My friend, Dina, arranged for us to go to Japanese cooking lesson. The lesson was given by, Miki, a lady who is part of our Ikebana group. She provided us with a brief bio and directions to her house. This was my first experience going to a Japanese house. It was an amazing experience. 

The map is hand drawn


We decided on a menu of:

Dashi and Miso Soup

Takikomi Gohan (Japanese chicken, rice and vegetables) 

Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura 

Let’s start with the Soup. The soup is made using fish flakes (katsuo-bushi) and dried kelp (konbu). Restaurants will use a fish and grate it to achieve the flakes used to season the soup. Miki showed us the fish and grater. She also showed us the easier way. 


Instead of the traditional method, we used the easier liquid version. 


The liquid is mixed with water and season packet and brought to a boil. 


We then added the tofu and Miso paste. 

Silky Tofu

Miso Paste (bean paste)

Her method for mixing the paste with the soup. It prevented the tofu from breaking apart.

Once the ingredients are added to the soup, remove it from heat and let it set. Add heat right before serving.


Next up, Takikomi Gohan. I’ll be honest. This dish made me so excited. It basically uses the rice cooker as a crockpot. The ingredient list:

Rice

Shiitake mushrooms 

Shimeji mushrooms 

Carrot

Chicken thigh

Burdock root

Bamboo shoot

Water

Soy sauce

Dashi sauce

Ingredients – Burdock root in bag

Fresh Bamboo

Miki washed and grated the Burdock root

Rice with soy, dashi and water

All ingredients for Takikomi Gohan. Ready for rice cooker.

46 minutes later


The final item was tempura. Not sure I will be able to recreate this one… 

Vegetables, shrimp and wontons

Tempura flour

Cheese wontons – yum!!!


Miki walks us through the steps to dip into tempura paste and the drop in oil. I definitely need to invest in LARGE chopsticks. 

Only the bottom of the mushrooms were dipped

Egg Plant

My turn at tempura making. I look huge in little kitchen.

Dina taking a turn at tempura


While Dina and I managed the tempura, Miki set the table! 

My spot! LOVE the Fuji plate. I have yet another thing to keep on my list of things I need to find!

Sushi plate ❤️


Part of the cuteness of the table was the mismatched plates. Yet, they all coordinated. Absolutely, adorable. My collection search begins. 

And now the meal! 


And now us! 


My favorite photo was of Dina in the “living room”. Notice there is a tatami (mat) with a (heated) blanket on top. No couch or chair! Not to mention, she doesn’t quite fit (she has me by 3 inches!). And then – there is Miki’s tiny dog!! 


Today was so fun. Dina and I decided tempura is a special occasion meal. It was fun, just a lot of work. We are going to schedule another lesson to make sushi once my hands heal. No one wants me touching raw stuff with my raw hand right now… 

PS. If you come visit, I’ll make you tempura!