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Recipe for Taco Rice

Well.... we didn't get to chase the "oni" away last night.
KB wasn't able to purchase any soybeans.
Peanuts would have been an option but Bubba is still too young to eat them so we opted to wait.
Next year we'll be prepared for the setsubun-no-hi festivities.


Today I am sharing with you one of KB's favorite meals from Okinawa.
This recipe for taco rice is very simple and serves two.
I will post new recipes as we try them.

Enjoy Japanese cuisine at your home too.
To-te-mo o-i-shi-i de-su (It is very delicious)

Talk soon~ Denise





Taco Rice Recipe


Ingredients:

4 leaves of lettuce (thinly sliced)
1 tomate (diced)
1 Tbs of vegtable oil
8 oz ground beef
1/2 oz taco seasoning mix
1/2 cup water
Cheese ( as much as you prefer)
Salsa ( as much as you prefer)
2 bowls of steamed white rice


Preparation:


Heat shallow fry pan and add one teaspoon of vegtable oil
Stir fry meat until browned
Add taco mix and water
Heat mixture until water is evaporated
Put mixture on top of rice
Spread cheese over the meat mixture
Spread lettuce over cheese followed by tomatoes
Sprinkle salsa onto tomatoes

Serve and Enjoy

setsubun-no-hi

Chasing evil spirits away.

Throwing roasted soybeans to ward off evil spirits from homes has been a Japanese tradition for centuries. The event is held on the 3rd of Febuary. The 3rd of Febuary is the seasonal division of winter and spring. The general idea is to drive evil spirits from the home, while welcoming good fortune. This special ritual is called mamemaki (豆撒き).

Okay so how is it done?

Mamemaki is usually performed by the toshiotoko (年男) of the household (i.e. the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans(called irimame 炒り豆) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon or orge) mask, while the throwers chant "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外! 福は内!). The meaning of the words roughly translates to "Demons out! Luck in!" The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them.

After throwing roasted soybeans, as part of bring luck in, it is customary that everyone eat the same number of beans as their age in order to wish for good health during the year. In some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one for bringing good luck for the year to come.

The use of soybeans is thought to come from the fact that soybeans grow everywhere while still providing fertility to the soil. Because of this they were thought to have magical powers that would be effective against evil spirits.

Join us with the many millions of Japanese in bean throwing for mamemaki. If were not able to purchase soybeans by tonight nowaday peanuts are used too.

Since we currently don't have a vehicle we won't be able to go to the Setsuban Festival held at the Naminoue Shrine but we will bless our billeting room this year. Maybe KB will be able to find a Oni Mask to wear so that the children can throw the soybeans to frighten the "oni" away.

Have fun frightening the Oni from your home!

Talk soon~ Denise

Okinawa Hai!

We are finally here!

The last six months seemed to have taken forever but we are finally on our new adventure.
We flew out of Atlanta International Airport on the 27th of Jan with a day lay over in Seattle, Washington. On the 29th we boarded our flight to Tokyo, Japan with a one year old toddler, 4 year old boy/girl twins, a Senior in High School and a furbaby in the belly of the plane. Imagine that and I'm still here to tell it :)

Well this story will have to continue in a bit.
Someone woke up from their nap.

Talk to you soon~ Denise