Backyard bbq

The other night I went to a BBQ with a family who live on the outskirts of my town. Their vegetable garden was incredible with all types of fresh and delicious treats including giant garlic cloves that we cooked and ate whole. That night, after the temperature dropped, we let off fireworks, ate food and and enjoyed the summer night. It was so lovely. When I went back to the car, I noticed the sky was filled with the most beautiful light, a golden glow that made everything in that moment utterly magical.

Ku:nel vol 49 & 50

Above are my favourite images from the past two issues of Ku:nel. There was a lot of food featured so I had to be careful not to salivate over the pages. Some of the clothes induced the same effect. The bottom picture is of the Ku:nel mascot. He is so cute! Every issue he is featured in the top right hand corner of the cover doing something different. Sometimes he is eating, sometimes sleeping, occasionally he is reading the newspaper. His main goal in life is to relax and be happy, much like the ethos of the magazine!

Cookie cutter

It's nearly Christmas and I'm hibernating in my wee apartment so I figured what better time to make cookies? Hope you're not going crazy with silly season madness. If you're stuff for gift wrapping ideas you should check out  the Hello Sandwich gift wrapping zine. Cho kawaii!

 Below is the recipe I used, a touch of cinnamon makes them extra delicous.

xx

• Ingredients 
• 
  
• 6 egg yolks
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups butter, softened
• 2 1/8 cups white sugar
• 7 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon hot water or as needed

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Cover dough and chill for at least one hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thick and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on to the prepared baking sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. To make frosting, mix together the confectioners' sugar, oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. gradually add enough hot water to achieve a spreadable consistency.

Yummo

I feel it would be accurate to say I ate my across Taiwan. There were amazing sights, people and shopping but food was the highlight being both spectacular and very very cheap. I was tempted at every street corner and everything sampled was bursting with flavour and freshness. The night markets were a definite highlight with a smorgasbord of culinary delights on offer. The one unfortunate down fall was the smell of sticky tofu. I have never smelt, tried or heard of this before but it is a favourite in Taiwan. The only way I can describe it would be to combine the smell of rancid eggs, off vegetables and perhaps a decomposing body. Watching my friend try it was most amusing, such an array of facial spasms and retching noises!

Homemade is best

Ikea and Carl Kleiner have collaborated on what has to be one of the coolest recipe books I have ever seen. 'Hembakat ar Bast' or 'Homemade is best' focuses on the ingredients as well as the finished product bringing a whole new appreciation to the art of making food. Apparently you can get the book for free at Swedish Ikea. I want. Yum yum yum those gingerbread men look good! 

Slow life

 

When I left New Zealand I had rings under my eyes. Sorry Wellington I love you, but you really wore me out. Six years in the wind and the rain left me tired. Life was so busy and I took pride in everything I was achieving even if my mental health was suffering slightly. 

When I came to Japan I couldn't believe how hard everyone worked. My co workers come in at 8am and leave at 8pm. They looked tired. They don't take weekends. Inexplicably I have been granted some kind of magical gaijin (foreigner) pass which means I leave the office at 4.30pm every day and everyone thinks this is okay.

Despite my co workers hard working tendencies I have noticed a trend in Japanese culture that promotes a slow life. My favourite Japanese magazine is ku nel. This loosely translates to eating/sleeping. The magazine has a fat blobby tellytub like mascot who languidly lounges across the pages. He is full of food and ready for a nap. The fat blobby mascot wouldn't like gossip magazines, hair straighteners or energy drinks . He would say 'eat and sleep instead!'

The slow culture goes against everything we are supposed to do in our fast paced lives, especially the pace of Asian modern life. The slow culture tells us to savour the food we eat and never be hungry, to smell the flowers, pot a plant, listen to music, sleep for as long as we want and take a bath. Most importantly, don't be tired, be happy. 

The film Megane or Glasses has a complete devotion to the slow pace culture with the main character escaping city life to encounter a holiday of eating, serene surroundings and a strange yoga like poses on the beach. Very little happens in the movie, but I think that's okay. Nothing has to happen. It's a refreshing to take a break all the same.

Nom nom nom

This website = happiness