Tag Archive | "East Asia"

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Japanese Dessert: Yuzu Sorbet 1


This recipe is dedicated to Comestiblog who made the request!
This is the complicated one.
I will come with two more, far simpler!

Yuzu, ripe

Yuzu, young

The yuzu (Citrus ichangensis × C. reticulata, formerly C. junos Siebold ex. Tanaka; Japanese ユズ, 柚, 柚子 (yuzu); 유자 (yuja) in Korean; from Chinese 柚子, yòuzi) is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda. The fruit looks a bit like a very small grapefruit with an uneven skin, and can be either yellow or green depending on the degree of ripeness. Yuzu fruits, which are very aromatic, typically range between 5.5 and 7.5 cm in diameter, but can be as large as a grapefruit (up to 10 cm or larger).

The Japanese use yuzu, both young and ripe, depending whetherit is used for seasoning or making dessert.

For this recipe, use ripe yuzu.

INGREDIENTS:

A)
-Yuzu: 3
-Sugar: 70 g
-Water: 180 cc/ml
-White Wine: 50 cc/ml

B) Italian Meringue
-Egg white, 1 + 10 g (if egg white has been kept inside fridge, bring it back to room temperature!)
-Sugar, 50 g + water, 50 cc/ml

C) Yuzu zest marmelade
-Yuzu zest (skin): 1 whole fruit
-Sugar: 30 g
-Water: 30 CC

RECIPE:

-Peel off 2 of the 3 yuzu and chop finely, or grate them off directly from the fruit.
Peel the third one into thin strips (about 1 cm long) to be cooked in syrup to be used for decoration later.

-Press the juice off the 3 yuzu. You should obtain about 75 cc/ml of juice. Depending on the size and maturity of the fruit, you might fall short of your target. Either complement with water or an additional fruit.
Add the finely cut/grated yuzu zests/skin to juice.
Add 180 cc/ml of water, 50 g of sugar
Cook for a while to obtain a jam mixture.
Let cool completely and work it smooth with a blender.
Add wine and put inside freezer.

-Prepare the zest marmelade:
Peel off the zest/skin of 1 yuzu, cut into thin strips and chopp finely again across the legth.
Boil in water for 1~2 minutes.
Drain.
In a small pan, pour 30 cc/ml of water and 30 g of sugar.
Bring to boil.
Drop in the chopped yuzu zest/skin. Lower the fire to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
Let cool completely and store inside the fridge.

-Take out yuzu/wine mixture out of the freezer, break and mix with a fork and put back inside the freezer. Repeat the operation twice, leaving enough time in between to allow the mixture to freeze again.

-Once the yuzu/wine has frozen well, prepare the Italian meringue:

-In a small pan pour 50 cc/ml of water and 50 g of sugar. In that order, please!
As the quantity is small, heat on a lower fire until dissolved.
While the syrup is dissolving, beat the egg white in a clean bowl.
Add the sugar to egg white and beat again until “hard”.
Using an electric had mixer at middle speed, add the syrup little by little in a very thin thread, beating all the time. When all the syrup has been included, raise the speed and beat until to obtain a very smooth meringue.
Chill inside fridge.

Take the frozen yuzu/wine mixture. Break and mix with a hand mixer. Take care that it does not melt!

Use a patula or fork if you think that the hand mixer will melt it.
You should obtain the mixture as shown in above picture.

-Add half of the Italian meringue and mix carefully.

-Add the second half of the Italian meringue. Mix quickly but well.

-Pour in a metal dish (plastic is ok, but metal is better!) and keep inside freezer

-When serving, make sure it is well frozen.

-Serve decorated with yuzu zest marmelade

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope

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sake, shochu and sushi

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Vegetables Facts & Tips 9/1: Shiitake Mushrooms (Amended & expanded)


mushrooms-market
(Mushrooms at at a Shizuoka Supermarket)

I don’t intend to talk about wild mushrooms here as I would need a very thick book to post!
Japan is arguably the country cultivating the greatest number of varieties (new ones appear and disappear every year!), so I will limit myself to give information on at least some of them and furthermore introduce most varieties I have found in Japanese supermarkets (most of them should be available in many countries).

