HelenaLyo♥♥♥♥♥

Pics6

2008-05-26T09:24:00.001-07:00

Pics5

2008-05-26T09:23:00.001-07:00

Pics4

2008-05-26T09:22:00.001-07:00

Pics2

2008-05-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

Pics3

2008-05-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

Pics 2

2008-05-26T09:19:00.001-07:00

Pics of Japanese Cuisine

2008-05-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

Japanese Basic Cuisines★

2008-05-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

Shirumono(Soups)
"Shirumono (soups)" can be roughly divided into two types, "sumashijiru (clear soup)" and "misoshiru (miso soup)". Ingredients may include white-fleshed fish, prawns, shellfish, "tofu (bean curd)", fowl, seaweed and seasonal vegetables; one or two ingredients that accord with the remainder of the menu are selected from among these. To add more zest and aroma, "yuzu", "kinome", "sansho", ginger or "mitsuba (a trifoliolate herb of the same genus as honewort)" may be added. For "sumashijiru", "dashi (soup stock)" to which salt and soy sauce have been added is customarily used. Ingredients to be added to the soup should be cut up and warmed in a separate stock. If the ingredients are "tai (red snapper)" or "hamaguri (a type of clam)", from which a good flavor can be obtained, stock is made with the clams or with the bones of the "tai" and a pinch of salt. The ingredients are arranged in a bowl that has been warmed beforehand, hot stock is poured over them and the aromatic substance is added last.

Sunomono and Aemono(Vinegared and Dressd Dishes)
"Sunomono" are vinegared fish or vegetables, which are occasionally dressed with ground sesame seed, "miso (soybean paste)" or mashed "tofu (bean curd)". Fish and shellfish are sometimes broiled or steamed, or they may be sliced, sprinkled with salt, and marinated in vinegar or "dashi (soup stock)". Vegetables are blanched, rubbed with salt, boiled or steamed. Excess water should be eliminated. There are two typical types of "sunomono", one is "nihaizu" and the other is "sambaizu". "Nihaizu" is a combination of vinegar, soy sauce and "dashi". "Sambaizu" is "nihaizu" to which a small amount of sugar is added. To the basic ingredient of dressings for "aemono", soy sauce, vinegar, "mirin (sweet sake)", sugar and "dashi" and sometimes hot mustard and "kinome (aromatic sprigs of the tree such as "sansho")" are added. Both "sunomono" and "aemono" should be prepared immediately before being served. Garnishes of aromatic vegetables should also be added. These two dishes are not main courses but are served in small quantities at the end of a meal, between courses or as appetizers when drinking "sake".

Sashimi (Sashimi Dishes)
Also known as "tsukuri" is composed of fresh seafood fillets cut into bite-sized pieces and eaten raw with soy sauce and "wasabi (Japanese horseradish)". "Sashimi", most commonly consists of red fish such as tuna or bonito; white fish such as sea bream, flounder, horse mackerel or sea bass and sometimes of freshwater fish such as carp, as well as shrimp, squid, or abalone. However, almost any fish may be used. Finely shredded "daikon (Japanese radish)" provides a bed for the fish and "wasabi" is used as a condiment. One or sometimes several of the following provide garnish: "shiso (beefsteak plant)" leaves or buds, edible chrysanthemum flowers, freshly grated ginger or slices of lemon. "Soy sauce" is served separately as a dip. Dipping it into soy sauce in which a little "wasabi" has been dissolved is the method usually adopted to eat "Sashimi". Alternatively a small amount of "wasabi" may be placed on it and it is then dipped into the soy sauce.

Gohanmono(Rice)
"Gohanmono" are dishes consisting of rice combined with other ingredients. "Takikomi-gohan" is made by cooking together rice and another ingredient such as green peas or pieces of bamboo shoot in spring and in autumn with "matsutake" mushrooms or chestnuts added to seasoned water or "dashi (soup stock)". "Gomoku-meshi" (also known as "kayaku-gohan") is prepared by adding finely diced chicken, carrot, fried tofu, "shiitake" mushroom and burdock to rice and cooking it in "dashi" seasoned with soy sauce, "sake", and sugar. "Domburimono" are dishes in which cooked rice is placed in a "domburi (a bowl that is larger than the usual rice bowl)" and then topped with various prepared ingredients.

