Dear Yoko and Yukko No. 2

ようちゃん、ゆきちゃん

ヴィーガンケッサディーヤのレシピはこちらを参考にしました。大ヒット。

＜材料＞

・シラントロ（コリアンダー）の葉１／２カップ
・ニンニク　２かけ
・ひよこ豆の水煮　1.5カップまたは５００gくらいの缶１つ
・ライム　１．５個
・オリーブオイル　大さじ２
・ピタ　４枚
・ローステッドペッパー
・ベイビースピニッチ（生で食べられるホウレンソウ）

＜作り方＞
１）コリアンダー入りハマスを作る。コリアンダー、ニンニク、ひよこ豆の水煮、ライムの絞り汁をミキサーで混ぜる。塩を少々加えると味が引き締まる。
２）ピタを開いて、ハマスを塗って、ローステッドペッパーとベイビースピニッチを乗せる。ピタを閉じる。
３）１８０℃のオーブンで１０分焼く。
４）出来上がり。

私はフレッシュサルサを作ってそれに添えました。そのとき使ったレシピはこちら。なくても全然美味しいです。

お試しあれ！

Dear Yoko and Yukko

ようちゃん、ゆっこ

先日お話ししたポークテンダーロイン（豚ひれ）のローストのレシピはこちらを参考にした。以下私バーションです。

＜材料＞
・豚ひれ　約５００g
・油　大さじ２
・塩　小さじ１〜２
・ディジョンマスタード　大さじ１
・タイムのみじん切り　大さじ１
・黒こしょう　小さじ１／４
・リンゴ　２
・タマネギ　２
・チキンストック　１カップ
・バター　大さじ１

＜作り方＞
１）豚ひれの筋などとりきれいにして、塩をかるくまぶす。
２）油をフライパンで熱し、豚ひれの全体に焼き目をつける。焼き目がついたら出す。
３）豚ひれにディジョンマスタードを塗り、ブラックペッパーとタイムをまぶす。
４）フライパンに戻して２２０℃に予熱しておいたオーブンで１５分程焼く。
５）その間に（もしくはその前に）タマネギとリンゴを炒めて、チキンストックを加えて煮る。最後にバターを足す。
６）豚ひれは焼き上がったら（肉の温度計で測って６５℃くらい、もしくはナイフで中を見てほぼ火が通っていれば良し）フォイルをかぶして１０分程休ませる。
７）できあがり。

ちなみにこの間はリンゴだけ水煮にしました。それもまた簡単。

エンジョイ！

Dear Yoko

Yochan, here is the recipe for my vegetarian chili. For the corn bread, please visit
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/grandmothers-buttermilk-cornbread/

Enjoy!

CHILI

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 chopped onion
2 chopped carrot
2 chopped celery stalk
1 green bell pepper cleaned and chopped
1 red bell pepper cleaned and chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 to 3 Tablespoons finely chopped chipotles in adobo
2 Tablespoon ground oregano
3 teaspoons ground cumin
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with their liquid
3 cups cooked red kidney beans, drained
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, drained

Directions:

1.Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.

2. Add onions, carrots, celery, peppers and garlic and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until vegetables are softened but not browned.

3. Add chipotles, oregano, cumin, chili powder and salt.

4. Stir to blend. Add tomatoes. Add enough water to cover the vegetable.

5. Gently simmer over low heat, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

6. Add beans and simmer an additional 30 minutes. Serve with apple cider vinegar.

Remember Remember

O My Brother, You Must Not Die (1904 by Akiko Yosano)

Dear my little brother,

I will cry for you. Please do not die.

Since you are the youngest child in my family,

you are the best child of your parents.

Did you parents teach you that take the gun and kill the others?

Did your parents bring you up until twenty four years old
 for kill the people and die in the war?

Did your parents teach that?

Since you are the inheritor of my family in this city,

please do not die in this war, my little brother.

It does not matter whether the enemy's city will be destroyed or not.

You do not know, but this has nothing to do with us merchants.

Oh my little brother, please do not die.

The emperor, never showing up in the battle field,

"Spread others' blood,"

"Die like the animals," or 

"Die in the battle field as your honor,"

He would not think such a thing,

as he is a truly compassionate person.

Oh my little brother, please do not die in the battle.

Your mother is in lament.

Having your father passing away, 

and having you taken to the war,

she is the sole protector of the house now.

Look at her hair,

though we were always told that our country was safe and in peace.

Oh my little brother, please do not forget your young wife.

She cries alone behind the curtain.

You only spent ten months together.

Did you forget about her or do you think of her?

You have a wife now, you are not alone.

Who can we rely on?

Oh my little brother, please do not die.