SHIITAKE

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FACTS:
Shiitake/Lentinula Edodes (Black Forest Mushrooms) are native to China but have been grown in both Japan and China since prehistoric times[2]. They have been cultivated for over 1000 years; the first written record of shiitake cultivation can be traced to Wu Sang Kwuang, born during the Song Dynasty (AD 960–1127). However, some documents record the uncultivated mushroom being eaten as early as AD 199.
Fresh and dried shiitake have many uses in the cuisines of East Asia. In Chinese cuisine, they are often sauteed in vegetarian dishes such as Buddha’s delight. In Japan, they are served in miso soup, used as the basis for a kind of vegetarian dashi, and also as an ingredient in many steamed and simmered dishes. In Korean cuisine, they are commonly used in dishes such as bulgogi (marinated grilled beef), jjigae (stews), and namul (sauteed vegetable dishes). In Thailand, they may be served either fried or steamed.

Shiitake are often dried and sold as preserved food in packages. These must be rehydrated by soaking in water before using. Many people prefer dried shiitake to fresh, considering that the sun-drying process draws out the umami flavour from the dried mushrooms by breaking down proteins into amino acids and transforms ergosterol to vitamin D. The stems of shiitake are rarely used in Japanese and other cuisines, primarily because the stems are harder and take longer to cook than the soft fleshy caps. The highest grade of shiitake are called donko in Japanese.
Extracts from shiitake mushrooms (such as ichtyol) have also been researched for many other immunological benefits, ranging from anti-viral properties to possible treatments for severe allergies, as well as arthritis.
The Japanese actually consume them from their raw form more than in any other country.

FACTS:

-Season: best in October~March for outdoors cultivation

-Main beneficial ingredients: Vitamin B1, B2, B6, c, N6, Ergosterol, Lentinan, Fibers, Potassium, Magensium, Phosphorus.

TIPS:

-Loosely wrap them in clean Newspaper or Kitchen Paper and store them in fridge away from the light.

-Choose specimens with unbroken “umbrella” and no black marks under.

-Fresh Shiitake are best enjoyed for their taste by keeping their cooking simple such as fry them over a grill with a dash of soy sauce and sake!

-If you want to dry them, do so under sunlight for best taste!

-Preserve dried shiitake in fridge to avoid mold and insects!

HEALTH FACTS:

-Dried shiitake contain more Vitamnin D!

-Combined with burdock root, or broccoli, or carrot, or asparaguses, helps combat cancer and helps with skin rejuvenation.

-Combined with konbu/seaweed, or spinach, or sardines, or sesame, helps combat bone diseases, activates blood circulation, helps combat nervous problems and rheumatism.

-Combined with sesame, or walnuts, or kabocha, or mayonnaise, helps combat ageing.

-Combined with celery, or cuttle fish/squid, or octopus, or mackerel, helps reinforce liver, combats high blood pressure, heart diseases and artery hardening.

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Social Culinaire, Sushi Nomads, Cook, Eat & Share, Gourmet Fury, 5 Star Foodie

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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Indians are ancestors of Japanese, Chinese


In a breakthrough in the study of evolution of humans and their spread across the world, scientists from India and 10 other countries have found that it is the Indians who are the ancestors of Japanese, Chinese and all east Asians. According to the study, people from India moved to southeast Asia and east Asia. (New Kerara)
Check out more details here

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The cultural rebound


As this is my seventh year in a row in East Asia and I’ve never stayed anywhere more than two years before, this is the first time I’ve noticed this effect. I now have the knowledge and ability to sniff rather than blow, slurp my noodles, eat sea urchins, survive on green tea rather than PG Tips, eat sweet garlic bread, accept tomatoes as part of a fruit salad, etc etc, but have recently decided I just will not.

I had a fast forward version of this when I was staying with my in-laws for five weeks and round about week two I just couldn’t force another stone cold and rock hard fried egg down my throat (eggs- the black hole in the centre of the otherwise fabulous Japanese cuisine) and lost all my usual (natural and developed) Japanese politeness as I straightforwardly told my wife I was starting each day feeling nauseous and could stand it no more. Alternatively, maybe I was just tired from midnight feedings then and have lost my new country buzz in East Asia now and so generally tired now. Alternatively alternatively, maybe I’m just getting old and becoming more traditionally British in the same way as I seem to be losing the last vestiges of the results of my teenage rebelliousness and turning into my father.

Anyone else experienced this? Any theories on what the most likely explanation might be?