Nimono(Simmered Dishes)
"Nimono" are stewed dishes seasoned with salt, soy sauce, "sake", "mirin (sweet sake)", sugar, vinegar or other condiments. The most common "nimono" is "nitsuke", fish or shellfish cooked briefly in a relatively thick mixture of "sake", soy sauce, "mirin" and sugar. In the case of the white fish, "tai (red snapper)" and "buri (yellowtail)", the fillets are removed and used for "sashimi" or "yakimono". The heads and backbones are chopped into pieces, washed in hot water and cooked in a relatively light mixture of water, "sake", "mirin" and soy sauce until the juice is almost entirely absorbed. Bluefish, such as mackerel, sardines and saurel, are first cooked in a mixture of water, "sake" and "mirin". "Miso (soybean paste)" that has been diluted with a ladle full of the "nijiru (broth)" is then added to mask the strong flavor of the fish, this is called "misoni". "Mizoreni" is a method of preparation in which bluefish is cooked in seasoned "dashi (soup stock)" with a generous amount of grated white radish. In making "nimono" it is important to use heavy covered pots so that the heat is spread evenly through the "nijiru".

Mushimono(Sesmed Dishes)
"Mushimono" are steamed foods. With this method, natural flavors do not escape producing a light taste. Foods may be sprinkled with salt and steamed, which is "shiomushi", or sprinkled with salt and "sake", which is "sakamushi". The latter method is particularly appropriate for clams or abalone. "Mushimono" are served with seasoned "dashi (soup stock)" thickened with arrowroot starch and sprinkled with grated ginger, "yuzu (citron)" rind or chopped scallion. The foundation of "chawanmushi" is a mixture of beaten eggs and lukewarm "dashi" (about three times the volume of the eggs). Ingredients such as shrimp, mushrooms and chicken are placed in individual bowls. The egg mixture is poured in and the bowls covered and steamed over medium heat.

Yakimono(Grilled and Pan-Fried Dishes)
The principal ingredients of "yakimono (grilled foods)" are fish, shellfish, meat and vegetables. Foods are pierced with a skewer or placed on a wire net and grilled over an open fire. "Yakimono" may also be made using an iron skillet or oven broiler. The basic type of "yakimono" is "shioyaki", in which salt is sprinkled over the food before grilling. The distinctive flavor of fish is best enjoyed in this way. For "tsukeyaki", the food is first marinated for about an hour in "awase-joyu", a mixture of soy sauce and "sake" or "mirin (sweet sake)". "Teriyaki" is a "yakimono" prepared with a stronger-flavored "awase-joyu". For "misozukeyaki", the food is marinated in "miso (soybean paste)" flavored with "sake" or "mirin". When arranging a whole grilled fish on a serving plate, the plate is placed on the table with the belly of the fish facing the diner.

Agemono(Deep-Fried Dishes)
"Agemono", or deep-fried foods, are of three basic types. "Suage", in which foods are fried without a cacoating of flour of batter, is appropriate for freshwater fish, eggplant, green peppers and other vegetables whose color and shape can be utilized to good effect. "Karaage", in which food is first dredged in flour of arrowroot starch, preserves the naturealwater content of the food and produces a crisp outer surface. In 'tatsutaage", a variant of "karaage", pieces of chicken are marianated in a mixture of 'sake', soy sauce and sugar, lightly covered with arrowroot starch and deep-fried. "Tempura" belongs to a third type of "agemono", in which foods are coated with batter. FOr "afemono" a heavy pot with a wide bottom is used. Vegetable oil is poured into the pot to a depth twice the thickness of the foods to be fried and is then heated to a temperature, it is important that the foods do not cover more than a third of the surface area of the oil.

Menrui(Noodles)
"Menrui" is a category of dish, served hot or cold that has noodles as its main ingredient. The most common types of Japanese noodles are "somen", "udon" and "soba". "Somen" and "udon" are made with wheat flour, and "soba" with buckwheat flour. "Somen" is always dried; "soba" and "udon" may be either fresh or dried.

Nabemono(One-Pot Dishes)
"Nabemono" are dishes cooked in a pot of simmering broth at the table. Ingredients are arragned on platters so that each person may cook what he or she likes. The traditional types of "nabemono" are "mizutaki", "yudofu", "udonsucki","kanisuki", "dotenabe","shabushabu" and "sukiyaki". "Mizutaki"is prepared by cooking fillets of white-fleshed fish with vegetables, "tofu(bean curd)", and "harusame and vegetables in a chicken broth. Grated white radish, red pepper, and chopped onion are used as condiments, and the food is dipped in "ponzu", a sauce made from citron and soy sauce. "?Yudofu" is prepared by simmering cubes of "tofu" in "kombu"stock. It is eaten with the same sauce and condiemtns as "mixutake". "Udonsuki" is preapred by cooking "udon" noodles, various vegetables, shrimp, shellfish, "yuba(the dried skim from boiled tofu milk)", and "fu(a light cake made of wheat glyten)" in a thin "dash(soup stock)". "Kanisuki" is preapred with crab as the main ingredient. To make "dotenabe", "miso(soybean paste)" is spread on the inside of the pot before adding the "dash". The "miso" gradually dissolves and flavors the oysters and vegetables.