 Vimy Ridge 2011

The memorial statue at Vimy Ridge is not a celebration of war.

There are no depiction of soldiers or weapons, but the figures that grieve for her lost sons.

Neue Wache, Berlin 2012

Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany for the victims of war and tyranny.

Did you know that Hitler ordered his SS to protect Vimy Ridge?

When it comes to war, there is no victim side or agressor side. 

We are all war victims and we are killing our fellow homo sapiens.

War never ends if we keep taking sides.

A hero on one side is probably a glorious bastard to the other side.

It is as simple as this:

War cannot be carried out if we had no weapons or soldiers.

I lost my grandfather to WWII.

My grandmother raised her children by herself.

My father grew up without a father.

Japan invaded neighbouring Asian nations.

What do I do now?

I am a war victim but I also accept my responsibility of being a Japanese descent.

What do I do now?

I refuse to glorify heroism of any form
so that no more people should become a victim of war.

I remember what I learnt in kindergarten.

"Do not hurt anybody."

Bonne fête national : 14 juillet

Today marks the 223rd anniversary of the Bastille Day in France. The revolution put an end to the royal authority and gave birth to the declaration of human rights.

Last year, I was on the road trip to Toulouse with Bob and Sheree. We went to see the fireworks held in Carcassonne, a fortified city in Aude Department. The fireworks that Mr. Ozaki puts together in Miyuki-no-hama in Odawara is amazing but this one in Carcassonne was superb. The entire cité looked like it was on fire. An unforgettable moment.

Nathan and I visited Carcassonne later in 2011 with Donna. It was a windy and delicious visit where we first tasted the dish called Cassoulet. The reproduction of it later at home turned out excellent and it was happily added to our family meal list. An unforgettable meal.

This year, we spent the eve of July 14th with Isabelle and Nicolas and their family, surrounded by 4 dogs and 6 puppies. Another unforgettable moment with super puppy actions.

Today, Nathan and I are packing instead of playing scrabble!

J'en ai marre !

I have always enjoyed packing and moving, looking for the new adventures ahead. Well, not this time apparently. The boxes in our living room are still in random "miscellaneous" status and I even started knitting instead of packing in this hot weather! This weekend, we were visiting our friends in Toulouse to pay a visit to their 7months old baby, and my knitting instinct kicked in. It was so good to see them again one last time before we leave France for good...

As they said Chana was welcome as well, we decided to drive instead of taking a train or a plane. It was a long drive but it was worth it. On the way, we simply took the toll road, but for our return trip we drove the  national road which took us through small towns and mountains. In fact, our dear friend from Oregon took me on this trip last year around the same time. So it was great to share that experience with Nathan this time. The conclusion is, France you won my heart.

Between Rodez and Mende, we stopped for a picture break in Chanac. Close enough, right Chana? Here is a great photo of Chana saying "J'en ai marre!" meaning I am fed up or I am sick of it. Our Namesake photo shoot continues. Live it up poochkin!

C'est parti !

It is June 30, 2012 and our living room is again filled with cardboard boxes. Sadly, our stay in Grenoble is finally coming to an end. I will miss every bit of it, from the beauty of nature and the depth of culture to the filthy side walk and the ruleless drivers. I think I can say that I lived this city, and I am glad that I feel linked to this place.

Starting September, we are starting our new life in Vancouver, where we first met as two master's students. We love Vancouver dearly, and it is another place to which I find a personal link. I am very much looking forward to rediscovering this old neighbourhood together with Nathan and this time with Chana.

The month of May and June were full of events. At the beginning of May, Nathan and I were very close to the top of the world at Mont Blanc, and then went very close to the heaven in Andalusia with my dearest friend Miranda. I dragged them to flamenco performances and she dragged us to delicious tapas bars. The Alhambra Palace took us with awe, where Nathan did his happy math tourism. I rediscovered travelling with friends enjoyable, and I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did.

In June, Nathan's brother came for a visit and then came Nathan's family. Thanks to them, we got to redo a lot of sightseeing in Grenoble and we were amazed how much this little city can offer. Chana kept us busy with two more agility trials, but she did not do so well due to lack of practices. We do not know if we get to do this much agility in Vancouver, so we are going to enjoy as much as we can in July.

We have a month left to go in France. We are trying to see as many friends as possible before we leave. The calendar is almost full and the time is running out! The only wish is that we had more money :D! Well, I guess this is the time we should become really French. Enjoy the moment and you think about tomorrow day after tomorrow. Or is it more Spanish? Que sera sera? Carpe diem? Who knows what is ahead of you, so make sure you don't regret not doing something :).

Happy Canada Day!