N.Y. Anzai

We don't have a microwave and haven't for about 3-4 years now. We do use the oven however pretty much all ovens here have a microwave function too. I'd rather it didn't but the new oven we just bought (not installed yet) has that function. Do you think its okay just to only use the oven part and not the microwave? I hope it is anyway.

So we don't really have stir fries in Japan, or at least not like the typical Chinese ones. I did cook a traditional Japanese side dish though, Kinpira Gobo". Gobo means burdock. It doesn't have a vast amount of raw ingredients but is very popular in Japan. I usually serve it as part of a Japanese meal which always includes rice and miso soup and three side dishes. The amount I made would serve 4-6 as a side. I used probably 95% organic ingredients.

Ingredients,
1 organic Burdock root
Half an organic carrot
Table spoon of canola oil to fry
3/4 cup of dashi (kombu and shiitake slow boiled)
1 and a half table spoons of organic soy sauce
1 table spoon of organic Mirin (no sugar added)
2 table spoons organic sake
Half tablespoon organic maple syrup (traditionally would use sugar but I substitute it)
2 table spoons of organic roasted sesame seeds
Half a table spoon of sesame oil.

-Add kombu and shiitake to pan with one cup of water. Bring to boil slowly.
-Whilst that is happening fill a bowl with water and splash of rice vinegar.
-Cut burdock root sasagaki (shave off small pieces whilst turning burdock round as if sharpening a pencil).
-Collect a few pieces of freshly cut burdock and then slice into thinner strips. Put into the bowl of water.
-After finishing slicing all the burdock, julienne the carrots.
-Change the water in the bowl of gobo.
-Add a tablespoon of canola oil to pan and fry the burdock for a few minutes.
-Next, add the carrot and fry for a few more minutes.
-Combine the dashi, soy sauce, mirin, sake and maple syrup. Add to the pan and fry on high until almost all liquid absorbed.
-Lastly add the sesame oil and the sesame seeds.

(And remember this is just a fifth of a Japanese meal)

This is basically our usable area. We have a little sliver at the back too but that is north facing. Next week we are getting someone in to dig up some of the concrete. What would be best to do to build the soil? I'm going to have to bring stuff in unfortunately, but I can forage stuff.

Think i've done enough for my first sand badge!

Wash a laundry load by hand
https://permies.com/p/1176702
Wash dishes by hand
https://permies.com/p/1177432
Clean bathroom
https://permies.com/p/1176270
Clean Kitchen
https://permies.com/p/1176186

Jeeves list
1.Clean an oily dish without soap
https://permies.com/p/1177495
2. Set up a rag system
https://permies.com/p/1174522
3. Oil wooden utensils
https://permies.com/p/1174533
4. Set up a charcoal collection system
https://permies.com/p/1177499
5. Clean area rug
https://permies.com/p/1177492
6. Make rags from old clothes
https://permies.com/p/1178199
7. Set up a cloth napkin system
https://permies.com/p/1182403
8. Sweep floor
https://permies.com/p/1178179

Alice list
1. Clean 4 windows inside and out
https://permies.com/p/1176676
2. Clean fridge interior
https://permies.com/p/1177112

Wasn't sure how much 3.5 gallons was so I think this enough, maybe. I left the top one all day so it would be enough 😅

(This is my second BB for grey water so might need an air badge...I also never got a textile air badge after my first one, is it after two?)

Received my book today all the way over in Japan! Very fast delivery if I do say so. I just sat down to read it with a cuppa (I'm British and any excuse for tea, though it was loose, organic and fairtrade) when my kids were complaining of being hungry so seems like it might take me a while to get through it! Looking forward to it though! Thank you :)

Just bought myself some fair trade napkins and a table runner (I didn't buy it just for this BB, its because we finally got a house of our own big enough to have room for a table and have people over). We normally use oshibori for wiping our hands before and after food (also cloth, was labeled face cloths in the setting up a rag system as we also use them as face cloths). Anyway the napkins will probably reserved for fancier meals and when we have guests. I've not washed them yet but I intend to throw them in with the regular laundry and if they are particularly stained soak in baking soda in the sink beforehand. Potentially I'll use my 100% biodegradable stain remover block when/if needed.

(I think this is my last BB needed for the sand nest badge depending on whether my rug one is sufficient to be approved).

Amy Arnett wrote:

N.Y. Anzai wrote:
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In Japan what happens is you have one coloured basket you do your shopping in and then once the cashier checks it out they put it straight into another coloured basket and then you pay and take that to the tables set up for you to pack your shopping into bags.
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Very common in our area is "my baskets" where you buy your own shopping basket, an even different color, and give it to the cashier with your shopping that is in the store's basket. The cashier checks out your stuff and puts it directly into your "my basket" and you're done. Skip the bagging process altogether. It's nice with small kids to just leave with the basket. I didn't think about how long bagging our own stuff takes, especially when holding a fussy baby. And no more guessing if everything will fit in your bags because it's the same size basket.

It's plastic, but it will last forever or at least many years. People use them for everything and even bring them to other stores like the hardware store.

Ooh! I wish we had that in our area. Sounds like a great idea!! Also love how they add "my" to everything haha

jordan barton wrote:One thing we do, is we bring our own bags with us. Meaning we reuse the bags they have given us. wash them. They trick is remembering to use them when you bring them!


I imagine what you could do is buy some paper bags. give them to the cashier. And than it is put in a paper bag. Or create some cloth bags, since i see you are making textiles in the pep.

Another thing we do is we bring a box with us. The box goes into the shopping cart. and the items can be added right back into the box after they have been scanned. I find the box easier to carry than a few plastic bags.

When we do not have a box. we ask for a banana box/apple box from one of the employees. That way we avoid the need for all of the plastic. It just goes into the box.

Just suggestions which might be helpful haha!

In Japan what happens is you have one coloured basket you do your shopping in and then once the cashier checks it out they put it straight into another coloured basket and then you pay and take that to the tables set up for you to pack your shopping into bags. I always bring my own cloth bags but here in Japan the cashiers also like to put some food in individual plastic bags before putting into the basket🤦 usually you have to stop them but they assume everyone loves billions of individually wrapped plastic as it is more "clean and hygienic"

Anyway I do have my own cloth bags and cloth produce bags :) in fact its normal now to have your own shopping bags as the law changed recently so you have to pay for the main plastic bags. I just don't think they really understand the sentiment of banning the bags when they then wrap some food individually in plastic whilst checking out 😅 Hopefully eventually they'll ban that too.  

I haven't seen anything like that in Japan but I could have a look. We have a dehumidify function on our aircon and will probably run dehumidifiers so hopefully hopefully the house won't get too bad. We only just moved in so i'm not sure how bad it will be over summer yet. The problem in Japan is the such small quantities of things, much smaller than what i'm used to buying in the UK and probably definitely smaller than in the US. Like who packages only 250g of pasta. Since a serving is like 100g you need two packs for 4 people...🤦

Anyway yes! My whole garden plan is for lots of berries. The more the better! And also herbs on there too so I think i'm choosing the right things to put in there.