2015: Home Cooking

March 14, 2015
Kyoto

After a busy Friday it was good to have a day at home, especially since it had rained in the night and was still umbrella weather when I went after the paper early this morning.  But prior to that I completed my yoga routine in my larger multi-purpose room, heated, of course.  When heating room by room with 3 different space heaters, 2 gas, one kerosene, the logistics can be complicated!

I have always spent cold days with any serious activity in the small studio space (approximately 10’x10’) with an efficient gas heater.  So whether it’s reading the paper, studio creative endeavors or laptop work (like now) this is the coziest place to be.   So tea and the paper are usually the 1^st item of the day.  Some hours later I had moved the oil heater to the kitchen/dining area, as I was motivated to do some serious cooking.  First, chunky applesauce with 3 huge discounted apples and a bit later daikon (large white radish) simmered in dark dashi (basic Japanese broth) and kombu (heavy seaweed).  Both of these were great successes!  I had some leftover cod from Thursday night so decided to do chowder with potato, celery, onion and carrot.  All this was underway in the morning and I slipped in my yogurt, banana and homemade granola brunch in this warm and cozy space.  Cook’s morning!!

I’m still having problems with my AC Mac adapter and now memory filters back as I recall problems last year with the plug being the issue.  I have to ‘fiddle’ a lot to get the green lite to come on and then pray it will go into yellow charge mode.  I’m going to the large electronics store (or, first, a smaller one here in the neighborhood) today and see if I can buy the heavy ‘extension’ cord version.  I should have made a note on the one I brought with me in November and I would have saved a lot of hassle!!

The weather cleared up by early afternoon and after completing a few more tasks I ventured forth into a still cold and breezy environment.  Off to my fav coffee spot with my book of short stories and a mini shopping list.  I spent a couple of hours there enjoying being in the “world of people” before heading home.  The sun was out and the chill lessened so I decided to take one of my river walks before going back to the house.  A great decision, however, the sun went under and the breeze along the riverbanks, a common feature, kept me on a quick pace.  I need to get into this routine even though this cold weather is not ideal.  No sitting on the riverbank benches to read just yet!!

I bought a crispy French loaf at my coffee stop and that was the prefect addition to my chowder, and salad dinner.  Preceded, of course, with my cocktail hour with some of the cheese I smuggled in my suitcase, edamame, wine and a few other goodies.  I watched the Spring Sumo competition for a while and was reminded how much ritual there is in that sport.  A great deal of posturing goes on prior to the real action, which lasts 60 seconds, at most.  It was a great reminder how tradition is honored here.  After dinner I watched my DVD of “The Phantom of the Opera” —- and probably slept through a good part as I missed important scenes!!  My fate.