Kansha: Celebrating Japan's Vegan and Vegetarian Traditions: A Cookbook REVIEW

Since cooking is one of my hobbies, I've decided to include some cookbook reviews on my blog. I am especially interested in the cuisines of different cultures. One food culture that I have spent an excessive amount of time learning is Japanese (surprise). I believe I was originally inspired by anime since many of them include scenes of people eating. Another appeal is that it is such a different food culture than the European-based one I am used to. Okay, I am diverging from the topic at hand!

According to the author, Kansha means something along the lines of thankfulness or gratitude.

This book is really for someone that enjoys cooking as a hobby. The recipes are more difficult because there are a significant number of detailed steps. I find that when I cook these recipes, I must refer back to the book often. It is ironic, because I think my palette is really not refined, so if I were to mess up steps (as I have done many times) I am not sure I could even tell the difference.

I have yet to tackle every single recipe in the book, but below are some of my favourite ones I have made so far:

• Skillet-Seared Daikon with Yuzu
• Heaven and Earth Tempura Pancakes
• Gingery Enoki Mushrooms with Carrots
• Crispy and Creamy Kabocha Croquettes
• Peppery Kelp Squares

I've found some recipes are also difficult to follow because the cooking times do not always work out. For example, it might say to cook something for x minutes but then it does not end up cooked enough.

Unfortunately, I'm not spectacular at documenting everything I've made. So I don't have much in they way of pictures.

Winter pancakes from the Heaven and Earth tempura pancakes recipe

Peppery kelp squares, which we refer to as rice friends (as they are mentioned in the book) is a recipe that I have revisited so many times. They are an excellent addition to plain rice and also with yuba. It is not a main recipe, but a garnish.

I have a new Japanese cookbook on its way to me. It is Japanese Cooking: Contemporary & Traditional [Simple, Delicious, and Vegan]! I have been wanting this book since 2012. Now that I'm done university and have more time to dedicate towards cooking, I am excited to add this book to my collection.

Zero Waste Natto? DIY!

I want to share how I have made natto at home.
Basically, I have followed the steps from Emmy in Japan's DIY Natto in an Instant Pot video as well as following along with Natto Dad's advice on his blog.
The main difference between my recipe and theirs is how I cover the natto while fermenting. Their method consists of two layers of cling-wrap with holes pricked using a toothpick. I don't own cling-wrap. What I have done instead is use a combination of parchment paper and aluminum foil.

While the natto ferments, there is a layer of cling-wrap that is pressed up to the surface of the beans. For this layer, I used parchment paper. I chose parchment paper for this layer because I didn't want the metal touching the beans. I am not sure, but somehow I worry that it could interfere with the flavour (this is totally unfounded). For the top layer, I use aluminum foil. I also add a rubber band to make sure everything is secure.

I also use a sanitized pin/needle to poke the holes in the two coverings instead of a toothpick.

Parchment paper can be composted. Aluminum foil can be recycled. I suppose you could try to reuse the aluminum foil, but it would require sanitation. The rubber band and pin are of course both reusable.

Basically, all I am writing here is that the plastic wrap can be replaced with reusable, recyclable and compostable materials!

Unfortunately, there's a part of this process that isn't zero waste, because you need to start with something. I've started with store bought natto that comes in styrofoam. Since the natto from the store is cut into 9 pieces, we are still getting a whole lot of natto per styrofoam package in comparison to just buying from the store and not making it at home. I think if I make a particularly good batch in the future, I will preserve some of that natto and see if I can propagate from that instead of using store bought.

I also suggest looking for soybeans at bulk stores that allow you to bring your own containers. I bring a mesh bag into Bulk Barn and am able to buy a large amount of soybeans for a very low cost. Hopefully, this post can help someone who isn't sure about making the process a little bit more environmentally friendly.

Restoring a Coaster + Delft Lotta

I have had this really pretty coaster for a while now. I do not even know where it came from. It's damaged and I had meant to fix it so much sooner but now that I've left it so long, the damages are so bad that I need to restore the image on the coaster.

I decided to go ahead and finally fix it now that I have access to all my art supplies. First I had to apply glue to paste down parts of the image that were coming loose and would soon come off. Then, I began to apply paint onto the parts of the image that are missing.

I didn't think to take this picture until I'd already applied clear glue to save the parts that are left and began painting.

I'm just starting with a base of the colours and will fill in details later. 

After applying a base of paint.

One thing I did not do was repair the background yet. It's stained, most likely from tea. I need to create a proper off-white to do this but felt it should be left until everything else had dried. This is probably going to be a long project as there are many fine details in the image. I will have to decide just how detailed I will go into what I add back in. Once the painting is done, I will have to make sure to seal it.

Here is a coordinate on my dress form for my new Delft Lotta jumperskirt from Innocent World. Somehow I wound up with what I am pretty sure is the long version. >;( I've been trying to decide whether or not I want to alter it, wait to find the short version for sale or just run with it and try out a long style dress. I am really digging this dress and this coordinate I've created. I can't believe I was able to find the matching head bow as well. It's a perfect size <3 The material is quite light-weight and doesn't seem to require ironing. The material is not the exact same as my Marie Rose dress, but the effect is the same. They are both a nice polyester. 

