Just a real quick post for New Years! I’ll be busy making Nishime(Vegetable Stew) and other dishes this evening. Then will gorge myself silly, take a short nap, watch some DVD. Around midnight, I’ll walk outside into the front yard(hopefully it won’t rain), and take my first deep breath of the New Year. I’ll then walk back in the house and have some Soba, and other stuff.
Of course I had to do some shopping this morning, and stopped by the two nearby Japanese Markets; Nijiya and Mitsuwa. I managed to snap a few quick photos of some Osechi.
Osechi are Japanese New Year "food", and most of the items are very symbolic. Usually Osechi-ryori are sold in lacquer or similar type boxes called "Jubako".
Prices can range from $25 up to over $150. And many of them will sell out by the early afternoon of New Years eve. Many off the items included in these boxes represent good health and prosperity for the New Year. Don’t know about that; I’ve had my share of Osechi-ryori, and I don’t really think I’ve gotten any more prosperous, healthy, taller, or anything else. But why take chances?
Some of the items found in these boxes are:
Kamabuko – The standard Red and White steamed fishcake.
Kuromame – Sweetened black soybeans.
Kazunoko – Herring Roe. Here’s an really great article.
Shrimp – Represents long life.
Some type of Tamago – Either Dashi-maki, or Date-maki(sweet) omelette.
And many more items. Even the Nishime that I’ll be making:
Looks a heck of alot prettier then my version for sure.
I’d like to send out our sincere wishes for a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!