Some of us starting out the year depleted ? OR full of recharged energy? The choice is yours: press that reset button for a whole new year of vitality and health in spite of the current stress and challenges that lies ahead.
If we want to better take care of our loved ones, we ought to first take care of ourselves. Empowered we can share and give a part of ourselves to those who need that infusion of love and care.
And as some would say in English- simply with brevity:
Mom, Hang in there! I will be there ! I want to give you a big hug! So please … hang in there. Stay sane.
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Pray for my strength resolve and health so that I can make that journey without breaking down. Pray that people will work together and cooperate for the common good of public health so that we can beat this virus before it mutates again…and again – there’s alot more to the Greek alphabet than alpha delta and omicron …It’s a whole Panhellenic series I do not care to go down – it’s no frat sorotity rush. Those exchanges are so lame, we have to be smarter as supposedly the most intelligent mammal (I questioned this notion many times last yaer) on this planet.
Everyone please get vaccinated and wear masks whenever you are indoors with others you do not live with. Pray for the end to this Pandemic.
Let Hope and Wisdom light up our path out of this darkness.
Shared Ozoni aka traditional Japanese New Year soup with friends ❤️ Plating the bowls is an artistic endeavor ? There are many variations to Ozoni soup depending on the family and/or region of Japan one is from. Mine is just Tokyo-style with whatever ingredients that one can find handy in USA. As we are near a Japanese supermarket we are lucky to have:
Mochi (either round or rectangle shaped)
Kamaboko (fish cake – these are red and white for auspiciousness)
Shungiku greens (a bit like spinich but with more character) my mother used Mitsuba but did not have any.
chicken breast
Ikura fish eggs in mochi mini-cups I made – just my idea that came due to reasons I can explain later.
Shirataki (crystal noodles – totally not traditional – just thought pretty addition.)
Normally would have shiitake mushroom, flower shaped carrot, but not this time. For me a must used to be Yuzu peel as a touch for the final garnish but did not have any Yuzu so … a tiny lemon peel ribbon strip.
Once these are arranged, the broth is poured over gently and we are ready to : Itadaki masu! Omedeto !!
My broth is clear made from blending of various dashi – soup stock but some regions may have miso in it or … So Many Variations – fun to see this site for some of the examples – Here’s the Link:)
Greeted by this Prince on their couch. So happy to see a happy dog to welcome the Year of Tiger:)