Spring Wedding

One of my best friends got married on the weekend, I meet her six years ago when I was studying abroad in Japan. She was my first ever Japanese friend and it was truly an honour when she invited me to her wedding. She and her now husband have been together for seven years! It's amazing to see, I believe she has found her happy-ever-after :)

Beginnings and Endings

Though somedays it's still pretty cold here in Japan, spring is starting. The flowers are blooming. March is also the time when 3rd grade Junior Highschoolers have to graduate. It was quite a moving ceremony, especially at the end when the homeroom teachers lead each of their classes out.

Spring is coming

Flowers Blooming infront of the school

Art drawn by my students

Graduation Ceremony, the stage decorated with beautiful flowers

White Gallery Opening Charity Event

Saturday my friends invited me to a charity event for HIV awareness at "White Gallery". It's my first time ever to go to charity event in Japan. The gallery itself is amazing, with great interiors. There are all sorts of things sold such as paintings, accessories, clothes, furniture. But all the items made by the staff and children in Thailand are sold and proceedings help towards that organisation which supports those kids with HIV/AIDS.

Tiles made by an Art Professor who now owns the gallery

Glorious Food

Buttons!

Teddy, mady by the kids and staff in Thailand
Nail Polish: China Glaze's 108 Degrees

Strawberry Love

ah~ February the month of love. And what food better represents this than strawberries. Here are a couple of strawberry inspired foods that I have come across this month.

Mini French Toast, with strawberry cream garnish...Cute and Delicious

Homemade Mimosa

Strawberry, oats, rose petals, greentea, herbs, oil and sugar makes the best organic facemask.

Strawberry Roll Cake

Valentine's Day Chocolate, cutely wrapped and made by one of my girls!

Nikujaga

Nikujaga is a delicious Japanese Beef-Potato Stew. It's a nice winter comfort food and the easiest Japanese food to make. I've eaten this 4 times in a row now! I can't get bored, it's just rich with flavour.

Nikujaga
Serves 2-4
5 potatoes
2 carrots
1/2 sliced onion
200g thin sliced beef or minced
1tablespoon oil
2tablespoon sake
1 and half cup water
1tablespoon sugar
2tablespoon mirin
3tablespoon soysauce
pinch of salt and pepper

1. Peel, wash and cut the potatoes and carrots into pieces and boil until soft and drain.

2. Heat pot and add the oil, fry the beef add a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Add the potato and carrots. Add sake.
4. Add water and bring to boil.
5. Add sugar, mirin and soysauce.
6. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5-10mins then add the onions and simmer again for another 10mins. The carrots and potatoes are already soft so you shouldn't have to simmer for too long, it's up to you. You can make the potatoes & carrots softer by mushing it with a spatula. The longer you simmer the more flavoursome it becomes.

Serve with rice and you're done! I also find it really goes well with peach water!