Japanese New Food Trend will come to USA??

Surprrise 

How are you doing after "Spring Forward (daylight saving time)"? Hope you all are recovering losing one hour by now.

We had heavy rain last week, but it's all cleared up and I see our famous "Blue Sky in California" and it's getting warmer here.

Today, I'd like to share something you can enjoy.... it's called "Surprrise". No, I did not misspelled "surprise"....if that's what you are thinking right now.

Surprrise is French and it means "Surprise" in English. Now this Surprrise style sandwich is popular in Japan. What is Surprrise?  Don't be surprised...

What? This is just a loaf of bread, I know...... but when you open the top,

Tada! Many kinds of sandwich inside!

This Surprrise style sandwich is getting popular for parties, especially for kids' birthday parties. I am sure all the kids' eyes will light up to see this.

Well, this is for Christmas, of course. I am sure you will be getting lots of compliments on this.

And it's not hard to make this at all, as you can see. Only you need is a imagination! And if you want to, you can eat the bread box with other dishes, like chicken or pasta, after all the sandwich is gone! How clever not to waste any food!

You can even use English style loaf of bread for this or

You don't need any containers or boxes to put sandwich in and this is perfect for picnic, too. The weather is getting nicer and nicer, so why not going to the park with this amazing bread!

Where you can buy the long uncut loaf of bread? If you have a bakery in your area, I am sure they do have these and if you happen to have Japanese grocery stores or bakeries nearby, they have it as well. I drive over 45 minutes to go to Japanese grocery store almost every month, so there is no prob for me!

Enjoy being outside with your family, friends and boyfriends and girlfriends!

Have fun!

3-Day Military Diet Plan

I saw this Diet Plan on my facebook page and made me interested in.  So I decided to try on the weekend while my hubby was out of town (so I did not have to worry about cooking for him, you know?)

3-Day Military Diet Plan is supposed to be a fast way to lose up to 10 pounds a week.  Water is recommended as drinks, but you can drink coffee (no sugar or cream) or caffeine free herbal tea.

I did not feel hungry after this breakfast. Grapefruit was very refreshing!

I wished I could add milk in my coffee, though....

I accidentally added peanut butter on my whole wheat toast...well, hope it won't affect that much of this  diet.... 1/2 cup tuna was a lot. I seasoned with salt and pepper. They are the only seasoning allowed to add.

It was a lot...I chose grilled chicken for meat.  I steamed green beans with no seasoning. I cut Fuji apple in small pieces. And LOVED Haaggen Dazs vanilla ice cream! 

All day, I did not feel hungry that much.  When I felt hungry, I drank lukewarm water. So far so good! I hope I can see less number on the scale.....

                                               

I was very hungry this morning. After this breakfast, I felt fine, but couple of hours later, I was hungry again. I was so looking forward to lunch.

                                          

I don't like cottage cheese, so I did not eat it... Of course, it was not enough at all. I still had 5 or so hours till dinner. I tried to make myself busy, but it was hard..... Well, I was trying to lose some weight, so I guessed it was normal to feel hungry.

I forgot to buy broccoli and I don't like raw carrots, so I skipped both of them. Since I was so hungry, 2 hot dogs tasted super good! I wish I could have a whole cup of vanilla ice cream like yesterday.

            

I tried to bite as small as possible, so the food last longer. I've heard we should chew at least 10 times for one bite if we wanted to lose weight. Cheddar tasted so good! I felt OK after I ate whole this breakfast.

This was not enough at all for lunch. I was so so hungry entire afternoon. I knew today was the last day and I could eat 1 cup of ice cream for dinner, that was the only reason why I could bear this diet. 

I waited very long for this dinner! It was not enough of course, but I stayed positive hoping next morning, I would see the good result!! I made it though!!!!!

******  THE RESULT  ******

After 3-day of hunger, I lost 4 lb! To tell the truth, this diet was the first one I could lost this much in a short period of time. I was super happy this morning!!! The website said "up to 10 lb", however, I was not expect 10 lb, of course. 4 lb was more than my expectation. 

So, this 3-day Military Diet works!!!

The problem is to see if I can keep this... you know? I supposed to have 4-day break if I want to do this again. Will I do this again? YES, I WILL! But not for a while.

In my case, the side effect was "weakness", "headache" and "hunger?".  I am sure this will vary by the individual.

But I will recommend this diet, if you need to lose quickly. My advice is you need to follow EXACTLY what it said. No Cheating! I did not eat certain food, but I did not eat anything else.

Hope this helps you.

Good luck! #militarydietplan

PS: My weight went back after a week.... I guess you have to keep eating very healthy and do this every week until your ideal weight. I understand it varies, depends on the individual. 

http://themilitarydiet.com/military-diet-plan/

Hello Kitty Saryo (Tea House) in Kyoto, Japan. Finally!!!

How've you been? Sorry for not updating my blog so long.  But here's something so "kawaii" stuff!

I was in Kyoto Japan over the year and finally visited the place I'd been wanted to visit, Hello Kitty Saryo (Tea House) in Kyoto.

It's located the beginning of the slope of "Ninenzaka" near Kiyomizu Temple. First I saw was Hello Kitty Store and Tea House display.

Then I found Tea House...

This is the drink menu. I was so excited!

Pretty Textile for the table

Hand Towel and Napkin

And these are what we all ordered. I thought they were reasonably priced.