Sushi

Originally an ancient Chinese method of preserving fish, "sushi" consists of vinegard rice topped or combeingd with raw fish, shellfish or cooked egg.
Nowadays four categories are popular. "Nigiri-zushi"(hand-pressed)or "edo-mae-zushi" developed Edo in the 1800s ahas bite-zixed portions of vinegared rice topped with small slices of raw or cooked fish of shellfish and "wasabi" seasoning.
"Maki-zushi(rolled sushi)" is vinegared rice arranged on a sheet of "nori(seaweed) with various types of seafood or vegetables, rolled into a cylinder and sliced crosswise into bite-sized pieces. "Chirashi-zushi(scattered "sushi") has two regional varieties. In Tokyo, seafood, vegetables and sliced omelet are arranged over a bowl of vinegared rice, accompanied by soy sauce. In Osaka, cooked seafood and vegetables, chopped and mixed with rice are topped with sweetened sauce and thin strips of omelet. "Oshi-zushi(pressed "sushi") of the Kansai region is made by pressing marinated seafood and rice ina wooden mold

Japanese Cuisin

2008-05-26T08:48:00.002-07:00

Kaiseki cuisine (haiku-type)
"Kaiseki", dishes served at a meeting of "haiku" poets

The word "kaiseki" originally meant a meeting and specifically a meeting of composers of "haiku" poems, it has the same pronunciation as the "kaiseki" used in the tea ceremony. There were originally two kinds of "kaiseki" cuisine, one for a meeting of "haiku" poets and the other for the tea ceremony. However, as people gathering at the poetry meetings were often identical to those gathering at tea ceremonies, the two terms were and still are sometimes confused. The "kaiseki" cuisine for the meeting of poets is defined as "kuikiri", or "eat-out" cuisine, and its objective is to enjoy the tastes of different foods without being too much concerned about ceremony and formality. The dishes are served individually at intervals. Dishes are served on individual, small dining tables about 1.2 feet wide without legs. The menu is generally composed of "saki-zuke (hors-d'oeuvre)", "suimono (soup)", "muko-zuke (a main dish composed of sliced raw fish, etc.)", "kuchi-gawari (an entr_e to refresh the palate)", "yakimono (broiled foods)", "nimono (stewed foods)", "aisakana (steamed or fried foods)", "sunomono (food pickled in sweetened vinegar)", "tomewan (end course)", etc. But the simplest menu is composed of only three dishes, which are sometimes increased to higher odd numbers such as five (including two soups), seven, nine and eleven. The contents of the menu and the order in which the dishes are served are left to the discretion of the chef.

Shojin cuisine
"Shojin", dishes served at a meeting of "Zen-Buddist" poets

"Shojin" is a Buddhist term that referring to a type of asceticism that aspires to enlightenment and "ryori" translates as "cooking". ﾒShojin ryoriﾓ is a type of vegetarian cooking that was introduced into Japan at the same time as Buddhism in the 6th century. In the 13th century when Zen Buddhism was introduced, the custom of eating "shojin ryori" spread rapidly. Foods derived from soybeans including "tofu" and vegetable oils including sesame, walnut and from rapeseed that were used extensively in "shojin ryori" became popular in Japan as a result.

Kaiseki cuisine (tea ceremony-type)
"Kaiseki" dishes served at a tea ceremony

This "kaiseki" cuisine of a tea ceremony originated as a light meal served to soothe the hunger of "zen" monks. "Kai" originally meant bosom and "seki" stone. This type of cuisine was named so because the supper seemed to the monks just like carrying a warm stone in the bosom in order to soothe the hunger. The word "tenshin" derived from the Chinese word for a light meal that has the original meaning of turning on an empty mind. These "kaiseki" cuisine dishes are served as a prelude to the tea ceremony just as sweets are sometimes served. The difference between this type of cuisine from the "kaiseki" cuisine described above lies in the avoidance of excess.

Bento Cuisine

"Bento" is the Japanese term for a lunch, particularly a packed lunch that ca be carried in a lunchbox and eaten outside of one's home. IN the world of the tea ceremony the strict formality of "bento" shoul not be broken and has been established by shortening the "kaiseki" cuisine menu of the tea ceremony int a single set meal. This has been done so as not to lose the "wabe", the elegant restraing and simplicity that is inherent the tea ceremony. Of this type of "bento", the most representatve ones are those to be found in Kyoto.

