The Ninja Baker's Japan, Part 1

NinjaBaker — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 06:32:41 +0000

With the start of the New Year, I'm adding a new feature entitled the Ninja Baker's Japan. I'll be bringing you photos, videos and poetry from my Japan journal. Hope you enjoy!

The knell of the bells at the Gion temple
Echoes the impermanence of all things.
The colour of the flowers on its double-trunked tree
Reveals the truth that to flourish is to fall.
He who is proud is not so for long,
Like a passing dream on a night in spring.
He who is brave is finally destroyed,
To be no more than dust before the wind.

Legends of the Heike War
Japanese author(s) unknown
Translated by P.G. O'Neill

Jizo: Protectors of Children and Travelers

Cherry Blossom Sakura Sushi

Buds flash red, a stone lantern stands serene; both coexist in a Japanese garden.

Togoshi (Tokyo, Japan) Tea Shop Owner
(She's been in business for over 60 years.)

Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream

Precious angels waiting for their train.

Daruma, Good Luck Dolls:
Typically one eye is drawn in while making a wish.
When it comes true, the other eye is drawn in.
When my brother gave his girlfriend a daruma doll, she made a wish...
Today, she's his wife! Guess what her wish was?

Ladies in lovely silk kimonos (and obi belts)
chat between tea ceremony demonstrations.

Handcrafted Emperor and Empress dolls by my friend Nozomi Fujii.

Her exquisite dolls are on display at Kurari in Kamakura.

Daibutsu: The Great Buddha

Thank you to my Australian friend, Joanne of What's on the List for the invitation to share The Ninja Baker's Best of Japan at the No Rules Party!

Wishing you travels which touch your heart.

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

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Japanese Easter Petit Fours & Flowers, #SundaySupper

NinjaBaker — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:44:17 +0000

Using water to purify oneself is inherent in Easter and Passover rituals. After forty days of being bone dry, baptismal fonts are filled with water on Easter dawn in many churches.

Early in the Jewish Seder feast celebrating Passover, an age-old ritual of washing hands before partaking in karpas (parsley, celery or other greenery) is performed. (Water is poured 3 times over the right hand and then the left.)

Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are where the masses go to celebrate the holidays in Japan. Japanese partake in water rituals at the entrance. Here’s the quick how-to brought to you by the Ninja Baker’s friend, Ryo Shimizu. (We met on a TV set in LA where Japanese-English bilinguals were needed. Ryo-san’s wife, Nozomi Fujii creates gorgeous traditional Japanese dolls, which are featured here.)

In addition to respecting the rituals of the Buddhist and Shinto religions, my family attended church on Christmas and Easter. After the inspirational songs and sermon given by the Australian minister at St. Alban’s, we often headed over to the Tokyo American Club buffet.

Ikebana floral arrangements fit for the Imperial Palace were artfully placed throughout the club. The spring flower compositions replicated the words of hope and renewal expressed at church. But I confess, the dessert display was a mighty distraction. Fruit tarts, strawberry shortcake, coconut cake and chocolate in every heavenly form were available. And petit fours! My simplified version of the sweets for #SundaySupper follows shortly.

The Ninja Baker's Petit Fours and Ikebana.

The highest flower is the heaven flower; the middle represents man or nature,
the yellow buds closest to the ground symbolize terra firma.

First, please accept this invitation to share your favorite Easter and Passover treats at the #SundaySupper Twitter event. The party starts at 7 p.m. ET on 24 March 2013. Click here to participate. The always-creative Carla of Chocolate Moosey hosts. You can be sure the event will be super sweet!

Cherry blossom fondant cutouts and sugar bunnies garnish the Ninja Baker's Petit Fours.

The Ninja Baker’s Petit Fours

1. Pour Simple White Cake batter into a parchment lined mini jellyroll pan. The recipe is found here at Allrecipes.com.
2. Cool.
3. Cut the cake with a square 2.5” x 2.5” cookie cutter.
4. Freeze overnight.
5. Spread ¼ to ½ teaspoons of organic strawberry jam on the square cake tops.
6. Roll out pastel fondants on a powdered sugar sprinkled cutting board covered by wax paper.
7. Carefully wrap squares with fondant.
8. Garnish with additional cherry blossom fondant cutouts or other festive decorations.

Note: Be prepared to roll out and repeat the process several times.
To avoid rapid drying and stiffening, place your fondant under plastic wrap.

For your own Easter and Passover buffets, check out the other delicious delights from #SundaySupper food bloggers.

Easter