Making Great Art Is About Being More Of Who You Are

Sorry my last post was a whiny one. I’m quite good at that, whining. So much so that my primary school teacher, my Payne, told me, as I whinged my way through the wet mud on school camp, that he’d never met someone so complaining and impatient before. Though in my defence (and his) the same teacher gave me the class diligence award at the end of the year. So, I am complaining but I am persistent, too. Yes, a woman of many qualities. Alas, don’t you think I have good reason to complain? Harry seems to think so. You know, Harry from When Harry Met Sally? He takes the words straight out of my mouth when in his epic declaration of love he says: “when you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
So, I keep busy…
I bake. 
I shop.

I work.

And I work some more (watching Japanese movies for my next Savvy article).

And I reassure myself that this too shall pass. For almost one year has passed since mummy and daddy came to visit me in rural Japan where my life was so very different to what it is today.

Trying their first ramen. 
Enjoying sakura (cherry blossom) season. A
And watching their daughter imitate Mimasaka’s best sushi chef.

Day Nine, Our First Hanami!

Hanami literally means “flower viewing”, however, it commonly refers only to cherry blossom viewing. Cherry blossom viewing is easy: simply enjoy the intensity of the many blossoms by looking at a single tree or a group of trees and eat good food. I made Petite Kitchen’s gluten and refined-sugar free cheesecake topped with 100% cherry jam, My New Root’s Life-Changing Loaf, hummus, babaganoush/eggplant dip (recipe below) and a simple pasta salad with tuna, blue-cheese stuffed olives, red onion, parsley and cherry tomatoes. My beautiful friend Mina prepared a vegetable frittata, brown rice, carrot, mushroom and soybean onigiri (rice ball), rice-paper rolls, semi-dried bananas, a tomato salad and cut fruit. It was all so good. I am so happy. Happy one year Japanniversary to me! <3

PS: Just like that, sakura carpets, already!

Babaganoush:
1 large eggplant
2 tbsp tahini
juice of half a lemon
2 garlic cloves

Optional toppings: a handful of skinned then roasted pistachio nuts, some sesame seeds, and a small dollop of extra virgin olive oil.

You’re going to take me as a fool but I’m not kidding, honto (really in Japanese). Place the eggplant as is in a toaster oven or normal oven on high heat (mine goes up to 220) until burnt on the outside and squishy on the inside. Don’t fret the burnt skin, it’s what gives this dip its smoke.

When cooled, scoop out the insides and blitz alongside remaining ingredients (excluding toppings – well, duh) in a food processor or in batches, in a blender like moi. Das all. Top with toppings and enjoy with bread, cut veggies, grissini or what have you!

Japan’s One And Only White Castle: Day 3/4

Day 3:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (I mean Anisa’s) followed by a road-trip to Okayama Aeon Mall then a pizza dinner in Iran (I mean Wake Town). For dessert, black tea and Persian sweets!

Day 4: An entire day spent at Himeji castle during the beautiful (I mean busy) sakura season. Kirei yo! Then a much needed supper ft my healthy treats at home.

Spring Has Come!

Hi lovely followers! Just posting to let y’all know that spring has come to Japan! It was 19 degrees this weekend! 19! After being in the negatives, with snow only a few days ago. And personally, I am feeling much better, much less blue. Which I think is due to a combination of the spiritual powers of the fast, and the beauty of these blossoms! Oh the blossoms! Only three more weeks and they will be even more beautiful and I will be sight-seeing them with my parents. Can’t stop day-dreaming over here!

“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…
“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett

“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest.”
― Ernest Hemingway

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. (Sonnet XCVIII)”
― William Shakespeare

“That is one good thing about this world…there are always sure to be more springs.”
― L.M. Montgomery

“Too much sun after a Syracuse winter does strange things to your head, makes you feel strong, even if you aren’t.”
― Laurie Halse Anderson

“Spring is a powerful spell. The blue. The clouds high up and puffy. The air warmer than it’s been for weeks.”
― Jenny Downham

“The first real day of spring is like the first time a boy holds your hand. A flood of skin-tingling warmth consumes you, and everything shines with a fresh, colorful glow, making you forget that anything as cold and harsh as winter ever existed.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

“In the winter you may want the summer; in the summer, you may want the autumn; in the autumn, you may want the winter; but only in the spring you dream and want no other season but the spring!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

“I want to do with you what spring does with cherry trees.”
― Pablo Neruda