Category: Cooking

Posted in Beauty, Cooking, Feelings, Food, Health, Pilgrimage, Place, Shopping, Travel

Healthy Food

Posted on by sonokotchi

I cooked healthy breakfast.

I opened Maltese Cuctus Jam (Gozo) to enjoy with yogurt .

I visited Malta in 2016.

It’s nice country: people are nice, ocean is beautiful, food is nice because agriculture products are so fresh.

I would love to visit Malta again.



At dinner, I had Azuki Kuzu (red bean flavored arrowroot).

I bought this at the shop near Saigoku No. 5 Fujiidera (Fujii Temple).

It’s delicious and it’s healthy because Kuzu assists to increase immune system and body temperature, enhance blood circulation, stabilize hormone and mental, antiaging and many more.

I like it so I should continue taking it for my health!


I also learned that 15 cc of black vinegar and 15 cc of chopped  ginger will warm up body and detox excess waste; and a glass of tomato juice for cleaning blood.


Let’s monitor the outcome.

Posted in Cooking, Exercise, Feelings, Food, Health, Japanese Food, Tokyo

Starting a Day Not Healthy, but Making it a Healthy Day

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had Castella or Kasuteta (Japanese cake) for breakfast.

This is simply made of flour, eggs and sugar.

This dessert was brought to Japan by a Portuguese missionary in 16th century.

We call it Castella, but there isn’t any dessert like this in Spain; we don’t know the origin of this dessert.

Today, we eat pancakes and waffles for breakfast so I can eat this dessert which is made of flour, eggs and sugar for breakfast, right?


I’m getting board doing the same routine everyday: go to office and return home.

It was a nice day to walk in a light breeze.

I walked from Shonagawa to home.


It was 4.5 km journey and fun. 

There are a quite numbers of shrines and temples standing between buildings.

There is a Japanese traditional archery shop next to a temple, selling Japanese traditional archeries in Tokyo! 

There are many interesting shops and restaurants on the way home.

I stopped by at a supermarket, Lincos.

It was a small adventure.

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Food, Health, Japanese Food, Tokyo

One of My Saturdays

Posted on by sonokotchi

This week I’ve been going to bed early; therefore, when I woke up today, I already felt fresh!

I went soba shop for breakfast.

I had a bowl of Hiyashi Kitsune (Cold Deep-Fried Bean Curd Noodle).

Nickname of this bean curd is Kitsune (fox) because we believe a fox that represent a guardian of area, messenger of shrine or god of harvest, likes this deep-fried bean curd.


Then, I prayed at my shrine, Tenso-Jinja (Tenso Shrine).

It feels good to pray in the morning when a town is still quiet.

But as you can see, this shrine is located in the center of Tokyo, between highrised buildings.


I got ready to go for body maintenance.

Now I don’t have a serious pain, but there are many parts that need to be fixed: legs, organs, shoulders and head…?


After refreshment, I cooked simple lunch:  Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Chinese Noodle).

I placed too much toppings over Chinese styled yellow noodle.


I’ve been eating well today; tonight’s dinner, it was tapas style (small dishes).

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Japanese Food

Buta Shabu (Pork Claypot)

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s still nice to eat Nabe (pot dish); therefore, I cooked a pot dish, Buta Shabu (Pork Claypot).

Swing a slice of pork in hot soup to cook (not to over cook) and eat with two different sauce: sesame dressing with Chinese chili oil, and ponzu (citrus soy sauce), daikon (white radish) and bannou negi (chive).

Last I had a small potion of udon (rice noodle).


It’s not a reward day or cheating day. 

But how can I refuse this…?

Posted in Beauty, Cooking, Feelings, Health

Long Day

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s a long day today.

I left office 7:45 pm and reached home past 8 pm.

I went to grocery shopping because I didn’t feel like buying food outside.

I was exhausted, but I was in a cooking mode.

I cooked chicken in black vinegar.

And I bought Carparica Sparkling Water from Romania as my treat.


I’m trying to cut down on sugar by avoiding fruit.

But I want to have my treat.

I concluded to have a sparkling water.

I finally had my dinner at 10 pm – so late.

I forgot to buy parsley; therefore, I had to be creative for smoothie.

I made a soy milk, tomato and carrot smoothie for breakfast tomorrow.

It became nicely in pink – so romantic!

Posted in Beauty, Cooking, Feelings, Food, Health, Mt. Fuji

No Salt, No Sugar, No Fat

Posted on by sonokotchi

I am practicing a new diet (eat meat, but no rice, flour and sugar) for two weeks.

Yes, I lost few kg and I’m keeping it. Yeah!

Today, I met my diet mentor (physical therapist) and was informed that I need to be careful of seasonings.