More Details Here

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Jobs, animation drive popularity of learning Japanese


Japanese-language study is growing in popularity overseas every year, especially in East Asia, driven by interest in animation and the desire to find work in Japan. According to a 2006 survey by the Japan Foundation, Japanese was being taught in 133 countries and territories throughout the world to an estimated 2.98 million people, an increase of 26.4 percent from three years before. (Japan Times)
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Japanese Fruits 1: Nashi/Asian Pear


nashi1

Pyrus pyrifolia is a pear tree species native to China, Japan, and Korea. The tree’s edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, nashi or nashi pear, African pear, Japanese pear, Korean pear, Taiwan pear, sand pear, apple pear, bapple, papple, bae, li (Japanese: ナシ;Chinese: 梨; Korean: 배). In South Asia, the fruit is known as nashipati or nashpati.

nashi2

Pyrus pyrifolia is cultivated throughout East Asia, as well as in Australia, India , New Zealand, and other countries. It was recently grown successfully in France and is also sold under the name pf Nashi.

nashi3

Nashi pears are widely grown for their sweet fruit, a popular food in East Asia. They are sweet on the tree and are eaten crisp.

nashi4

Healthy salad!

Nashi pears generally are not baked in pies or made into jams because they have a high water content and a crisp, grainy texture, very different from the buttery European varieties. Also, Nashi pears are not as intensely sweet, having a more refreshing, light taste.

They are grown in various areas in Japan under different cultivar and brand names.

nashi5

Great salads!

I have the luck to be offered every summer a full box of them coming from Yaizu City where their brand name is “Shinsui”/新水. They are the perfect fruit for a hot summer and have far more value than a whole bottle of soda!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES
Not-Just-Recipes
Bengal cuisine
Cooking Vegetarian
Frank Fariello
Gluten-free Vegan Family
Meatless Mama

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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Japanese Fruit 1: Nashi/Asian Pear


nashi1

Pyrus pyrifolia is a pear tree species native to China, Japan, and Korea. The tree’s edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, nashi or nashi pear, African pear, Japanese pear, Korean pear, Taiwan pear, sand pear, apple pear, bapple, papple, bae, li (Japanese: ナシ;Chinese: 梨; Korean: 배). In South Asia, the fruit is known as nashipati or nashpati.

nashi2

Pyrus pyrifolia is cultivated throughout East Asia, as well as in Australia, India , New Zealand, and other countries. It was recently grown successfully in France and is also sold under the name pf Nashi.

nashi3

Nashi pears are widely grown for their sweet fruit, a popular food in East Asia. They are sweet on the tree and are eaten crisp.

nashi4

Healthy salad!

Nashi pears generally are not baked in pies or made into jams because they have a high water content and a crisp, grainy texture, very different from the buttery European varieties. Also, Nashi pears are not as intensely sweet, having a more refreshing, light taste.

They are grown in various areas in Japan under different cultivar and brand names.

nashi5

Great salads!

I have the luck to be offered every summer a full box of them coming from Yaizu City where their brand name is “Shinsui”/新水. They are the perfect fruit for a hot summer and have far more value than a whole bottle of soda!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES
Not-Just-Recipes
Bengal cuisine
Cooking Vegetarian
Frank Fariello
Gluten-free Vegan Family
Meatless Mama

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Click on the title for the full details or here to be redirected to another site

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ALT Kanto Region - April, 2010


Have you spent a lot of time on the Internet searching for ideas and
opportunities in order to work and live in another country? Have you ever
been interested in Japan and Japanese culture? Have you ever fantasized
about living in this amazing country? Borderlink is currently looking for
reliable professionals with a genuine interest in teaching English in Japan
to work at public elementary, junior high and high schools for the school
year beginning in April, 2010. Teaching experience and at least a beginning
knowledge of the Japanese language is always favorable, but not required. We
do require that you be ready to commit to at least a full year contract, and
be continually punctual during your time in Japan. Before the school year
starts in April, we will have training and provide you will all the
necessary information to get you started. As with any job you will get
better with experience, but know that we will give you all the tools you
will need at the training sessions before the school year starts and
throughout the term of your contract. Below is a brief description of Japan
and the position so you can start to visualize what it would be like.

Japan is an island country in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. The characters
that make up Japan’s name mean “sun-origin country”, which is why Japan is
sometimes identified as the “Land of the Rising Sun”. Some of the oldest
buildings in the world are located in Japan, and while know for a splendid
array of temples and shrines, Japan is also well known for comic books
(manga), video games, and a huge range of other electronics. For this
reason, many people who come to live and work in Japan are soon enamored
with the contrast between the old and the new, the serene and the
outlandish.

ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) assist Japanese teachers of English to
deliver lessons in the classroom and are involved in lesson planning and
other language teaching tasks. Other duties include visiting after/before
school club activities and other school events (sports days, culture
festivals, music competitions), as well as undertaking tasks not directly
related to teaching, such as cleaning the school together with the students.
In Japan, teachers will clean with the students and eat lunch together, and
ALTs are expected to join in on the activities, interacting with the
students as much as possible. When it comes to the students at public
schools, you must keep in mind that things are culturally very different in
Japan. In Japan, a quiet student is considered a good student, so often they
do not like to stand out. At times you may feel frustrated and think that
the students don’t like your lessons, but it is best to keep in mind that it
is largely due to the cultural differences. Traditional English instruction
at schools usually consists of mostly English grammar and translation, so
many students have no opportunity to listen to or speak in English. This is
where *you* come in, talking with and laughing with the students not only in
English class, but in the hallways, on the sports field, and anywhere else
in between. It is an ALT’s role to make English *fun* and *real* for the
students, giving them insight that they could never obtain just from the
textbook. This can be as simple as taking 5 minutes in class to talk about
holidays or school life in your home country, or even helping to create a
poster presentation that might be used at an Open Day.

Overall, Japan is an easy and pleasant place to live and work. It is
considerably safe, and it is easy to navigate your way around. For a more
detailed description, or for more information about our company, please
refer to the Borderlink website.

We urge that all who have interest in working in Japan at public elementary,
junior high, and/or high schools for the 2010-2011 school year in the Kanto
region of Japan apply now. The position will begin in April, 2010, and the
monthly renumeration will be from 210,000 - 240,000 depending on experience
and qualifications. We are currently *only* accepting applications from
overseas applicants. Applications from applicants with visas and already in
Japan will commence at a later date. We would be more than happy to answer
any questions you may have. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to
hearing from you soon!

Benefits of working for Borderlink:

- Borderlink provides visa sponsorship
- Salaries are based on experience and education
- Borderlink can assist in finding accommodations
- Native Japanese instructors are available to give free Japanese lessons
- Borderlink promotes qualified ALTs to area leaders
- Emergency translating and interpreting for ALTs. No cost involved.

More Details Here

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Kanto Area ALT positions - April, 2009


***Please note this listing is the last chance for interviewing for an April start, and is only valid until January 20th, 2009.***

Have you spent a lot of time on the Internet searching for ideas and opportunities in order to work and live in another country? Have you ever been interested in Japan and Japanese culture? Have you ever fantasized about living in this beautiful country? Borderlink is currently looking for reliable professionals with a genuine interest in teaching English in Japan to work at public elementary, junior high and high schools for the school year beginning in April, 2009. Experience is always favorable, but it is not required. We do require that you be ready to commit to at least a full year contract, and be continually punctual during your time in Japan. Before the school year starts in April, we will have training and provide you will all the necessary information to get you started. As with any job you will get better with experience, but rest assured we will give you all the tools you will need at the training sessions before the school year starts and throughout the term of your contract. Below is a brief description of Japan and the position so you can start to visualize what it would be like.

Japan is an island country in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. The characters that make up Japan’s name mean “sun-origin country”, which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the “Land of the Rising Sun”. Japan is a well known country for comic books (manga) and a huge range of electronics. For this reason, a large number of foreigners here seem to miss out on many of the great opportunities of working and living here.

ALTs assist Japanese teachers of English to deliver lessons in the classroom and are involved in lesson planning and other language teaching tasks. Other duties include taking part in after/before school club activities and other school events, as well as undertaking tasks not related to teaching such as cleaning the school together with the students. When it comes to the students at public schools, you must keep in mind that things are culturally very different in Japan. In Japan, a quiet student is considered a good student, so they do not like to stand out. At times you may feel frustrated and think that the students don’t like your lessons, but it is good to keep in mind that it is largely due to the cultural differences. Traditional English instruction at schools usually consists of mostly English grammar and translation, so many students have no opportunity to listen to or speak in English.

Overall, Japan is an easy and pleasant place to live and work. It is considerably safe, and it is easy to navigate your way around. For a more detailed description, or for more information about our company, please refer to the Borderlink website.

