My Candied Sweet Potato

I did it! I made Daigaku Imo, now let me tell you the tale!

I drove into town today and hit up the Milk Market and as I was expecting there were no traders only the permanent units, what I did not expect was for the Asian Supermarket located there to have closed down, or for the coffee place to have a door I just could not find. So with some disappointment I moved on and got breakfast at the nearby nightclub (if you're local you know it, I would say but after the last post I feel like I've overdone the free advertising) and then moved on to Henry Street to Cheong Heng Hong Chinese Supermarket. Let me tell you, I was enthralled and amazed and delighted. The smell walking in the door was gorgeous and the place is huge, there were bags and bottles, jars and tubs of spices, herbs, powders, rices, meats, dried vegetables, fresh ones too and that whole sort. I mean just imagine what your local Asian supermarket looks like, though in saying that I really don't know many people who have been inside one, at least, 'round these parts. What I mean is, I live 30kms from Limerick City, not exactly local, but there is a Chinese take-away as well as a Chinese restaurant about 7kms down the road, so if you want Chinese/Thai/Indian food its really not the case that it could simply be easier to prepare it yourself, espeially when you think how cheap it is. So I can honestly admit that I had never been, before this, been in an Asian Supermarket.

Anyway I got my stuff: Mirin, Rice Wine Vinegar and Black Sesame Seeds for the Daigaku Imo and Mochiko Powder and Coconut Milk for the Mochiko Cake this weekend (or tomorrow if I'm good). Though I'm surprised I made it out with only that, so big hint if anyone wants to get me some woks and tea cups (you know where!). Headed on to a pub on Shannon Street for tea, then Dunne's for some more ingredients and eventually home where I had everything else I needed.

Already I couldn't wait to eat but there were some issues that had to be dealt with first. Even though the recipe is pretty easy going with its measurements, a teaspoon of this, a tablespoon of that, it did call for 300g of Sweet Potato but at this very moment in time my uncle has our scales so I guessed how much of the vegetable I would use. I was pretty generous with the rest of the ingredients too, a teaspoon was at least a teaspoon and a half. But that's how I always am, so I don't think that really would matter, especially as I'm sure not all teaspoons are the same size. 

I cut, boiled, peeled, cut and fried some sweet potato in a wok with some oil and then added the rest of the ingredients. 4 teaspoons of Mirin, 1 teaspoon of Rice Wine Vinegar, 1 teaspoon of Soy Sauce, 2 and a half teaspoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of Black Sesame Seeds, or well you know. Now I must say it came out lovely but I don't think quite right. I think what went wrong was that, I maybe boiled the sweet potato a little too long and then cut them up a little too small, and that's why I think they got a little gooey when I was trying to glaze them. They did however taste great and looked pretty good but not like they did in any of the pictures.

In case they didn't work out right first time round, which lets admit is normally the case, I'm happy to say I had the foresight to make sure I'd have enough sweet potato to make some more the next day. I'll check some more recipes and try not to let them get too soft and gooey. Although...I might just do the exact same again, like I said it was good!

 ...Now here's the thing, this all happened yesterday but it took me like four hours to get the photos uploaded and just then the router was turned off so that ended that. Now I spent pretty much the entire day today making lemon tarts and mocha biscuits with the sister and boys, so I'm doing this now instead. And actually since then I've tried my hand at cooking this again, but I was hungry so sorry no pictures! Anyway instead of boiling the tuber I cut into chunks and soaked in water for a while before frying it up with the sauce stuff. It definitely came out better as in it wasn't a complete mush of orange goo but unfortunately some of the bigger chunks were stringy instead of lovely and soft. And so the mission continues to perfect my Daigaku Imo.

Furthermore I realise this is becoming a little foody but we can blame the Finn for that, saying I'm mad into cooking weird things and me just needing to prove her right, then again it might just be because I love reading food blogs and I'm quite hungry quite a lot of the time, who knows. Next week Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites, or you know something else, ah you know how this whole thing works.

Seriously though check that link, they look amazing!

And so it Continues: Daigaku Imo and Mochiko Cake

My obsession, which is shared by many, of Japan and Japanese culture is continuing to burst through this week. Last week it was art, with me trying to do my own version of The Great Wave by Hokusai, but this week its cuisine. And next week on Really Too Much Time we'll be discussing Japan's obsession with France, France's obsession with America, America's obsession with Ireland, and Ireland's obsession with Japan (probably not, but still think about it for a moment!)