For example, Ponzu, it’s soy sauce with citrus, but a commercialized Ponzu uses fruit sugar and liquid sugar.

And salt; I need to cut salt totally.

Miso soup isn’t recommended to take because it’s too salty.

We can intake enough amino acid from meat.
Miso soup is Japanese traditional food; furthermore, miso is fermented and fermented food is known as good for body.
But it’s not recommended.

It seems my knowledge is outdated.

He advised me I shouldn’t grill a steak with salt; I should grill with pepper and garlic only.

He recommended to eat together with herbs such as coriander (paxi) to get flavour on breast chicken.

I eat Paxi when I eat Thai food or other ethnic food.

I never bought it, but I look for it at a supermarket tonight.

I tried a bite together with chicken, and I agree it tastes good.

I was in shock.

I need to further discipline myself.

When I saw this sophisticated bottle at supermarket, I decided to reward myself.

Mt. Fuji Sparkling Water.

Posted in Beauty, Cooking, Feelings, Food, Health

Chicken Recipe 

Posted on by sonokotchi

I introduced a new way of diet yesterday.

Among all types of meat, chicken breast and chicken tenderloin are highly recommended.

But these parts are not juicy…

I need to cook differently to avoid getting board with chicken.

I cooked spicy chicken for tomorrow’s lunch. 

I don’t think any restaurant can make me full with meat (main dish) only; therefore, it is wise to bring a lunch from home.

I need more chicken recipe.

I also made a vegetable green smoothie for breakfast: soy milk, tomato and parsley.

I’m glad that I bought the air-vacuum smoothie maker!

Posted in Beauty, Cooking, Feelings, Food, Health

New Diet

Posted on by sonokotchi

My trainer is a body builder.

He goes on diet to control his weight.

He taught me what I should do: I should eat meat and vegetables only.

However, surprisingly I can eat as much as I want because an excess will be discharged.

After dinner, if I get hungry I can eat steak even late at night.

Wonderful!

And I shouldn’t feel hungry because I eat meat which keeps my stomach full.

But I shouldn’t eat any rice, flour products (bread, pasta, etc.), and sugar products.

I understand I shouldn’t eat any confectionery products, but I didn’t know I shouldn’t eat fruit!

I thought fruit is healthy and rich in enzyme, but I was told it contains high sugar fruit.

I make smoothie with kiwi and apple, but I was told I should avoid these.

Therefore, I made a smoothie with soy milk, tomato, parsley and carrot.

This is truly vegetable smoothie.

I lost few kg exercising this diet for a week.

My trainer told me I can have one day in a week to reward myself so I ate freely yesterday during socializing.

I look forward for the outcome!!  

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Food, Gadget, Health, Japanese Food

My Favorite Drinks: Smoothie and Wine 

Posted on by sonokotchi

I’ve been enjoying a cup of smoothie every morning since I bought a smoothie maker, Tescom TMV 1100.

Today, I went to buy a lunch box. (Yes, I was lazy making lunch today….).

I found a nice lunch box, but I thought I should take more veggies.


I bought smoothies which were on promotion – discount.


I tried a green smoothie, but surprisingly it’s sweet.

I opened it to check its greeness.


Hummm, my green smoothie is much more delicious.

Now I enjoy making my own recipe smoothie. 

Today’s Recipe:  Contrex water (200 ml), orange (60g), spinach (40g), apple (60g) and carrot (30g)


For dinner, I enjoyed another favorite drink: few glasses of wine.

Wine is also good, right? 

Polyphenol! 

Yes, I should be careful, not to over drink.

Well, this one is special……

Corton Clos Du Roi Grand Cru 2010 (Beaune, France)

Wine is so delicate….yet, enhancing food….

It’s not cheap (USD 125), but worth trying it once.

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Food, Friends, Health

Lazy Sunday and Healthy Monday

Posted on by sonokotchi

Yesterday, I pochi (press) Amazon Prime Video.

I tried free one month trial to finish watching the Suits Season 4.

I wish Season 5 is available.

Japan is behind the schedule.

I also enjoyed Calbee’s premium potato chips that my friend gave me.

These are in small packets so Iguiltily ate   few.


I was lazy on Sunday; but, how about my Monday…?

I went to pool in the morning; then went to dentist for annual check up.

I’m glad to know that my teeth are fine.

But I have one tooth that I need to treat.

It was treated by different dentist before, but still require further treatment. Ahhh


I was lazy yesterday so I tried to be healthy today.

I had healthy snack: cooked banana and orange.

Canadian Extra Light Maple Syrup added nice flavor. 

 (It was a nice sunny day. I closed curtains to take a photo).


It is Canadian Day today because I had Canadian Smoked Salmon Sandwich for dinner.


Okay, time to do my nail and go to sleep Zzzzz