Kodomo no Hi (Boy's Day) -- Nao

Hello everyone!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! It's so cool that Americans can enjoy the holidays of other countries all around the year. Japanese do cerebrate American holidays, like Valentine's Day, Christmas Day, but these are mostly for couples.

Well, May 5th is a boy's day in Japan. 5 years old boys usually dress up in a kimono. Oh boy, they look so cute! For the Girls' day, we decorate our houses with dolls, and for the Boy's day we place a Kabuto (Samurai helmet and armor). If there is no boys in a household people do not really do anything on this date, but it is a national holiday, so everybody can enjoy the day off. I am not sure if you ever heard of this long holiday in Japan, called "Golden Week." We have about 4-5 days off from May 3rd, and it is like spring break for everybody in Japan. No school, no work. How awesome is that?! But I can say that this is the most horrible time to travel in Japan though because everyone is on the road or at the airport trying to go to their vacation destination. So, it is not that fun traveling during this time, but hey, nothing can beat a week off!

Anyways, let's talk about Origami Kabuto. Look at the image of the month, (it’ll be updated shortly!) our pets are wearing something, right? They are supposed to be a Kabuto, which samurai used to wear way back in samurai period. It was made of metal back then, but we cannot certainly make Kabuto for all boys, so we now make it with Origami! Most Japanese have made this Origami Kabuto when they were in a preschool or a daycare. It is very easy to make, and looks so awesome! I love folding origami, and I still make something with paper napkin at a restaurant while I enjoy conversation with my friends. I invented this Sneil looking chopstick holder. It sounds funny, right? Sneil? yeah, I know, but it looks really cute. Maybe I'll show you guys how to make it in the future. But for now, I found “How to make a Kabuto (samurai helmet) with Origami,” so I made a quick direction for you guys! Check this out! Hope you will all enjoy your first Kabuto!

Be good till next time!

Hug hug,
Nao

Turning in to.... older lady... - Hiro

GoooooD Moning Everyone!

All right... l had my birthday few weeks ago and I turned .. years old!!!
Wow... time goes by pretty fast.... I don't want to get any older:(

So... today, I will give you a recipe for Strawberry Shortcake.
As I mentioned before, Japanese people often make or buy this cake to celebrate a birthday.
AND plus, there were many people who sent me e-mails and ask for the recipe!

Are you ready~~~??

Ingredients: for 18 cm cake mould
Large eggs ......................(3)
Sugar ...............................(2.8 oz / 80g)
Flour..................................(2.8 oz / 80g)
Cornstarch .......................(0.3 oz / 10g)
Milk ....................................(2 table spoon)
Butter .................................(1 oz / 30g)

Preparation:
- Make the eggs in the room temperature (important to make moist and sponge!!!)
- Spread butter inside of the mould and lightly sprinkle the flours.
(butter and flours are not included in the ingredients above)
- Put sugar and cornstarch together and sieve them to get the limps out.
- Melt the butter by putting in a microwave.

Step 1.
Put sugar and eggs into a large bowl and mix/whip them with hand mixer.

Step 2.
Keep whipping the eggs and sugar until the color become white and the texture become very smooth.
(the amount of the eggs and sugar should be three or four times bigger as you keep whipping them.)

Step 3.
Raise your hand mixer and if the eggs and sugar drop slowly (looks like a ribbons) and the shape stays for while, you are done!

Step 4.
Set the hand mixer in low speed. Pour milk and mix them.

Step 5.
Set the hand mixer to the side and use a rubber spatula from here.
Add flour and cornstarch in to the bowl little by little (divide to 3 times)

When you mix them, be careful not to mix it hard.
You should raise your spatular from the bottom of the bowl and flip it to the edge and mix them together.

Step 6.
After you mix all the flour, add a melted butter to the bowl and mix them carefully.

Step 7.
Poor all of them into the cake mould. (Drop the mould from 5 inch high. This will take out extra airs from the sponge)

Step 8.
Pre-heat the oven to 356F. Bake the sponge cake for 28 min. Check the sponge and if the color became golden, drop the oven temperature to 338F.


OK, that's it!!!
Now you have made a sponge cake:)
And you can decorate it as you'd like with whip cream....flutes...etc.

If you made one, send me a pic cause I would love to see your work:)
Enjoy!

Hugs,
Hiro