In all my life I have had the pleasure of experiencing Sushi just once! It was in this really nice Sushi Place (shocking!) across from our flat on Ulica Dielta in Krakow with M'Colleague, Red Hair an Jazz Hands Girl. I was really excited about trying it, both because it was something new, Japanese and possibly one of the few times in my life I would have such an opportunity. I can't remember what exactly I ordered but it was amazing and ever since I have wanted more, unfortunately as you may have guessed Sushi is not something I come by on a daily basis. After some quick internet-based research I my assumption that there is no Japanese restaurants or eateries in Limerick City has been proved I've decided I can't go indefinitely without Sushi or at least some Japanese food of some sort. Now even though I'm on a whole try new things/do what you have never done before kick lately Sushi is not something I am ready to try to prepare myself just yet (though eventually I hope to) so its Japanese food of some sort that I'm aiming for. In particular Daigaku Imo and Mochiko Cake, which you should have been able guess after reading the title. 

From what I can gather Daigaku Imo, which literally translates as 'University Potato' is eaten as a snack and is sweet potato which has been boiled before being fried and glazed in a syrup and sprinkled with black sesame seeds. Essentially its glazed or candied sweet potato and sounds and looks amazing. So not exactly heavy eating or what would be considered a dish, but from what I tell it is pretty authentic and so are the recipes I have found for it. I'm really excited about trying this, both cooking and eating as I seriously love sweet potato and it shouldn't be too difficult, and it's Japanese!

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE This is one such recipe I've found, may not quite be the one I ultimately follow, but all the recipes I've found are pretty much the same, so hopefully they'll end up looking something like this.

I'm hitting up one of Limerick city's few Asian Supermarkets tomorrow, I expect it will be APO Pinoy Store at the Milk Market, as I've realised I've never given the market the attention it deserves other than getting badges and jackets at The Edge, and they have a totally amazing sounding coffee place there and a French creperie that I did not know about, and are all open (thank God!) on Wednesdays (which is of course tomorrow).

While I'm there, and if I'm not totally wiped out from spending all my money on coffee and crepes, there are a few other ingredients that I will need to acquire for myself to make the Mochiko Cake. I found one recipe for this on Instructables.com, one of my most favourite websites, but I think I'll do some more research before fully committing. Though in saying that, I am so tempted by their chewy gooey goodness I don't think I'll be able resist for long. These are made from Mochiko which is grounded-pulverised sweet rice and this recipe calls for coconut milk in place of dairy so I'm thinking it might be as authentic as I'm going to get it.

Unfortunately I don't think I'll have an opportunity to attempt to make these until the weekend, well at least not the cake as it takes just an hour to cook, which I realise really isn't very long but I want to fully dedicate myself to it. Also if they work out well, I have an idea for a homecoming present for Aero who's been stateside for almost twelve months now and returns in just a few weeks. Aero is of course celiac and these little delights I'm told (at least made in this way) are totally gluten free. That is to say, any health conscious/celiac readers with a hunger for Japanese food here is a suggestion for you. Anyway I will update with pictures and tales of my experiences of these and will, with some hope and luck, one day be preparing such Japanese delights as Bento, Onigiri, squid salad and lovely lovely sushi!

The Obsession with Japan or The First Time in Three Years

So, currently I am sitting in the library trying to word a conclusion to the first chapter in my FYP and really struggling, so instead of making myself sad trying to do that, I'll do a blog update instead (This way the other people here will hear me typing and think golly gosh she is working hard!)

Last night, for the first time in three years I did something quite unexpected. I painted a picture! I did art for my Leaving Cert and even though I was never gone on the whole drawing thing but I was pretty good when it came to painting and pen work. I have drawn some since then and it's normally pen work, painting just takes too long. But after spending a great deal of my day looking at this and this and other general searches on flickr, I could feel that obsession with Japan (that we all seem to have) creeping up on myself. So obviously I tried to get the creative juices pumping and by which I mean, I totally just ripped off one of the most known images in the world.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai

Now the great thing about this woodblock print, other than its sheer awesomeness is that it has no copyright. Meaning of course you can pretty much do whatever you want with it, including as I have said ripping it off like crazy! For me, this meant getting rid of the little boats and throwing in the only thing people in the West think is more Japanese then this image itself. Now I considered Coy Fish but they are pretty damn difficult, so in comes a Sakura Tree - Cherry Blossoms!