Essay

2007-06-10T08:35:00.001-07:00

Ever since I was a little girl, my mom used to tell me all about successful women's stories that I always dreamed that I could be like them someday. Among all the great women, I was very moved to hear the life of Queen Elizabeth of England. The story of Queen Elizabeth triggered my interests and my passion that I fell deeply into her. Unsatisfied by just hearing the story of her, I looked at the books and researched about her vigorously. Still, I can remember almost everything she accomplished and went through. She is a real heroine in my mind.
According to many successful people put it, they had gone through many hardships that normal people usually do not experience. Queen Elizabeth, more that any successful people go through, underwent so many hardships and often fell down that her situation to be a successful woman was very weak. When I look back at myself, I found myself relatively in a easier situation. Since my dream is so high, I want to make myself experience not only difficult but also different situations as many as possible. The flower bloomed in a middle of deserted land looks more beautiful and amazing that the flower cultivated in a greenhouse.
Being a leader is tough, because one has to have a good result during one's term. Queen Elizabeth also managed to make a good result. At the time of her reign ,England was not storing enough to defeat Spain's indefatigable navy. However, she trained English navy and crushed Spanish navy and made her navy become the most powerful navy in the world. Leader is not just a someone who leads the team to go but also a predictor who is able to see the potentials of the team and let all the potentials come out. If it were not for Queen Elizabeth, England would have stayed in the minor countries of Europe.
My dream is to be a admirable leader like Queen Elizabeth. To get a close dignity or reputation like her, it will require many efforts and sufferings that I cannot count right now. From now on, whenever I confront difficult situations, Iwill try to relax myself by reading a book about her thinking of future brightness that will bring a satisfaction. She is an immortal leader who stays in hearts of anyone
admiring and remembering her life and will help me go on my own way eventually.

Journal2

2007-06-10T08:34:00.001-07:00

Since the terror on September 11th 2001, muslims have been the threats to many westerners. Though Iranian or Pakistani people are scaring the whole world by their terror organizations and such dreadful schemes and acts, their innocent people are trying very hard to escape from the miserable reality in their mother land.
It was not very worrisome that those illegal immigrants of muslims to Europe continent, but it was estimated that these people might have some connection to the terror organizations such as Al Qaeda. Now many European countries are bolstering their gates to the immigrants especially Britain and France where the biggest muslim communities exist, so many immigrants are now heading toward southern countries such as Spain and Italy. However, almost many western and northern Europe countries have big communities of Pakistani people or Iranians. Wheter they would harm these countries or would not affect them badly at all depends on how well these western countries will handle immigrant problems.
Whenever I heard the news of muslim's terrors I was a lot worried. For I know that when some people inflict such dreadful harms or terrors on other countries, the naive people of that country ar all humiliated and slandered by other countries. I could conceive how much these muslims would have been tortured physically or mentally by many European people. Now, as many people settle in other European countries, I believe that the suspicion of many Europeans will grow even more. To alleviate and get along well with many Europeans, I hope that no terrors would be connected to the immigrants of Pakistani or Iranian people: they are just poor people trying to save their lives and protect families.

Journal

2007-06-10T08:33:00.001-07:00

Blog Entries/ journal entries 여승은(Helena Lyo)
This I Pledge To Do by Ban Ki-Moon
Last December, the former foreign Minister of Republic of Korea was elected to be an eighth Secretary General of United Nations. Currently, there are many international problems that need the help of big organizations and Ban is trying his best to solve those problems. Such tragedies which now occur from not just the Middle East but also everywhere on the Earth are waiting for the care of Ban.
As my dream is to work for international organizations like UN or to become a diplomat, I have been admired Ban long before he became the Secretary General. Moreover, he knows how to be a model for everyone, which is one of the reasons why I like him. Now, he's positioned as a leader of UN but still works really hard and tries to motivate others to be a good standard. Not only being an adept negotiator of many countries, but also being able to exert his very merits made me very nervous about my future and admire him even more.
There is a Korean proverb that goes, "THe more one become dexterous, the more one becomes humble." and I believe that this proverb just fits to the characteristics of Ban. He tries his every potential to lead everything to success and turns around to see of there is anything left to be carried by him. He always carries the worn scrap of paper charting the phases of life. In that patper, it says at 60, you possess the wisdom of "soft ear". "Soft Ear" is the mind that makes one to embrace all the things one heard. As Ban is now 62, he tries to have "soft ear" and apply it to the workforce now he is working at. All this work he is now doing may not be as easy as it seems but he will do his best because this is what he had pledged to do.