Cafe Latte & Sugar Ribbon

Kitty Joyo Manjyu

Matcha & Assorted Sweets

Side view, too cute!

Apple Cider

Huge Hello Kitty was next to me, so I took a picture with her. Look how happy I was!!!

Their tea bowl was very pretty. I really wanted it, but it was about $100....

 

And there was a beautiful garden outside. If you see upclose, there is Hello Kitty there.

All the sweets they served were hand made.

Souvenir 

So many to choose from...

Special for New Year

Even bathroom was cute.

Beautiful Sink

Robbon Mirror

There was also Giburi Store next to Tea House.

Hellos kitty store was full of cutie stuff and I was in heaven!

Entrance

Daruma

Tea Set

Stair to Second Floor

I wish I could stay there much longer. I will go back to Hello Kitty Tea House again for sure. Hope you'll have a chance to visit when you go to Kyoto. #hellokittysaryo

The address is 363-22-2, Masuya Cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. Phone number is 075-541-1210.

Open 7 days a week, 10:30 am to 6 pm. 

www.telacoya.co.jp/kt/

https://www.instagram.com/hellokittysaryo/ 

Kawaii Apps for pictures!

OMG, it has been a few weeks since I updated the blog. I hope all of you had wonderful Thanksgiving Holidays. Since I was born and raised in Japan, I still don't have a great connection to this Holiday...plus turkey was not our thing, so my husband smoked a ham instead.

Today, I would like to share the apps I use for edit pictures. I use Japanese apps as you might expected.

First one is DECOPIC.

This is very popular camera app makes it easy to do cute and stylish photo editing very easily! It comes with lots of free decorations as well. Of course! this app is FREE!!

I often use this to edit my pic to upload on my Instagram.

Next up is PETAPIC. This is Photo Collage app.

This is a sister app for DECOPIC. Combine pictures to make them cute and cool. More than 100 kinds of easy-to-use templates and more than 200 kinds of wall papers. Trim your pics in hear or star, in any shape you like!!

To make my face flawless (haha....), I use CunPic.  I really shouldn't have give this away.....it was my secret....

  

               

You can use facial beauty and charm-enhancing filters to make your pics super cute and super sweet! To be the radiant lady or sweet princess, it's all up to you! Cun (Kyun-we pronounce) is the onomatopoeia that expresses the sound when you feel your heart throb and beat with excitement.

With this app, you can get rid of your acne, red eyes and a lot more!

Finally, those who does not do "apps", you can do some of this on your computer easily using "imikimi" at imikimi.com. There are many kinds of picture frames and you can spend hours to play with this. imikimi has app as well.

Like the above frames, you can just click it and add your photo. Very easy and there are thousands of frames to choose from. Those frames are more detailed. 

If you have time, play with your photos and if you could make the good ones, upload on SNS!!

Magic Cooking! Marshmallows turn into Almond Jello 杏仁豆腐 & More

                                                      

Have you ever thought it would be nice to make some desserts like a magic? Today is your lucky day! I'll share the magic with you!

Actually, I learned this magic from Japanese TV show the other day and have been dying to try the recipe. Because I was very skeptical....But there is science to make this magic happen!

Can you imagine Marshmallow and milk will make Almond Jello (An-nin-tofu杏仁豆腐)?

Can you imagine Persimmon and Vanilla Ice Cream will make Yummy Mousse (On TV show, they said "Custard Pudding" but to me it tastes like Mousse)? 

Here's the recipe for Almond Jello. (I could make only one ramekin with this. Yes, American size....In the following pictures, I double the recipe.)

Marshmallow        6 pieces (I only had Jumbo Marshmallows, so I used 2 Jumbo                            and cut into 4 pieces)
water                    40 ml
Milk                      80 ml
Almond Extract     1/2 tea spoon

1. In a medium size bowl, put marshmallow and pour water in. -Marshmallow will expand with heat, so please use the appropriate bowl.

2. Microwave it for 2 min. with 600W (I reduced mine to 60%). Marshmallow and water turn to liquid.

3. Take the bowl out and pour milk in and mix.

4. Add Almond Extract. Pour into the cup or Ramekin.

5. Chill in the fridge for 3 hours.

YES! That's it! Easy enough right????

After 3 hours, Voir la! It's just amazing! Taste just like Almond Jello!

Now, it's more easier magic recipe!

Mousse with Persimmons and Vanilla Ice Cream but it does not taste like persimmon, more like custard)

Perssimon            200g (about 2)
Vanilla Ice Cream 90g
Milk                     6 Tablespoons

1. Blend persimmons, Ice Cream and milk in the blender and mix.

2. Pour into the cup or ramekin.

3. Chill in the fridge for 3 hours. THAT's IT!!!!!!! That is it!

OMG! I've never made the dessert as easy as this one and tasted Fabulous!

These recipes are really worth trying!

The reason why marshmallow and milk can make jello is because marshmallow has gelatin in it. Also cornstarch in marshmallow will allow this taste like almond jello.

For Persimmon and Ice Cream: persimmons have Pectin and when this touches calcium in Vanilla Ice Cream and milk, it becomes solid. There are many other fruits have Pectin, but they won't make this solid because persimmons have a lot of Pectin. 

Reference cited: "Tokusu hito, Sonsuru hito 10/18/15 - Japanese TV show"