Now I know my own is nothing as compared, but considering it is the first time I have even picked up a paintbrush I am pretty happy (so far at least, at the time of writing this I haven't actually finished and I know it needs a lot of work). As these things normally go, I found pictures to base it on and I drew the picture first, then outlined it in pen and retraced it to get fine line outlines instead of the rough scribbles I draw with (as I've said, drawing ain't actually really my thing)

Then I began to paint. This included the outlines of the wave at the beginning and spilling a load of red powder paint out onto the plate. Ah yes! A good start! Oh, and I also painted the Cherry Blossom Tree at the beginning too and I was using the powder paints I took from the Art Room at the secondary school I went to and have had for over five years or so now.

I was going pretty quick with it but at the same time I was at this for a few hours already at this stage with not a ridiculous amount done. As you could imagine now I was getting hungry so at this point I went and made me some yummy pasta! Unfortunately at the same time my brother the Arab was getting hungry too and decided to cook some breaded mushrooms. Seriously though, how disgusting are mushrooms!? I had to leave the room before I could get back to the painting.

I'd decided that I wasn't going to be able do the sky as it is in the original so I wimped out and altered it even further. So instead of a black and orange sky I did a red and yellow which was much easier! Now I feel really self conscious of what it is I'm actually doing, saying constantly look what I've done, look what I've done! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!! So that's enough of that I guess, but this is the point I've reached so far and it is actually a great thing I think, because, like I've said, its been three years, that's like a life-time...if you know you're a toddler or something else that's three years old!

 

Anyway I hope to finish it tonight, that is more definition in the wash on the waves and on the tree and cliff edge, more shades in the sky and cherry blossoms blowing in the wind. Not entirely sure how I'm going to do that so I might go completely over the top and paint them onto another page and do a cut and paste job or just be lazy and have like pink spatters all over the page. Hopefully anyway I'll update this with a picture of the final image sometime tonight or tomorrow, though who knows I might totally make a breakthrough and instead of spending the rest of my evening reading this and doing this I might actually do this blasted conclusion instead of it all 'cos I'm totally not doing it now!

**UPDATE**

So as promised here is my finished (At least for now) version of The Great Wave! I know its still not great and I'm certain I'll give it another go sometime soon but over all I am happy with the result. Especially how the detail in the wave, at least in parts looks a bit like Kangii! So all that means is I must get on and learn how to read/write Kangii for my next attempt. I did take the lazy route with the cherry blossoms and just spattered pink paint down, its not very noticeable in the photo of the painting but it is there.

In the meantime I really do feel a trend setting, that being things that display an obsession with Japan and stuff I haven't done in roughly three years. Last night I was really tempted to read Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura. A great little novel that I studied for my leaving cert but never actually got around to finishing. Instead of reading it though I did finish the painting so I'm sure I'll read it before the weekend is out.

**FURTHER UPDATE**

I have since read and finished 'Shipwrecks', it is a fantastic story, short and easy to read. As such I recommend it and demand you purchase and read a copy immediately.

What a SHITuation

'Shituation' was a word described to me by a dear friend from Iceland (I'm sorry I can't think of a nickname for you other then the name you already have, until I do this is how I shall refer to you). Its basically any situation which is really really...wait for it...wait for it...shit!

Well! If this ain't some sort of shitty situation!

Now, I feel myself slipping into such a shituation. It may not be for a while. It may not occur tomorrow, or next week, it mightn't even happen for another eight months, but by God if it happens then, it really is gonna be shit!

I'm totally not working on my thesis like I should be, I should be trying harder to find a job and I shouldn't be spending what little money I have. Also I should get around to updating this more often, as the Finn has so kindly directed me to do so, and maybe focus on anything other than updating this.


Or you know, I could continue on as I am and not complain and deal with the shit, when and only when it has it that unmerciful fan over there and sprays itself all over my calm little life.

It'll be something onto this - without the male genitalia, hopefully!

Now, I'm sure this is enough to keep the Finn happy, though maybe I should just reply to her and Jazz-Hand Girls facebook messages?! Oh well, eventually, I'm sure.

And one last note, from the next update onwards, whenever that will be, I hope to only use my own images though it'll probably not work out, please don't hate me when I fall back on google images. And apologies for the filler update, I promise something better next time!