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I just started TextFugu today! I had been putting it off until I had more time and had finished an online class, but I am way too excited to wait anymore.
In the fall, I want to apply to the JET program to teach English in Japan. While knowledge of the Japanese language is not a requirement for the program, I think it will be a huge advantage. Not only will it help me in the application process, knowing the language is the key to enjoying my time there. I want to be able to converse with my coworkers that don’t speak English. I want to connect with my neighbors, even if only on a superficial language. I also love to cook and eat Japanese food, so I want to be able to ask shop owners what ingredients are and how to use them!
Welcome to TextFugu, Lanie.
Good luck learning Japanese!
Welcome to TextFugu! That enthusiasm will take you far. :D
Good luck getting into the JET program! I hope you’re accepted!
I love to cook and eat as well. ;) What’s your favorite dish?
Good luck with all of your studies!
CassandraThank you both for such a prompt welcoming!
Cassandra, I love sashimi (of course!), onigiri for packing a lunch (umeboshi combined with bonito flakes is my favorite filling — I think anything with umeboshi is delicious), and I’ve recently gotten into oden. Mostly, though, since I don’t usually have all the ingredients to make a traditional meal, I play around with different Japanese sauces and whatever vegetable, meat, or soy product that I have around :)
What do you like to cook? Can you recommend any good books or websites on Japanese cuisine? I only know a few.
http://cookpad.com/ is really popular.
Unfortunately, I haven’t ventured into much Japanese cooking. I’m vegan so that limits my options quite a bit. Two nights ago I made a miso soup that came out pretty well. I also make a vegan version of gyoza that we absolutely love. Usually I make an udon noodle/bok choy/shiitake mushroom stir fry to go with it.
This is the gyoza recipe I make – http://www.veggienumnum.com/2010/01/vegetarian-gyoza/ It’s not authentic as it’s been adapted to a vegetarian diet. I think the stir fry recipe came from the same website.
Next on my list to try is onigiri and sushi. Last night we visited the local Japanese market and bought two sushi mats. I’m also going to try making several recipes (zaru soba, sekihan) that I copied out of the book Bento Box in the Heartland, by Linda Furiya.
What websites/books have you used?
Ohh, cookpad looks great! Thanks goodness for Google Translate, though…I’m only just learning Hiragana.
You should check out Just Hungry and Just Bento. http://www.justhungry.com/
http://justbento.com/ The woman that runs the sites posts a lot of vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes, and offers helpful substitutions.
She also has a great recipe for making your own soy milk that I’ve tried, and a tutorial on making your own tofu, which I want to try!For books, I’ve been enjoying The Japanese Kitchen by Hiroko Shimbo and Japanese Cooking, A Simple Art by Shizuo Tsuji. They’re pretty traditional, especially the latter, and technique-focused. I’m looking into more experimental or fusion ones soon. I’ll look into the Bento Box book! Sounds fun :)
Cassandra, making sushi takes practice to perfect but it’s actually really fun to make – even though mine always looks like deformed sushi that has been thrown off the supermarket shelf, trampled on and abandoned. :)
Thanks for the website suggestions and the book titles! On Just Bento, the most recent recipe (Tofu and vegetable piccata) sounds really good! mmmm… now I’m starting to get hungry.
Making tofu sounds like a lot of fun. We eat quite a bit of tofu so I think I might try that out as well. :)
Do you have any new recipes planned this week? I think I’m going to tackle onigiri as my new recipe of the week.
Kaona – I’m sure your sushi doesn’t look that bad! ;)
Hi Lanie,
Welcome to the site, also. Hope you get accepted onto the JET program… what a motivation to learn the language. eh? I’m hoping to get a year long Working Holiday Visa and really want to have a grasp on Japanese by the time I go.
Good luck with your studies… I share your excitment :-P
Emma ^-^
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