We urge that all who have interest in working in Japan at public junior high and elementary schools for the 2009-2010 school year in the Kanto region of Japan apply now. The position will begin in April, 2009, and the monthly renumeration will be from 240,000 - 250,000 depending on experience and qualifications. We are currently only accepting applications from overseas applicants. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Benefits of working for Borderlink:

- Borderlink provides visa sponsorship
- Salaries are based on experience and education
- Borderlink can assist in arranging accommodations
- Native Japanese instructors are available to give free Japanese lessons
- Borderlink can introduce those who qualify to Japanese companies for work after completion of contract
- Borderlink promotes qualified ALTs to management and area leaders
- 10,000 yen bonus for each ALT you introduce for employment (awarded after his/her employment contract is complete)
- Emergency translating and interpreting for ALTs. No cost involved.

*Please note this listing is the last chance for interviewing for an April start, and is only valid until January 20th , 2009. If you are interested, we ask that you apply right away. Please make sure to include times you are available to interview and if you have a Skype username, please let us know. Only applicants passing initial screening will be contacted.

More Details Here

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ALT Kanto Regions - April, 2010


Have you spent a lot of time on the Internet searching for ideas and
opportunities in order to work and live in another country? Have you ever
been interested in Japan and Japanese culture? Have you ever fantasized
about living in this amazing country? Borderlink is currently looking for
reliable professionals with a genuine interest in teaching English in Japan
to work at public elementary, junior high and high schools for the school
year beginning in April, 2010. Teaching experience and at least a beginning
knowledge of the Japanese language is always favorable, but not required. We
do require that you be ready to commit to at least a full year contract, and
be continually punctual during your time in Japan. Before the school year
starts in April, we will have training and provide you will all the
necessary information to get you started. As with any job you will get
better with experience, but know that we will give you all the tools you
will need at the training sessions before the school year starts and
throughout the term of your contract. Below is a brief description of Japan
and the position so you can start to visualize what it would be like.

Japan is an island country in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. The characters
that make up Japan’s name mean “sun-origin country”, which is why Japan is
sometimes identified as the “Land of the Rising Sun”. Some of the oldest
buildings in the world are located in Japan, and while know for a splendid
array of temples and shrines, Japan is also well known for comic books
(manga), video games, and a huge range of other electronics. For this
reason, many people who come to live and work in Japan are soon enamored
with the contrast between the old and the new, the serene and the
outlandish.

ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) assist Japanese teachers of English to
deliver lessons in the classroom and are involved in lesson planning and
other language teaching tasks. Other duties include visiting after/before
school club activities and other school events (sports days, culture
festivals, music competitions), as well as undertaking tasks not directly
related to teaching, such as cleaning the school together with the students.
In Japan, teachers will clean with the students and eat lunch together, and
ALTs are expected to join in on the activities, interacting with the
students as much as possible. When it comes to the students at public
schools, you must keep in mind that things are culturally very different in
Japan. In Japan, a quiet student is considered a good student, so often they
do not like to stand out. At times you may feel frustrated and think that
the students don’t like your lessons, but it is best to keep in mind that it
is largely due to the cultural differences. Traditional English instruction
at schools usually consists of mostly English grammar and translation, so
many students have no opportunity to listen to or speak in English. This is
where *you* come in, talking with and laughing with the students not only in
English class, but in the hallways, on the sports field, and anywhere else
in between. It is an ALT’s role to make English *fun* and *real* for the
students, giving them insight that they could never obtain just from the
textbook. This can be as simple as taking 5 minutes in class to talk about
holidays or school life in your home country, or even helping to create a
poster presentation that might be used at an Open Day.

Overall, Japan is an easy and pleasant place to live and work. It is
considerably safe, and it is easy to navigate your way around. For a more
detailed description, or for more information about our company, please
refer to the Borderlink website.

We urge that all who have interest in working in Japan at public elementary,
junior high, and/or high schools for the 2010-2011 school year in the Kanto
region of Japan apply now. The position will begin in April, 2010, and the
monthly renumeration will be from 210,000 - 240,000 depending on experience
and qualifications. We are currently *only* accepting applications from
overseas applicants. Applications from applicants with visas and already in
Japan will commence at a later date. We would be more than happy to answer
any questions you may have. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to
hearing from you soon!

Benefits of working for Borderlink:

- Borderlink provides visa sponsorship
- Salaries are based on experience and education
- Borderlink can assist in finding accommodations
- Native Japanese instructors are available to give free Japanese lessons
- Borderlink promotes qualified ALTs to area leaders
- Emergency translating and interpreting for ALTs. No cost involved.

More Details Here

Posted in Japan JobsComments (0)

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