Coordinate Rundown:

Dress: Delft Lotta - Innocent World

Bolero: Enchanted Midnight Spell - Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Blouse: Rose Lace Tulle Blouse - Beth

Head Bow: Delft Lotta - Innocent World

Shoes: Unknown - Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Socks: Unknown - Innocent World

Btw, delft is a type of pottery art from Europe (English or Dutch, I guess) which typically has an image in blue on a white background. Cool to know where this dress got such an odd (to me) name!

Ponders and Pictures

Pondering about my style right now. It seems I am evolving more towards classic-sweet and away from sweet. It's difficult because I value my old Angelic Pretty prints (Milky-Chan, Vanilla-Chan, etc), but maybe I should let some of them go? On the other hand, I am really wishy-washy when it comes to just about anything. I might just as soon go back to loving sweet next week. 

Some other random thoughts:

• I want to sell things, but I have a hard time letting go, even things I have never worn or haven't worn in years.
• I think I have way too many things in baby pink. I find it hard to wear something that has too much solid vibrant pink on it.
• Sweet classic seems easier to wear and more true to my heart.

I want to get more brooches. I think they just add something more to a coordinate. I have had this brooch for a really long time and I think it goes quite well with this print. Also, it seems a lot larger in real life?

I finally finished the headdress I wanted to make for Whimsical Vanilla-Chan. I actually started all over again and took everything apart. I had stopped making this headdress/head bow when I finally acquired the matching head bow to the dress. However, the matching head bow is WAY too big for my tiny head. It looks ridiculous. Upon inspection, I realized that the one I was originally making was also way too big. For the revised plan, I drew inspiration from the head bows of IW's Delft Lotta and AP's Wonder Memories. I'm still undecided about sticking a clip on the back of this or putting a plain headband through it.

This OP is The Tamers by Smoothy. I've never heard of this brand before, I am really uneducated on Chinese brands. I'm super tempted to pre-order this dress. It was actually an Instagram advert from DevilInspired that showed (showed... is that even a proper word?) this to me. I guess ads really do work sometimes ^^;
Why do I like long-sleeved OPs so much?

I Named it Now, K

I named the blog. Not sure if I will keep it. I am just testing it out for now.

Trying to Become a Volunteer and Losing Things in the Mail

AHHHHHHHHHHH

Charlotte's Freedom Farm is looking for volunteers and I filled out an application!! o(≧∇≦o)

I hope they like my application! I want to go there and work in the dirt and see the animals!


I've had A LOT of stuff come in the mail btw. But I am not going to take pics yet because some of it is real wrinkly and in need of a wash (mum's washer died RIP). That's not all... a package is lost in the mail right now, it seems. Canada Post doesn't have any information about the package at all and on the site from the country that it's shipped from it has never updated since the seller dropped it off. ;-;

This will be the second package that has become lost in the mail since May. ARGH

I hope that it isn't really lost and they've just fumbled scanning it (it's happened before). In the package is the Delft Lotta JSK in blue short version and I even had found and bought the matching head bow for it.

This could be me ^^^

Actually, I don't have the matching socks or that ribbon on the neck. But still. 

Picnic

We had a picnic meetup on Saturday. The weather was over 30 Celsius but by the water in the shade we were totally fine. Surprisingly, some people didn't show up so it really was just my direct group of friends. Which was fine! I think my sister was a bit disappointed though.

The meet was supposed to be strawberry and sweets themed so I wore Sheep Garden with my new Strawberry Parlour hat WHICH DOES NOT FIT ME >:(

Charlotte's coordinate was super awesome:

Mostly Putumayo 

She borrowed one of Brittany's wigs. Brittany and I were together at the drug store when she found that wig. It is by Gothic Lolita/Rockstar Wigs. I was surprised to see it there and on sale.

My brother also came with us! Him and his friends are into men's fashion. They have a lot of really nice and unique pieces of clothing. He complimented Raymond on his coordinate. Maybe one day my brother could get into Aristocrat. He is really thin (despite his ability to eat inhuman amounts of sugar) and only a bit taller than myself so he would definitely fit into brand clothing.

Brittany wore her bunnies and tea cups JSK and cute butterfly clips in her hair. Sadly, I didn't get any good shots of her outfit. 

All our snacks! I brought iced tea. The flavour was Sunny C from David's Tea. I brought orange pekoe in a thermos and some soy milk to go along with it. For snacks I brought golden oreos, tea biscuits, dried fruits, chocolate, peanut butter and the jam that my husband made. I highly suggest golden oreos/tea biscuits paired with strawberry/raspberry jam. It is a very good combination and everyone else thought so too. >:)

I brought 70% and 90% chocolate. We all tried both to compare. The 90% didn't even taste much like anything, it was just powdery. 70% was the best.

Raymond brought a whole bunch of snacks from Japan, Brittany brought fruit salad and dates (which were far superior to mine), cookies and trail mix, my siblings brought strawberries and candies. One of the candies were like gum drops with fruit and mint flavour combined together. It was unexpected! I didn't read the package label first ><;

Overall, we had a good time looking fancy and snacking. I was too tired to go through with finding someone to take our group's photo and then posing and everything so these snap shots will have to do. Brittany and I are currently discussing planning a meet up ourselves.