Dressing class for Kimono: I attended to 2 classes for dressing of Yukata in a day of rainy June. There were some great experienced people and some beginner people like me. Got knowledges from tutor, I dressed myself and undressed it, repeat and repeat... Adding to a basic method for tying Obi (sash), I learnt the variation style which is cool.
Beautiful class room where tatami mat laid and special closet stood side by side for Kimono. I saw an amazing artful work of tying Obi which was done by a top student. ****************************************************************************************
Nearly 4 months passed now, I was not sure if I remembered the way. But would try to dress Renon (my daughter) who was back home for school holiday. It took time. While doing it several times again, I came while following memory at last. I did basic method for Obi (sash) called "Bunko-musubi", but didn't remember the other one of variation style.
A few days later, I tried again to do the variation style, using with my Yukata, hoping it remind me how to tie....But I couldn't, so did the same of "Bunko-musubi" again. Renon was happy dressed in Yukata again, anyway !!
We sometimes have strange weather during this time (before summer season comes), strong wind, storm, thunder, and hails! Getting lid of such a bad weather, a Japanese couple visited us on a beautiful day. The doctor and midwife couple loved NZ wine, enjoyed with my 4 course dinner.
Lamb & Daikon (red wine version) (・・・forgot to take photoes for this main! メインの写真、うっかり撮り忘れました!)
Wine : Huntaway-reserve- Pinot Noir (2011) Central Otago pinot noir, the pleasant balance of the fruity taste, spice note, and silky texture goes well with Japanese style stew of lamb & Daikon.
**************************************************************************************** Great sunny morning! No wind! They must enjoyed beautiful scenery about the route to Mt.Cook and Tekapo. Next time, I will introduce them to other great spots in Wanaka. So please stay over for 3 nights!
The next project is LANDSCAPING ! Our back yard has a slope area and a great lake & mountain view from the top, but nothing any good steps or deck there. Just weeds !!! Should be done something !
Got a landscaper, who has been a friend, to work with there. His wife took me to a garden visit tour last year and showed some beautiful places around here & there.
Visited a garden center to find plants what I would like to have. どんな植物を購入したらいいか、ガーデンセンターに通って相談したり・・・
At the first, cherry trees were shifted to another place in early August. Amazing ! I was fascinated in his great work. He replace the tree of over 200kg by hemself. まずは、桜の木の位置を変える、ということで、8月初めに移植完了。 移植のときは目が釘付けになりました。 根っこも深く、かなりの重量で、200kgはあるだろう木を彼ひとりで動かしたさまは圧巻! かなり悪戦苦闘していたときに、思わず 「あの~手伝いましょうか?」と声かけてみたけど、「いらない」とすぐ断られました。
Then...the landscaping work has been stopped for two months for some reasons. The cherry trees became in full blossom and then scattered one after one during the break. "I'm waiting, please!!"
I would love to enjoy cold beer at the top deck of the garden in this summer. Is it possible? Anyway, I try to make pickled blossoms while I'm waiting for re-start of landscaping.
******** Making pickled Cherry blossoms (桜の花の塩漬けづくり)*************
I have wanted to make this pickled blossoms at the season. It's just the time now. They could be preserved for 1~2 years and be used for cooking. Great eye-catch on dishes at the end of winter especially when we wait for spring season comes. So I can use them in the next year (August?).
The next stage: Remove excess water and sprinkle vinegar (I used Apple cider vinegar), then do a weight of lighter 100g for a week. The vinegar makes them bright pink!
I got a starter of "Amish Friendship Bread" from my local friend. Have you heard about it?
It's that gets passed around from friend to friend. It includes the recipe for the starter, and gives complete directions for how to make it once the starter is ready. When people got the starter from their friend, they follow the instructions beginning at Day-1 for keeping the condition at room temperature until it's ready for baking at Day-10. After adding milk/sugar/flour and mix, divide it into 4 portions. Taking one of them, add some more ingredients and bake. Other 3-portions would be given to friends who starts to keep it as it is at Day-1 to repeat the process.
I followed the instructions that I did mash the starter through the plastic bag everyday. I added milk/sugar/flour into it at Day-6, then mash it everyday until Day-10. The yeast is cultivated by milk/sugar/flour. Great aroma comes through during the fermentation for 10 days!! No use of metal utensils, no use of fridge, which is Amish's way.
It was baking day at Day-10. After add another milk/sugar/flour, divided it into four. With the one-portion, I baked it after adding other ingredients. (I ignored one of ingredients "one packet of instant vanilla pudding" since I didn't stock it. Probably it's ok because it says "Can add it" in the recipe.)
Sliced and tasted...plesant moisuture, good simplicity... Will make it again next time (which is 10 days later) adding some other ingredients as the variations !!
Then, I did again after the 10 days. Two different flavours this time. というわけで、その10日後の今日、またベイクの日がやってきました。 今度は2種類。 シュガーとオイルの量を2/3に減らして、具やトッピングで食感を楽しみました。
Cake with dark chocolate chips, cranberries, and mixed nuts, with coffee crumble topping.
Got 1-large loaf & 3-small loafs. Loved the both taste. I wonder if it works to make real bread (not cake), and got some information. Wow,250-recipes here! http://www.friendshipbreadkitchen.com/recipe-box